Opinion of Microsoft and it's products

This is not completely Microsoft's fault...

I reformatted my laptop the other day and since I left my Windows XP Pro disc at home, i used my laptop's recovery disc for the first time...

First thing I did was install mcaffee and the most recent update and spyboy search and destroy.

I found a combination of 220 viruses, trojans, and pieces of spyware on my computer, right after reformatting....no internet connection was made at any time during this

Drove me insane....so I finally went to the student union and paid the $9 for an XP Pro CD....9 bucks is better then 199...thats for sure

[evulish]

Originally Posted by Eugenia Gabrielov

However, I would say that no matter what operating system you use, you should get the best antivirus available for it. There are awesome ones (I presume, not being a longterm Linux or Mac user) for any OS.

Well, the only virus scanner I've ever installed on Linux works with my mail server to get rid of viruses for Windows. And there has been only one proof-of-concept virus for OSX that I know of. Windows is (pretty much) the only target for viruses. I use both Mac OS X and Linux heavily and I can't name a single virus scanner for them

I've used all three of the major OS's (including others) and must say that my least favorite is Linux. I'm really not very fond of GNU or the GPL (the license which covers Linux), either.. but I don't really feel like getting into that right now I do like how widespread Linux has become, and how it's opened up a new world for computer users. I _REALLY HATE_ the "anything but Windows" state of mind, because that commonly comes from the user's inability to admin the computer.. and I'd MUCH RATHER see an insecure Windows machine out there on the web than an insecure *nix machine. So kudos to Linux for creating "the movement" but once/if you get settled, don't forget there's BSD.

Anyways, after derailing that train, I must say that I also like most Microsoft software.. especially Office X.v or whatever it's called now. However, that's the only decent Microsoft app for OS X.. WMP and IE 5.2 (*shudder*) are pretty lame, but then again, I wouldn't use them even if they were better. Microsoft has done a pretty great job creating an OS with a great GUI that runs on exceptionally old hardware. They've also been pretty good about their updates and the stuff they offer (if you didn't know, Microsoft bought out one of the best Adware detection software companies and released the software for FREE). They're also a great game publisher. Halo, Halo 2, Age of Empires 2, Mech Warrior 4. All great games.

I guess I'm one of the people that has used each of the big 3 pretty heavily and can find a good use for all of them. (Although it's getting kind of hard keeping all the knowledge straight.. I tried to install my 200gb hard drive in XP a few nights ago and it was stuck at that 137gb barrier.. took me quite some time to figure out what the heck was wrong.. stupid atapi.sys!)

[KTorak]

Linux all the way SuSe is my Distro of choice. I keep one Windows machine in my room around for when I need it. One I get a laptop, I'm gonna switch my desktop to suse completely (instead of dual booting) and let it run a decent http/ftp/php/mysql/mail server

Microsoft isn't that bad over all if you use software alternatives, IE Firefox and Thunderbird. Recently though, MS released a free beta spy ware remover for Windows....where the AV at?

[Mike]

Originally Posted by tkwetzel

Many programmers (please correct me if I'm wrong...I am not a programmer) use linux because it is open source and everyone can edit and share it easily.

Not really, since Windows holds a lot of the market share most programmers will program their product on Windows.

IE sucks, plain and simple. Get firefox.

Microsoft worries too much about ease of use and not enough about security. "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security, deserve neither security nor liberty."

Overall, Windows is good, it's just some small stuff that Microsoft doesn't fix that annoys me.

[Jay W.]

I don't have much to say in the technical manner...just some thoughts from a gamer's point of view.

1) Not an annoyance..just stating the obvious. Microsoft did good when the created the Halo-erm, I mean the X-box. Its a very good system, with some very good games.

2) However, the way the do PC games annoys me badly. FASA used to hold the Battletech/Mechwarrior combo. Their last game, MechWarrior 3 was awesome. There was one expansion (Pirates moon) for it and everything was finalized. Then, Microsoft gets the Battletech line and comes out with MW4. Then they come out with MW4: Vengence, MW4: Black Knight, and MW4: Mercenaries. THEN they release the Mek Pak expansions for a wider choice of Battlemechs. Seems to me that they want a profit off the game, and do not care much about the gamers.

[Eria4044]

Originally Posted by Jay W.

Seems to me that they want a profit off the game, and do not care much about the gamers.

Thus explaining once and for all why Halo2, one of the most profitable games of all time, is exclusive to one console. Big jerks.

[Ashley Weed]

From an IT standpoint, you just have to jet annoyed with several never ending doings of Microsoft:

1. How you constantly hear Microsoft has no money, the cost of licensing is going up, and they are going to fight "distributing". Bringing up a business or group of systems of approximately 700 systems, that you only want to install Office (NOT Enterprise) will cost you $200,000+.

2. As for licensing yourself as an individual FORGET Microsoft OS's, just run away from them. With Microsoft releasing a new OS every two years, you might as well kiss your licence good-bye as soon as you complete your certification.

3. A positive standpoint of Microsoft, it's friendlier to the "common user". It's not to be overseeing labs, and not have to work simplistic tasks of "my flash drive wont work" "my file name . extension" wont open. Microsoft and Windows makes things a little cozier in the current corporate and large scale settings on the user end.

[Adam Y.]

If you think that Microsoft has helped the world by providing all of these products, than you are somewhat misguided. Microsoft strategy is often taking someone else’s idea, making there own version, and throwing a bunch of money at it until it becomes the majority.

It's ironic though that everyone thinks that Microsoft is this greedy do nothing unless it involves the bottom line attitude. Microsoft has done certain things to help everyone with the standards issue of browsers by teaming up with Netscape and AOL and having the result of their work released freely.