Microsoft is Everywhere…
I’m not exactly what you’d consider pro-Microsoft; I’m sure that’s no surprise. Yet, unfortunately, I can’t afford to be completely anti-Microsoft, either.
Right now I’m typing this on my Microsoft Natural Keyboard and mousing with my optical Microsoft IntelliMouse. Microsoft Internet Explorer is my current browser of choice, as Microsoft Windows ME just doesn’t seem to be compatible with Netscape anymore. My Dell came with Microsoft Encarta, Microsoft Publish It!, Microsoft Streets and Trips, and Microsoft Word, all pre-installed.
Of course, I also have Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Access in order to be able to work at home with matching software. Even my joystick is a Microsoft Sidewinder. My gaming speech recognition system? Yes, that’s a Microsoft product, too!
Do you know what’s even worse? This Wednesday, Microsoft’s big cheese (yes, Mr. Bill Gates himself) is presenting my and my team’s work at a conference somewhere. So, we have to spend the next few days feverishly making sure his requests are taken care of and everything’s in tip-top shape.
*sigh*
I wish I could permanently switch to something else. Realistically, Linux, the best alternative, is on par with where Windows 3.1 once was — it has just reached a decent level of functionality, it’s slowly gaining in popularity, and new configurations other than the plain vanilla are often complex, quirky, and unintuitive. I love it, and many of my fellow geeky friends do as well, but it requires far too much technical knowledge for the average user. Plus, the software I must use every day isn’t available on the platform. Linux just isn’t ready for mainstream use.
Not to imply that Microsoft Windows is either…
