# This is NOT evil and monopolistic?!?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 15, 2001, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615 "2001-11-15T21:58:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PosterChild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@PosterChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PosterChild)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/1 "2001-11-15T21:58:36Z")
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh! I hate Bill Gates. That anal pus feltching piece of smegmatic scum. He is proof that, if there is a god, it is evil. I have a new computer that came with Windows XP. Everything’s set up to use microsoft with everything, by default. I took me for-fricking-ever to figure out how to stop IExplorer from opening the damn MSMoney whenever I went to an online store or catalog. The damn thing pops up and there’s no obvious way to get rid of it. After a lot of searching at [microsoft.com](http://microsoft.com) I found that you actually have to agree to install money, (but can cancel during the install) before the $&_% will enable the menu button that lets you disconnect money from IE. Who the frog f_cker does he think he is? So I finally removed his sick tentacles from most of the system. Big hastle and most beginners probably won’t be able to. It’s been awhile, and I’ve become complacent. A big no-no with Gatesware. I’m paying my bills online. I go to a credit card site and click to download my statement in Quicken format. Get that?.. **Quicken** not MSAnything! Instead of getting the open or save window, I get a window that says MSMoney has downloaded and saved the file for conversion to MSMoney! **WTF!** Right clicking doesn’t bring up any pop up menu options. I can’t be-f’cking-lieve it. It’s not an MS product file. MSMoney is a different format/extension which most places let you uses to download your files. And even if your only option was Quicken format. MSMoney has no trouble converting it (as it did auto-fricken-matically). But **no** that’s not good enough. He won’t let you choose where it goes or what you do with it. I tried looking for associations in IExplorer options, but no luck. Finally, I remembered to try windows extension associations, and that did the trick. I hope the evil piece of goat-feltched rotting pus rots in H-E-double toothpicks! PC P.S.- That would actually be all in CAPS, but I didn’t want to hurt your ears by yelling. ---
**Author:** ![Palve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/2 "2001-11-15T22:07:04Z")
I hate Microsoft. Their new commercials for Windows XP has stooped down to Red Bull’s level of advertising a “liberation” akin to having an ability to fly. Microsoft OS’s have gotten suckier and suckier since Windows '98. My friend (fellow Doper **clayton\_e** ) has Winblows ME. Man, does that OS suck or what? ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/3 "2001-11-15T22:33:11Z")
The only hope is that people- the consumers- will get so fed up with it that they’ll actually seek out alternatives, out of spite alone. If all goes the way things seem to be heading, MS and its practices will be as hated as AOL’s. It’s only a matter of time before AOL feels the consumer’s wrath and backlash. And one would hope the same thing happens with MS as well. Outside of that, what can you do _if_ you actually want or need to run MS products? Not much, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/4 "2001-11-15T23:00:44Z")
[This](http://freespace.virgin.net/andrew.harrison4/) might make you feel better. ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/5 "2001-11-15T23:06:58Z")
That’s great. Thanks, Mr. **Mudd**. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/6 "2001-11-16T00:25:33Z")
Does this help? > **[Ebola.com](http://www.ebola.com)** > > Welcome to Ebola.com - see blog posts Go all the way to the banner at the bottom, and be sure to read the response from MS! ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/7 "2001-11-16T00:58:44Z")
[Bill Gates confesses](http://money.cnn.com/2001/11/12/technology/gates_software/). Sort of. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/8 "2001-11-16T01:11:13Z")
Hmm. I have a computer running Windows XP. I also run WordPerfect Office and Netscape Communicator, along with all sorts of other non-Microsoft software. No problems. **PosterChild** , maybe the problem is that whoever sold you the computer set it up to use Microsoft products by default. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/9 "2001-11-16T01:18:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JeffB \* > **PosterChild** , maybe the problem is that whoever sold you the computer set it up to use Microsoft products by default. By that, I meant as opposed to it being a Microsoft problem. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/10 "2001-11-16T01:38:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JeffB \* > \*\*Hmm. I have a computer running Windows XP. I also run WordPerfect Office and Netscape Communicator, along with all sorts of other non-Microsoft software. No problems. > > **PosterChild** , maybe the problem is that whoever sold you the computer set it up to use Microsoft products by default. \*\* Maybe, maybe not, I’ve had the same kind of problems. I installed Office 2000 on my machine and when I tried to type a letter it _demanded_ that I use the address book in Outlook for the operation. I have AOL, so I can’t use Outlook for anything, and yet unless I used Outlook, it wouldn’t let me use the letter template. Being in a hurry, I cussed the software and then used Lotus Word Pro to write the letter. ---
