We'll Just Rule the World Now, OK?
One has to wonder if the corporate directive at Microsoft is as blatant as it seems from the outside. What is it that makes them behave as if monopolistic bullying is an inherent right for the biggest, baddest damned behemoth ever to roam the face of the information economy? That they can rule the Earth just because they think they'd like to give it a go?
It is almost inconceivable that they already rule planet PC, from the operating system, to the web browser, to the email client, to the word processing program, to the calendaring program, to the media player, to the spreadsheet, to the financial software, to the presentation application, to the web server software, etc., etc., etc., ad infinitum.
Microsoft kinda oughtta be satisfied with that, eh? NOOOOO! Let's have them control software RE-licensing, enterprise mail servers, certification of network administrators, and GEE fellas! How's about we develop a system called .Net in which we store and control, via our proprietary system, all the information on the planet? Cool idea huh?
While we're at it, why don't we tie all our products together, being certain that nobody uses any competing software -- with Smart Tags? These little geniuses will not only allow us to control software worldwide, but all the advertising on every web page in the world by allowing us to plant hyperlinks on those pages that connect to advertisers who'll pay Microsoft to hijack website traffic? Jeeeezz! This is sooooo cool!
Judge Penfield Jackson couldn't remain unbiased when he saw these tactics and publicly stated his disdain for blatant monopolistic practices that only a team of Microsoft lawyers could possibly approve of. So it is almost as though the court of appeals has now said, "No matter how heinous a crime, don't ever let 'em see you flinch! It makes you look as if you actually have some morals and standards. Judges are not allowed public opinions!"
Next time Judge Jackson sees a horrific criminal act and is tempted to pronounce the evildoer a bad boy, he'll likely temper his statements, something on the order of, "Uh-uh-uh! Don't do that!" Then shut his mouth tight as he sentences the crook to life in prison for ... "doing something that is not allowed in our society." Don't say anything bad to them.
The problem is that Microsoft is made to appear the victim of unfair judgement when the judge can't contain his disdain for the absurdly monopolistic practices that have Microsoft ruling not only Planet PC, but Planet Earth.
I am occasionally tempted to trade in my Macintosh for a PC because I'm so frustrated that I MUST have Windows to run applications I need to have. I've occasionally considered purchasing the Microsoft Macintosh version of software so that I can view PowerPoint presentations or upgrade from my old Word version 6.0 for Mac because it garbles the text from new Word Documents. But ultimately, I just can't do it.
I won't. I can't even stand the fact that new Mac specific software emulates the look and feel of Microsoft products. It was the other way round in the beginning, before Bill copied Mac OS and put it on a PC and called it Windows. It angers me that Internet Explorer comes with the Mac OS. It drives me nuts that WebTrends and Web Position Gold only come in Windows versions.
Linus Torvald is a personal hero to me. Open source is the only answer to the ridiculous Microsoftopoly. My iMac and I will stick it out and beg Steve Jobs to slay the Giant. Or even an unbiased zipper-lipped judge could do it, as long as he doesn't talk about his opinion, just enforces it.
About the author: Mike Banks Valentine WebSite101 "Reading List" Weekly Netrepreneur Tip Sheet Weekly Ezine emphasizing small business on the Internet http://website101.com/free_ezine_content/ e-tutorial online at: http://website101.com/shortcourse.html By week's end you're ready expand your business to the web!