#3
Linux is "attacked" due to a large number of its users' blind loyalty to Linus Torvalds and the lies they spread about the OS never crashing, not being susceptable to viruses and exploits, (often they try to suppress issues negative to Linux) the claim that Linux is better than offerings from MS and Apple, and the notion that people should not profit from their works. Linux and some of its users are also attacked because rather than being content with the product they claim to use, they often feel the need to frequent Windows-related sites/forums and bash anyone that speaks in Microsoft's favor.
They then proceed to evangelize Linux and tell everyone to "use a real OS". They always say, "Anything But Microsoft", usually replacing the s with a $, but when you take a look at the most popular *nix software/window managers, they always attempt to incorporate the look, feel, and functionality of the Windows OS/software, even to the point of trying to run actual Windows software in emulation. Linux users also like to evangelize the benefits of Open Source and frequently act as if nothing is wrong with the software they have, yet they become overly excited when there are rumors of established, for-profit companies and developers working on improving Linux (such as when John Carmack was thought to be writing a new IP stack or when MS was thought to be porting Office, Internet Explorer, etc.).
Last thing, whether you consider the Linux community to be bit players or not is moot. The fact is that there are many people trying to make money off of Linux by distributing commercial versions of the OS and software. This makes the OS, software, and supporters, competitors to Microsoft, Apple, and the ISVs/IHVs that support those platforms. The fact that the OS can also be freely obtained makes it an even greater competitor. As slow as the Linux camps move compared to the more major players, Microsoft, Apple, and others would be foolish to not acknowledge the platform's presence. If they did that for too long, they could find themselves playing catchup. Also, I have seen no greater absence of independant thought than in the Linux community. It is not the entire community, but a lot of them automatically dismiss or attack anything MS-related solely because it's MS-related. And when people within the Linux community has something positive to say about MS or negative to say about Linux, the GPL, etc., they are immediately attacked by their peers and regarded as an MS apologist or shill.
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