As Microsoft recently launched intensive attacks on pirate software developers in China, it now offers more free software downloads for students in China according to dobeweb.com. This software includes Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition, Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional Ediiton, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, Microsoft Expression Studio 1.0, Microsoft Expression Web, and Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition with Service Pack 2. Here are more details posted on hinn.cn (曙光博客) in Chinese.
For Microsoft’s recent anti-privacy activities, please read “Tomatolei.com’s Founder Seized in Suzhou for Piracy” on chinacsr.com and “Man Accidentally Hands Himself in” on Chinadaily.com.cn.
Also, as the “Tomatolei” incident provokes online debate, according to ownlinux.cn, CCTV broadcast a special program “How Can Microsoft’s Lawsuit against “Tomato” Get So Much Attention?”(In Chinese) on September 13. As the commentator Zhang Quanling finally suggests, Chinese computer fans should put more effort into developing open source software like Linux.