FeelingS about Microsoft??

[garnet_abx]

There is only one thing that ****** me off about Microsoft.....I didn't buy 100,000 shares the first week they went public!

[Goldenfarmb]

Thanks for your responses so far.

I truely thought there would be more negative feelings. But we as a generation (or mulitiple generations) have accepted the MS standard.

I heard the arguement that that they produce the best product, my observation would be this. With it's predatory practices I think they have quashed many ideas/opportunities/programs, the extent of which we may never know.

I do know this....there is very little competition for MS, at least in the OS market. And without competition, firms get lazy, and the product becomes inferior. I don't believe Windows would have that many security holes if there was another major player in the market, and neither would IE.

Now, with that said, I use a ton of MS products because there is no cost effective alternative that gives me the same utility that MS products do.

How about this, How long do you think MS's dominence in the OS and Browser market will last??

[SupDawg]

I think that overall, I wish that everyone would get off of their n*tz. Most of the security flaws are frivolous, and 80% would never be noticed if there wasn't whole corporations dedicated to exploiting and publishing flaws in their software. Also, the flaws are just bi products of them giving the end users more flexibility and more usability.

Having one major OS has moved the pace of technology faster than with multiple dominate OSs. Most of the time it's a good thing to have 1 standard format. The only issue about that is that Windows is MS owned and no one can compete making the same thing cheaper.

[Qba73]

i may have my opinions but i have to say microsoft is capitalism at its finest.

[SupDawg]

Originally posted by Qba73
i may have my opinions but i have to say microsoft is capitalism at its finest.

Amen brother!

[Dan-Baer]

Quote :"I heard the argument that that they produce the best product, my observation would be this. With it's predatory practices I think they have quashed many ideas/opportunities/programs, the extent of which we may never know....."

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As stated by someone else. MS has a responsibility to its tens of thousands of stock holders to maximize profits within the law. I applaud them for doing this. Many of the security flaws are there because as the leader they are being targeted. If any other OS were number 1 than they would be the target and they would have far more issues.

Overall, I, and my clients have no intention of using any other OS or office Apps. The cost to loose a few days a month, or even every few months is far higher than getting a cheaper or even almost free OS.

I think it is time to stop bashing MS and start bashing those that do not know what they are doing, who get on line or send e mail with out up to date antivirus, no firewalls Etc. There are far bigger problems to deal with than MS being successful.

[Sierra_abx]

Originally posted by Qba73
microsoft is capitalism at its finest.

Have you been following Microsoft's stock? The price is about where it was two years ago. Meanwhile, companies like Ebay and Yahoo have seen their stock steadily rising. Sorry, but I prefer the capitalism where stockholders make money. Granted, if you had bought MS stock back when it was first offered, you'd be able to retire now. But those days are long gone.

[pointreyes]

Microsoft is an example of what can happen if you get into the business of the product you are selling at the right time. However, to claim that we would be on Macs, no. Intel and AMD helped to drive x86 platform by helping out MS. If not MS someone would have come along to use the x86 platform. Like maybe OS2 from IBM without MS' initial development on it. And lets not forget Sun with Solaris. Linux was developed by a person that had no interest in Microsoft products so Linux would probably still have come into exsistence since it was the Intel 80286 that driven the interest of Linus Trovolds to create Linux. The OS that drove Linus to create Linux was Minix-not Windows. It took Linus about 10 years to develop a product like the Linux we see today and it took Microsoft a little over 20 years (I think) to do the same thing for creating a stable OS. So, my feeling about MS? Well, I wish they would stop bullying their platform but that is part of being a business in some situations.

[oasis_abx]

Hello,

Goldenfarmb asked???

How about this, How long do you think MS's dominence in the OS and Browser market will last??

It's not in the OS/IE it's in the box.

[YoBoGo]

Originally posted by Centurion
I feel neutral about them. I think they are just like most every other company where the bottom line is to not only make a profit, but to do whatever is necessary to maximize that profit. I am not sure if they are any different than the entertainment industry, pharmaceutical industry, etc, etc, etc...

First rule of business (I forget the name of the economist that developed this theory): Maximize the companys wealth while at the same time maximize shareholders' wealth. Nothing else matters, nothing else should get in the way. It is basically the theory that all businesses work off or should work off.

[XJ.]

Eh, I've become increasingly dis-interested in MS products over the past couple of years. Too many bugs, crashes, viruses, etc...

[Dan-Baer]

Virusus are written by others and target the top dog..... Make OS X or any other OS top dog and watch the focus of the scumbag virus guys change. I have not had a single crash with WIn XpPro, not one. lets see, what was the other? Oh yes, bugs, I want the list of bug free software that covers every possiable hardware config. I want to buy stock in that company.

As for the MS stock price, If the overcontroling justice Dept. (The Reno one) had left them alone or the jealous European governments leave them alone the stock would be much higher. Also remember, MS started paying a dividend about a year ago.

In any case, I am finished replying to this thread as one thing I love about this forum is that most here help even if they disagree and there are very few flame threads. I really have nothing else to ad so I will now, shut-up.

[XJ.]

Geez, I was just making a personal comment - what, do you work for MS or something? So much hate.....

[Sierra_abx]

Dan-Baer, no one is trying to flame. But a lot of people have strong feelings, both pro and con, about MS. The dividend MS pays is only 82 cents a share, which is peanuts given the company's huge cash reserves. As far as an overcontrolling Justice Department, well, there are rules governing capitalism, including anti-trust laws. Also remember that a number of states filed class-action suits against MS, and some of those states have Republican administrations, so this is not just a Democratic thing. In the end, I'm sure Bill Gates could care less what any of us think.

[Dan-Baer]

OK, One more comment. I have no hate. That was not even on my mind. I understand and applaud what MS has done. I do not work for them but I have headed a large multi hundreds of million dollar company so perhaps in some small way I relate.