Cogitationis poenam nemo patitur.
Nobody should be punished for his thoughts.
Microsoft (July 27th, 2002)
Despite what many people think, I am not for or against Microsoft. However, as a consumer and developer I expect quality from my software - and Microsoft hasn't raised the bar in this area, as they have so many others. There are many aspects to Microsoft, and the inherent problem with criticizing them is the fact that they are so multi-faceted. This page may well grow to a subsite of it's own.
If you're really interested in following Microsoft developments, feel free to Watch Microsoft Like a Hawk.
Microsoft .Net
A lot of people, to date, still have no idea what .Net is. The marketing hype is unavoidable, but... what does it do? At CramSession, Hammiesink asked the question, and there were quite a bit of interesting answers - my answer is here, and it's far from complete.
The future of any operating system is directly related to the number of developers that support it, and Microsoft's .Net allows them to allow even more developers to write code on their platform. Great idea! The problem is that the hardware requirements have increased drastically. You can have your code written fast, or you can have fast code. Your choice. Myself? I think an algorithm that can cut processor time in half is more valuable a processor that is twice as fast.
Microsoft vs. The DOJ
I've made public my opinions on this, when public opinion was requested for the case. You can see it here, or you can catch the main points within this subsection.
I believe that Microsoft products - or products of any software manufacturer - must be sold as separate items by computer vendors. Users can then make a CONSCIOUS choice. Other software manufacturers then also have a chance to compete. Installation of the USER SELECTED software can remain free. Certainly, even this will give Microsoft an advantage due to it's large customer base, yet it will also permit other software vendors an opportunity to be selected.
Any Microsoft networking protocols should be published in full and approved by an independent network protocol body. This would prevent Microsoft from seizing de facto control of the Internet. However, Robert X. Cringley is following this particular aspect quite well - and it's eery. No, I take that back. It's scary. I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw this coming...
And the case presented that Internet Explorer is an intrinsic part of Windows? That in and of itself should send little alarms off everywhere - the only reason for a company to do that - to embed an application so deeply into an operating system that it wouldn't be able to work without it... Well, shucks... Why would they do that? Simple. It was a business decision, because it certainly wasn't a very technical one.
