Microsoft Bashing

[GadgetMaster]

There tends to be a trend when it comes to talking about the Redmond giant and that is to slam it at every given opportunity. I have been guilty of it myself but I was just wondering what would happen if Microsoft suddenly dissappeared from the radar. Imagine they just got wiped off the face of the Earth and took every copy of their software with them.

Now don't get me wrong, I hate their monopolistic practices as much as anyone else and tend to get frustrated with the annoyances of their software aswell. But just because we like the Amiga do we automatically have the right to say that everything else is useless.

The fact is that the world currently needs Microsoft because there is nothing that can immediately replace it. With the keyword here being immediately.

If the hypothetical scenario did happen and suddenly there was no MS and all traces of its software were gone, how do you think things would turn out and what direction do you think general users would take.

The truth is that Microsoft is going to be around much longer than most people would prefer and their software will be a part of the IT industry whether we like it or not. Now wouldn't it be better to channel all the energy spent complaining into creating something positive? Maybe we can all get along together after all.

It would be interesting to hear your opinions on this.

 :-)  :-D  :-(  :-o  :-?  :lol:  8-)  :-x  :-P  :oops:  :pissed:  :cry:  :rtfm:  :nervous:  :whack:  :smack:  :bigcry:  :furious:  :insane:  :insane:  :admonish:

[EDIT]

In case you are wondering, NO I didn't apply for a position at Microsoft. Just playing the advocate. :lol:

[Holley]

If MS disappeared I'd start making more money by working as a Linux admin, and Lindows (sorry, Linspire) sales would go through the roof.

AROS would see some investment and Apple would sell some more (though not much as it would still be more expensive than a Linux PC).

[spihunter]

If M$ dissapeared right now, everything else would step in to take its place. They offer an OS and a office suite. We have tons of both on other platforms.

The difference would be that everyone would comply to open standards instead of "microsoft" standards.

And on a personal note, I would miss work that day because of the mass celebrations of computer geeks in the streets. :-D

[GadgetMaster]

spihunter wrote:
If M$ dissapeared right now, everything else would step in to take its place. They offer an OS and a office suite. We have tons of both on other platforms.

The difference would be that everyone would comply to open standards instead of "microsoft" standards.

And on a personal note, I would miss work that day because of the mass celebrations of computer geeks in the streets. :-D

Hmm, I think the opposite would happen. Instead of everyone complying to standards I think every man and his dog would try to come up with their own "superior" format further fragmenting the industry and causing chaos.

Sure, the geeks would be dancing but what about all the lost work from all the MSOffice dependants. Some peoples livelihoods actually depend on MS software. Something we usually take for granted. Not the best position for an industry to be in. It would take years to re-stabilise and it would be very large gap to fill.

[FastRobPlus]

If MS dissapeard overnight, maybe some Amiga.org users would quit obsessing and post Amiga-related content.

Nah... that's too SciFi.

[bloodline]

spihunter wrote:
The difference would be that everyone would comply to open standards instead of "microsoft" standards.

Nice thought... but companies would all try and make their own "new" standard...

[spihunter]

GadgetMaster wrote:

spihunter wrote:
If M$ dissapeared right now, everything else would step in to take its place. They offer an OS and a office suite. We have tons of both on other platforms.

The difference would be that everyone would comply to open standards instead of "microsoft" standards.

And on a personal note, I would miss work that day because of the mass celebrations of computer geeks in the streets. :-D

Hmm, I think the opposite would happen. Instead of everyone complying to standards I think every man and his dog would try to come up with their own "superior" format further fragmenting the indiustry and causing chaos.

Sure, the geeks would be dancing but what about all the lost work from all the MSOffice dependants. Some peoples livelihoods actually depend on MS software. Something we usually take for granted. Not the best position for an industry to be in. It would take years to re-stabilise and it would be very large gap to fill.

Yes, but all the MSOffice dependents might realize that maybe a monopoly like Microsoft is a bad idea after all.

You are right about someone coming up with a "superior" format, but we all know that just because a product is "superior" doent mean its going to win :-D

The open standards will take over for the first little while which could be enough to give them the advantage.

[B00tDisk]

It would be a return to 1982 - Apple plus a dozen lesser platforms, with none compatible.  After about two to five years, the lesser ones would be crushed by Apple's sudden market dominance and we'd be right back here discussing "What would happen if Apple vanished tomorrow?"

