OwlWhacker's Journal: Fighting Microsoft

Just lately I've seen some articles written by people who seem to feel sorry for Microsoft, and who believe that it is wrong to dislike the company: "after all", they say, "look at what Microsoft has done for us all!".

Actually, we should do just that. We should look at what Microsoft has done, and is still doing.

Many people say that if it wasn't for Microsoft's input home users probably wouldn't have computers. OK. But, while Microsoft did a good job of getting everybody using computers, since then it has stifled innovation. It has been doing its best to make sure that all computer users run its software, and only its software. Once everybody is using its software Microsoft sits back, rubs its belly, and does absolutely nothing - take Internet Explorer for example. Only when a threat re-appears does Microsoft start to get to work again.

Competitive markets encourage innovation and progress. Microsoft has been against competition since the very beginning.

Today I've seen two articles depicting the struggle that is Everybody Vs Microsoft. This is why nobody likes Microsoft:

1) - Microsoft uses closed standards to prevent competition:

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=25215

"THE OPENGL Foundation claims that the software giant, Microsoft is trying to shaft its free specification with the introduction of its super soar-away version of its Windows operating system Vista.

The foundation has issued a call to arms here, over [Microsoft's] plan to layer OpenGL over Direct3D in Vista.

Users need to have a composited desktop to obtain what Vole spinsters dub the 'Aeroglass experience'. However, the foundation fears that if an OpenGL Installable Client Driver is run under Vista, the desktop compositor will switch off and the performance will be pants."

2) - Those trying to compete with Microsoft use open standards:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/08/technology/08open.html

"VMware, the leader in the fast-growing market for virtual machine software, plans to announce today that it will share its code with partners like I.B.M., Intel and Hewlett-Packard in an effort to make the VMware technology an industry standard.

VMware's partners regard the technology-sharing program as a welcome step. "This is a move toward open standards, and that is the path toward accelerating market growth and innovation," said Susan Whitney, a general manager in I.B.M.'s server business."