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Microsoft

Entry 113, on 2005-01-10 at 17:27:53 (Rating 2, Computers)

I've been reading some comments from the leaders of Microsoft, Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. Gates is seen as a hero to many, but the truth is that its only through dirty tactics and pure luck that he has managed to dominate the computer industry. He may not be a true hero, but at least he has a certain amount of charm and dignity. Ballmer is just a raving lunatic, who must be becoming more an embarrassment to the company he is supposed to represent.

His latest rave is on the old topic of open source software. I suppose if I was in charge of a big company which made lots of money out of selling buggy, bloated, insecure software I would be doing all I could to discredit the opposition as well, but there are limits on what I would say. Ballmer seems to be happy to say anything, no matter how inaccurate it is.

Microsoft are showing some signs of weakness. When was the last time a major new Microsoft product or service did well? the Xbox is relatively successful, but Sony are still in charge of that market. Really Microsoft rely on their repulsive operating system, and their equally disgusting Office product. If either of these are threatened Microsoft is in trouble.

I would have to be the world's greatest optimist to believe that Microsoft won't continue to dominate computing for a long time yet, but I just hope (because I care about the industry I work in) that some time we will see the end of the Microsoft monopoly and then we might see some real progress.

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