Just Say NO to Microsoft

Microsoft isn't evil.

But it is too powerful, and consumers are being harmed by it.

They're limiting the available software, and charging us more and more for it.

Time after time, Microsoft has picked a category of software, and used its vast resources and its position as the developer of Windows (for which they charge 6 times their cost to develop and advertise it) to either eliminate or seriously weaken competing companies... even when Microsoft's products weren't any better. They've required computer manufacturers to bundle a copy of Windows with every computer they sell, and not to offer any other operating systems. (See the BeOS case.) They've used the same tactics to get MS Office pre-installed on new computers, and banned other web browsers from their standard desktop screen, so competing software developers don't even get a chance at selling their products. The end result is that we have fewer browsers to choose from, fewer word processors, fewer operating systems, etc.

With less competition comes less real innovation and less genuine improvement. The only new ideas that get to market are those that serve Microsoft's agenda. The real improvements that come along, do so much more slowly. That means less stable, less powerful software, for higher prices... and even mandatory renewals or upgrades just to keep using your computer. Microsoft is so entrenched and powerful that new companies can't get a foothold to compete against them directly. American politicians (of either major party) won't take them on, because Microsoft funds so many elections. It's all a big chess game to the execs at Microsoft, the goal of which is stated in the company motto: "Microsoft software on every computer." And if you're running any Microsoft software, it's designed to work well with only Microsoft software. They nearly "own" the industry.

No one can stop them.

No one except you, that is.

You can still choose whether to buy the software Microsoft tells you to buy, or think for yourself and find your own.
You can choose products from other sources... often better and cheaper ones.
You can make the choice to Just Say NO to Microsoft.

For a more exhaustive discussion of the damage Microsoft has been doing to the computer industry (but a little out of date, so it doesn't fully cover the last few years' offenses), see "What's So Bad About Microsoft?".

"But how?" - "But I can't!" - "But why listen to you?"

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© 1999-2005, Todd VerBeek.