As I've said before: don't kid yourselves about some percieved Apple benevolance.  But for Microsoft they would be Microsoft.

[mikeymike]

Apple don't have Microsoft's killer instinct.  They'd like to be Microsoft.  IMO.

Hey Gadget!  Long time no see really.

In regards to this, I'm probably the only person on the planet who would view the disappearance of Microsoft as a bad thing.  Don't get me wrong...  I'm not defending them, and I think their business practices suck, but.  I have no problems with their actual products.

Like others have said, if Microsoft were to disappear overnight, it would result in a throwback to 1982, where every maker of computers would be trying to "seize the throne" and enforce their own standards and ways of getting there.  In short, chaos on the desktop.

Companies and governments who now successfully work because they all use Microsoft products would suddenly experience compatibility issues with every other company they tried to work with, and the cost of doing business would skyrocket.  

On the bright side, people like me would be doing very well, because we'd be highly sought after to administer and work with this nightmare.

Even if you don't understand it or see it, Microsoft, for all it's "evil ways" has actually done good by FORCING some standards on the world.  

On the honest side however, even if Microsoft were to disappear tomorrow, taking all it's software with it, the new Amiga would still never be able to corner more than 5% of the computing market.  

The way I figure it is that MacOS would immediately take the top slot, while Linux and BSD derivatives would stand a growing chance.  The Amiga however, would never occupy higher than the #5 slot in the world of desktop computing, even with the disappearance of Microsoft.

[mikeymike]

I think a lot of chaos would occur in the software industry, but after a year or two, the number of software companies in existence would probably go up a thousandfold.  Variety is a good thing.

The OpenOffice document format is about to get ISO certification as well, there are a number of decent graphical formats to choose from (though no vector ones IIRC), audio formats have standardised nicely.

[DonnyEMU]

Apple doesn't have Microsoft's killer instinct? I can remember a time when I worked for an Amiga education dealer and the local Apple dealer wanted to sell Amigas as well as Macs and Apple ][GS computers. The Apple dealer was told that they couldn't be an Apple dealer if they sold Amigas at all. This was when Apple had a dealer network the same as Commodore did, unlike the Gateway-Esque Apple stores of today..

The same dealer told schools that if they had an Amiga in the classroom they wouldn't get any donated computers and the big "Apple Education discount"..

So let's not talk about Apple not having a killer instinct. They controlled the schools in the USA for many years for not really good reason other than economic leverage..

When people think Commodore it's rarely known that they had "authorized education dealers" but they did..

Let's not give Apple underdog status just because Microsoft is ontop now. Microsoft fought tooth and nail to get there, and I prefer them over the OVERPRICED UnderPOWERED alternative..

-Don

[legion]

I agree with Wayne and DonnyEMU.  IBM would be more than happy to fill in MS's shoes.  So would Schwartz, Ellison, Jobs, Robertson, etc etc.  They all want to be King Sh*t of the IT hill.  If it wasn't MS, it'd be someone else.

[bloodline]

mikeymike wrote:
 audio formats have standardised nicely.

They have? Then why hasn't someone told all the Audio equipment/software manufacturers :-(

[GadgetMaster]

Wayne wrote:
Hey Gadget!  Long time no see really.

Thanks!

Nice to see you posting more around here too :-)

I rarely get as much time as I used to for spending on forums but that does not mean I don't check these boards whenever I get the chance.

Re topic: We are usually so obsessed with the bad things that monopolistic corporations bring to the world that we overlook the (few) benefits we have gained from them. Some of the things we expect to come as standard with an OS are all things Microsoft 'spoiled' us with.

The greater expectations we now have are all due to the efforts of teams of programmers that have been hacking away at code for the best part of the last decade (whilst being plied with soft drinks and pizza no doubt) to bring us some sort of usable system. These same programmers would be applauded if they were working for someone else. They have made steady progress and they have definately improved their product over the years.

As has been pointed out, if it wasn't MS then whoever was in their position would be as equally cold and corporate as them. Its only the smaller enthusiast and opensource markets that may have more approachable and down to earth attitudes. Thats the unfortunate but true situation with global multi-national operations. It all about making the most money. If you have happy customers then that is a welcome bonus

While it would be nice to see Amiga succeed I somehow feel that it will always be better as a niche. I would never like to see it become another Microsoft.

Microsoftification, a word to add to the dictionaries ? :inquisitive: