can you tell me why people call Microsoft "the evil empire"

[Grumpy's Gal]

I heard someone refer to them as such and I wondered why. Can someone explain this to me. Thanks.

 

[ckay87]

Jealousy.

There is a such thing as doing "too" well for yourself.

Bill Gates is my favorite rich guy. I've seen interviews with him and it's unreal how much $$ he gives to charity and how down-to-earth he is. I say go Microsoft.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I've often wondered this myself. Maybe it's because they are just successful. I find that when a company, or person, becomes successful they are often ridaculed.

 

[Nickunited]

I agree CapeCod - I think people wont just give credit to someone for building a fortune! I tip my cap to the man!

 

[tw1nsmom]

Now, I'm getting this second hand based on DH's rants,so I my not have it right. But...the things I've heard said about microsoft are that

-It treats it's employees horrifically. They practically have to sleep in their offices to keep up with the work

-Bill Gates has stolen ideas and cheated previous partner.

-Microsoft has created an illegal monopoly through intimidation/legal proceedings of smaller competitors, as well as attempting to make it mandatory to use their internet software/services (this was a while ago I think) if your computer used their operating system.


There's more, I'm sure,but I can't remember it all (I tend to tune out somewhat when DH talks about computers..kind of the way he tunes out when I talk about education and potty training). I also may have misremembered, so take what I said with a grain of salt.

 

[True North]

I'm not a huge Microsoft hater, but I'll give you the other view.

Microsoft has been able to control a lot of the computer industry, all becuase of their operating system. Through Windows, Microsoft has the ability to include their own programs that other companies have been trying to produce. This can be seen by computers coming with Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player (WMP). This has forced others to change their business or go out of business. For example, when the internet first became popular, Realplayer was the common media player, however, with all new computers coming with WMP most websites adapted their file style becuase they know people would have WMP. Microsoft tends to just copy something that already exists and incorperates it into their program, (as seen through Netscape, Realplayer, AOL, WordPerfect, and now trying to copy Google.)

The other problem, is for the most part, people are "forced" to use Windows becuase it has become the standard for PCs. While Microsoft adds other things into Windows it has not been the most stable or secure program which can cause problems.

Personally, I don't agree with the full complaint. It's like when people get mad at Walmart for shutting down the Mom and Pop stores. If you don't like it, don't shop there, yet most people still do. But courts in the US and around the world have seen a problem with including other programs with Windows so there must be something to it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Most institutions, people, companies, anything really, who or that are number one, are considered evil by many who are not in that number one spot. Just the way people are I guess, rooting for the underdog.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you have Netflix, rent "Triumph of the Nerds". It explains the beginning with Bill Gates, Steve Jobs (Mac), Xerox, and Oracle...oh and the poor schlep who sold the operating system to Gates for peanuts.

Gates is a ruthless businessman. He has alot of enemies. He is the "WalMart" of the computer world.

 

[diznygirl]

The problem with Microsoft is that you can't NOT use it. What is everyone using right now? Your operating system is probably Windows and you have MS office - and that all came standard with the pc that you bought. Are you going to buy a pc with no operating system and then use something other than Windows? Or better yet - buy a Mac!

It's the monopoly aspect that makes them an empire. And if you'd prefer a choice then yes, they would be an Evil Empire.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Now, I'm getting this second hand based on DH's rants,so I my not have it right. But...the things I've heard said about microsoft are that

-It treats it's employees horrifically. They practically have to sleep in their offices to keep up with the work

-Bill Gates has stolen ideas and cheated previous partner.

-Microsoft has created an illegal monopoly through intimidation/legal proceedings of smaller competitors, as well as attempting to make it mandatory to use their internet software/services (this was a while ago I think) if your computer used their operating system.


There's more, I'm sure,but I can't remember it all (I tend to tune out somewhat when DH talks about computers..kind of the way he tunes out when I talk about education and potty training). I also may have misremembered, so take what I said with a grain of salt.

What a load.
Jealousy is such an ugly thing. Sleep in their offices. Right.

 

[Papa Deuce]

The problem with Microsoft is that you can't NOT use it. What is everyone using right now? Your operating system is probably Windows and you have MS office - and that all came standard with the pc that you bought. Are you going to buy a pc with no operating system and then use something other than Windows? Or better yet - buy a Mac!

It's the monopoly aspect that makes them an empire. And if you'd prefer a choice then yes, they would be an Evil Empire.

I am NOT using it right now.... I have a mac! Don't like Apple or Windows? Run Linux.

 

[Papa Deuce]

What a load.
Jealousy is such an ugly thing. Sleep in their offices. Right.

Yes, right, pretty much. And in the computer software business it is QUITE COMMON. Look at the lawsuit filed against Electronic Arts for non payment of mandatory OT. These people were sleeping in their offices, as well.

