MS Monopoly? (The Microsoft Monopoly)

Name: rob_writer

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	The Microsoft Monopoly
Date:	20/09/01 (365 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brought ease of use to computers, Good products, Well known brand

Disadvantages: Monopoly, High cost of OS's, Bill Gates is too rich

We all know Microsoft rule the world. What, you say they don't? Well give them another 10 years and I reckon they will! I guess I'm probably exaggerating a bit, but if Microsoft do gain control of every aspect of the computer market then they will be in a very strong, and the way things are going Microsoft don't look as if they're going to be beaten ay anything!

99% of people reading this are going to be using a version of Microsoft's Windows, if I'm wrong and you use something else do give me a shout!! Most of you also use Microsoft's browser and e-mail client, Internet Explored and Outlook Express respectively. You probably use Microsoft Word to write your Dooyoo ops, and Microsoft Encarta to research things. For all I know you may even do your practice train driving using Microsoft Train Simulator (yes, I have got it!). Microsoft control your desktop, infact the don't just control it, they create it and a good number of the applications that you run on it. But it doesn't stop there.......do you use one of those nice Microsoft mice, or their keyboard?

But c'mon party people, there must be a reason for it? And, I hate to say this, but, it's because Microsoft are generally better than the rest. I moan about their Operating Systems, they always crash, they're resource intensive and cost a bomb, but I still couldn't live without one. I may use Linux at times, but it's always a dual boot with Windows! Microsoft brought computing to the masses, and for that they have become the most popular (some would say the only viable) operating system in existence. From MS-DOS to Windows XP people have been using Microsoft's products, and depsite the fact that there aren't many competitors now Microsoft have earned this position. Put frankly, they were the best!

This wasn't just limited to their operating systems, take their hardware. I've used my fair share of computer equipment i
n the past, and if you ask me you can't beat a Microsoft Mouse in terms of build quality. The keyboards are pretty great too, and who can fault their Sidewinder joypads? Despite their wide audience and large size, Microsoft are still associated with quality in the hardware market. We can only be thankful that they don't build PC's, or the world truly could be in trouble!!

Microsoft don't have control of every market, they are in no way in total control on the server market, nor do they have much luck in the high end workstations or mainframe sector. They do however have the home market pretty tied up, having basically destroyed the browser market a few years back. This does bring in to the equation Microsoft's ethics, or more the lack of them.....

You see, only a few years ago you used to have to pay for your web browser, and in those days Netscape was more popular. I can't remember the exact story, but it goes something along the lines of Microsoft made their browser free, and then bundled it with Windows. Netscape of course stopped charging, but they couldn't possibly bundle Navigator with Windows. Internet Explorer was given an instant head start by the fact that everyone using Windows (or should I have just said everyone) got it pre-installed, ready to use on any new PC.

Naturally people weren't happy with this, and so Microsoft went to court and lost an anti-trust case. The result? Despite a lot of clamour about the company being split up, nothing has happened, IE is still bundled with Windows, and Microsoft have even gone so far as to package their Instant Messenger program, MSN Messenger, with Windows XP. One can see a repeat of the browser situation, where Microsoft's MSN Messenger wins the messaging war simply because everyone has it!

But if there's so much distaste about Microsoft why do people keep buying their stuff? Firstly it's generally better than the competition, take M
S Word as an example, the other Word Processors just don't work as well. Then there's familiarity, you use Word at work, your kids use it at school, so you may as well use it at home too! And of course, brand plays a big part in our purchasing decisions, and there can be few people left today who have not heard of Microsoft.

Just because Microsoft do have a monopoly, doesn't mean it has to be a good thing. That Bill Gates got more money than small countries, and I'm sure he adds a few million to his total every hour or so. Money breeds power, or something like that, but I wouldn't worry about good ol' Bill, he seems too nerdy to get up to any James Bond style World Domination plot!!

But really, it can't be good for one person to have so much influence and control over us mere mortals. And it really ain't fair that he gets all the money either. Of course, that's the accepted view, and for most other products that would be true, but PC's? Computers are only now getting becoming easy to use, we don't need to send it back 10 years by confusing people with new programs and the like. You have your PC, you run Windows, everything runs on Windows - it couldn't be easier really.

However, I would like to stop Microsoft using their position to influence which product people use, as they are doing with MSN Messenger. By giving their messaging program away with Internet Explorer, which in term comes with Windows, they are making sure that everyone has it, and if you already have on Instant Messaging program why would you want to go and download another? Microsoft are abusing their position of power. I also don't like their attitude towards other things, for example when the name X Box (their new console) was actually owned by another company, their plan was just to buy the other company to get the name. And their console, I would have to seriously consider letting Microsoft expand in to many more ma
rkets. If they're allowed to, soon they really will control everything.

So, Microsoft, not the evil dictator scum that some people will tell you they are, but they're not necessarily sweet and innocent either.

The company we love to hate!

Summary: