[ale] OT Re: [ale] Microsoft now favors fair competition

[Christopher R. Curzio]

Honestly, that's a little blind. You're almost saying the company
shouldn't have ever existed, and anyone who works for them is spawned from
the deepest nether regions of hell. 

Yes, I dislike Windows. Yes, I believe Microsoft's business practices in
the past have been questionable, with some being downright illegal. No, I
am not a Microsoft enthusiast or representative. I am, however, someone
who *can* see when good things are done, and not overlook them in blind
hatred. 

I have never, *ever* seen a bad Microsoft mouse. All of my systems have
one, and I'm giddy with delight at having an Intellimouse with Intelleye,
which has worked splendidly for the past 3 years. While Microsoft may not
manufacture the hardware themselves (outsourcing and rebranding), any
hardware on which they have stamped their name (ESPECIALLY mice) has been
nearly top-notch. 

And my Microsoft mouse can do everything in Linux that it can do in
Windows. I don't see how it's engineered to leverage Windows. Sure, things
like the force feedback stuff (another excellent hardware line) come with
Windows-only stuff, but what do you expect? They make DirectX, they're
sure not going to ignore it. 

As for Microsoft-related charity work, while it's less Microsoft and more
Bill and Melinda, maybe you should check out the Bill and Melinda Gates
foundation. They're throwing millions of dollars at not only schools and
libraries, but health programs as well. Over half of their donations have
been to Global Health organizations. Again, it's not from Microsoft, but
all of this cash is able to be given to good causes as a direct result of
Microsoft being here. 

There's more Good Things listed here:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1107-946250.html

Again, don't mistake the above for Microsoft fanatacism or open-source
defection. I'm a Linux user, and I really dislike the majority of
Microsoft's software. But I'm not a zealot on any side of the court. 

-- 
Christopher R. Curzio     |  Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax
http://www.accipiter.org  |  si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
:wq!


Thus Spake Geoffrey <esoteric at 3times25.net>:
Sun, 08 Sep 2002 21:27:28 -0400


> I've had one M$ mouse, it crapped out after 6 months.  Whatever.  That 
> is not a reflection of their 'good.'  And how many of those devices are 
> designed to leverage their operating system?  Oh, now we see why they 
> make hardware...
> 
> > MS has been
> > known to give money to various worthy causes.
> 
> Do your research further.  Why?  They donate to libraries and schools to
> 
> get their products in the door.
> 
> The ONLY reason M$ does ANYTHING is to extend their market.  If you do 
> the research you will see this.  Philanthropy in name only.
> 
> > If I cared, I could
> > probably find buildings owned by Microsoft which were environmentally
> > friendly. Etc. 
> 
> Now that's a stretch.  Only if it's required by law.
> 
> > 
> > The awful things that they have done may *outweigh* the good things
> > that they have done, but those bad things don't erase the existence of
> > the good things.
> 
> Again, I challenge you to do the research.  Provide information where 
> Microsoft has done ANYTHING simple because it's either the right thing 
> to do and I assure you if you dig deep enough, you'll find the truth.
> 
> This company has no morals, no conscious.

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