**Author:** ![lenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3bc359/32.png) [@lenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lenin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/11 "2001-11-16T04:16:10Z")
You’ll notice that I’ve been using Windows 98 since it came out and I’ve been cruisin’ along without a problem. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/12 "2001-11-16T19:52:38Z")
Get a Mac. 🙂 More style, more reliable, more secure, better integration, and no monopolistic world-domination tactics. ---
**Author:** ![saepiroth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@saepiroth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saepiroth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/13 "2001-11-16T20:29:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*Get a Mac. 🙂 > > More style, more reliable, more secure, better integration, and no monopolistic world-domination tactics. \*\* and little software. ---
**Author:** ![rushtopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47774/32.png) [@rushtopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rushtopher)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/14 "2001-11-16T20:33:15Z")
Here we go… [sub]Pulls up a chair for the inevitable religous debate of Wintel vs. Mac[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Demise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@Demise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demise)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/15 "2001-11-16T21:00:26Z")
You all are perilously close to invoking **Chas.E**. For the love of all the is good and sane, please don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/16 "2001-11-16T22:02:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JellyDonut \* > \*\*I hate Microsoft. Their new commercials for Windows XP has stooped down to Red Bull’s level of advertising a “liberation” akin to having an ability to fly. Microsoft OS’s have gotten suckier and suckier since Windows '98. My friend (fellow Doper **clayton\_e** ) has Winblows ME. Man, does that OS suck or what? \*\* Every time I see that commercial I notice that one guy who tries several times…in cutaways… to get off the ground. He fails the first 3 or 4 time to fly. All I can think of is it being a metaphor for: Installation error Installation error Installation error Installation error Installation error Installation error ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/17 "2001-11-17T01:13:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by saepiroth \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > > Get a Mac. 🙂 > > > > More style, more reliable, more secure, better integration, and no monopolistic world-domination tactics. > > and little software. What, [18,000+ titles](http://guide.apple.com/) isn’t enough? You must have a lot of free time on your hands, then. 🙂 > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Demise_ > You all are perilously close to invoking **Chas.E**. For the love of all the is good and sane, please don’t. I’ll see your **Chas.E** and raise you one **Tejota**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![saepiroth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@saepiroth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saepiroth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/18 "2001-11-17T02:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by saepiroth \* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > > > Get a Mac. 🙂 > > > > > > More style, more reliable, more secure, better integration, and no monopolistic world-domination tactics. > > > > and little software. > > What, [18,000+ titles](http://guide.apple.com/) isn’t enough? You must have a lot of free time on your hands, then. 🙂 > \*\* macintosh doesn’t have _Planescape; Torment_. macintosh is obviously a product of satan. [sub]\ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/19 "2001-11-17T03:03:00Z")
There’s also the question of why it is unreasonably difficult to email someone on the board without using Outlook. ---
**Author:** ![k.os](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@k.os](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k.os)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/20 "2001-11-17T03:33:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Ryan \* > \*\*There’s also the question of why it is unreasonably difficult to email someone on the board without using Outlook. \*\* Could you explain? I use Netscape 4.77 most of the time and it works perfectly fine. I click on the Icon and then get a page with the adress. If I click on it, I get a new message from Netscape Messenger. I just write and press send. I hope this post doesn’t come across as condescending. This is not my intention. It’s just that I keep hearing people saying they’re having trouble with netscape on the boards, but I have never seen it. Maybe there’s a configuration problem for some, that would be entirely possible. Hey, I don’t know, maybe with Outlook you click on the icon and get a new message immediately, if that’s it, it’s cool, but I’m satisfied with my browser/newsreader config (Netscape 4.77 and 6.1, Forté Agent for binaries newsgroups) Too many security problems with IE and OE. Also,OE doesn’t post RFC-compliant articles. Just my .02$ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615.md?page=2)