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software wars
Sep. 7th, 2004 07:42 pmMicrosoft fans scare me. I seem to have been getting into arguments with several of them on technical forums over the last week. They seem convinced that everything Microsoft do is innovative, that it helps people, and that it's the 'right' thing. They also see nothing wrong in misleading people about other programs to make sure that people stay with MS software. When it goes as far as to suggest that 'Firefox = Communism', it's worrying. I can only assume they're somehow brainwashed into believing these things.
Nearly all the problems with computers today - spyware, email viruses, a lot of spam - comes because of problems with Microsoft software. Since they used underhand tactics to kill off their competition, they haven't had to compete on merit like most companies do and accordingly had little interest in the quality of their products.
It's true that the alternatives to Microsoft software are also not perfect, and that occasionally badly-programmed websites won't work in anything but Internet Explorer. (I've only found one of these in the last year.) But other browsers are safer to use. That's why I've never had spyware, or unwanted popups, or had my home page changed, or had my modem secretly dialling a porn line in Guyana (yes, this happened to my housemate once), or whatever.
If you're interested, I use Mozilla Firefox, although I've also used Opera before. Both are free to use, although Opera has some built-in adverts. If you install one of these then I'll be happy to help if you have any problems with it. If you don't, and you get some spyware from Internet Explorer, I'll still be happy to help... I'll just expect to be allowed to say "I told you so" ;)
Nearly all the problems with computers today - spyware, email viruses, a lot of spam - comes because of problems with Microsoft software. Since they used underhand tactics to kill off their competition, they haven't had to compete on merit like most companies do and accordingly had little interest in the quality of their products.
It's true that the alternatives to Microsoft software are also not perfect, and that occasionally badly-programmed websites won't work in anything but Internet Explorer. (I've only found one of these in the last year.) But other browsers are safer to use. That's why I've never had spyware, or unwanted popups, or had my home page changed, or had my modem secretly dialling a porn line in Guyana (yes, this happened to my housemate once), or whatever.
If you're interested, I use Mozilla Firefox, although I've also used Opera before. Both are free to use, although Opera has some built-in adverts. If you install one of these then I'll be happy to help if you have any problems with it. If you don't, and you get some spyware from Internet Explorer, I'll still be happy to help... I'll just expect to be allowed to say "I told you so" ;)