Even my beloved Google does this. BUT they also provide free meals, Starbucks, bowling alleys, and a place to sleep onsite. They have movie theaters and doctor's offices..... why?????? Because software develpment is a rough business that requires way more than a 40 hour work week.

http://video.google.com/videoprevie...ting+Video&date=Mon+Jun+6+2005+at+8:07+PM+PDT

 

[Costumesaremylife]

I have no idea why they call them that. That's what we, in Boston, call the Yankees.

 

[tandrjohn]

Jealousy.

Some other points:

There are alternatives to Microsoft products, however, if you buy your computer from Dell, HP, Gateway, or a big box retailer, you probably have never heard of them. Operating Systems: Fedora, Mac OS X, Web Browser: Firefox, Netscape, Opera. Office Suite: OpenOffice.org, StarOffice, Corel Office, Lotus Smart Suite. Email: Thunderbird, Eudora. These are only a few of the alternatives available.

Bill Gates is a ruthless businessman but I think this is the norm for people in his position of wealth/power.

I have worked in the software development industry in several capacities for almost 15 years with 3 different Fortune 1000 companies and have never slept in my office. Late hours, yes. Early mornings, yes. Oncall, yes. Slept in office, no. "Sleep in offices" is the exception and not the norm industry wide.

Xbox 360 (by Microsoft) is the best thing since sliced bread!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Jealousy.

Some other points:

There are alternatives to Microsoft products, however, if you buy your computer from Dell, HP, Gateway, or a big box retailer, you probably have never heard of them. Operating Systems: Fedora, Mac OS X, Web Browser: Firefox, Netscape, Opera. Office Suite: OpenOffice.org, StarOffice, Corel Office, Lotus Smart Suite. Email: Thunderbird, Eudora. These are only a few of the alternatives available.

Bill Gates is a ruthless businessman but I think this is the norm for people in his position of wealth/power.

I have worked in the software development industry in several capacities for almost 15 years with 3 different Fortune 1000 companies and have never slept in my office. Late hours, yes. Early mornings, yes. Oncall, yes. Slept in office, no. "Sleep in offices" is the exception and not the norm industry wide.

Xbox 360 (by Microsoft) is the best thing since sliced bread!

My guess is you never worked for a game company. The "policy" of sleeping in the office is sometimes worn like a badge of honor. I have read many a book on video game companies and many of them mention working all through the night, getting some food and right back to work.... maybe a cat nap. I also watched "The EA Story ( Electronic Arts ) on TechTv, and they mentioned how commonplace it was there.

And, in the book I just read " The Google Story" they mention that it was fairly common in the start up years. I think that may be true in many startup companies.

 

[ceiligh1]

Microsoft takes very good care of their employees. Yes a work week is expected to be over 40 hours but they are also paid well. THey have parties very often and the managers there know when to give the staff a break. The entire month of december is often refered to by my friends there as an unofficial holiday as so many people take it off. Yes somepeople do sleep in their offices but who hasnt wanted to take a nap at work sometimes. The good thing is that the company lets them. I know with a young child I would have loved to have a company that allowed me to do this.
They also have food onsite, basketball and soccer fields and locker rooms with showers so that you can take a stress break when you need to.
I wont debate the whos right or whos wrong aspect of monopoly ect. but they do treat their employees well.

 

[tandrjohn]

My guess is you never worked for a game company. The "policy" of sleeping in the office is sometimes worn like a badge of honor. I have read many a book on video game companies and many of them mention working all through the night, getting some food and right back to work.... maybe a cat nap. I also watched "The EA Story ( Electronic Arts ) on TechTv, and they mentioned how commonplace it was there.

And, in the book I just read " The Google Story" they mention that it was fairly common in the start up years. I think that may be true in many startup companies.

Nope, but you didn't say a gaming company or a startup company. Your quote was:

And in the computer software business it is QUITE COMMON.

IMO, in the computer software business, it is QUITE UNCOMMON to sleep in your office.

 

[m&m's mom]

MY DH is a programmer and he HATES Microsoft. Basically there products are not that good they just were the 1st therefore got so big so fast they could dominate the field. My DH's main complaint is that their products are so bug filled it makes integrating products much more difficult than it should be. Let's all keep our fingers crossed for Linux!!!!

 

[tw1nsmom]

What a load.
Jealousy is such an ugly thing. Sleep in their offices. Right.

You know, the civility of these boards has really gone down in the past couple of weeks. It seems as though there are some people who can't express their opinions without the use of insulting language.

I was only answering the OP's question as to why SOME people have a problem with Microsoft. I even made it clear that this wasn't exactly my opinion, but coming second hand.

As for my DH or myself being jealous, you know nothing about us, our values, or our aspirations. Even if we admired Bill Gates as the most altruistic, successful businessman in all of history, we would have nothing to be jealous of. DH and I are very happy with the career choices we've made, and where we are in life.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

I didn't say you were jealous, nor do I particular care about your values, or whether or not you feel my answer was civil.

People are jealous of Microsoft, and Bill Gates, because they are successful.

One the things I've noticed on this board is that dissent is not tolerated. Don't say anything bad or oppose another's opinion. Wow.

Goodbye.