# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/21 "2001-11-17T03:36:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\*Get a Mac. 🙂 > > More style, more reliable, more secure, better integration, and no monopolistic world-domination tactics. \*\* Here’s a nickel, kid. Go buy yourself a real OS. > **[Linux.com - News For Open Source Professionals](https://www.linux.com/)** > > Linux.com is the go-to resource for open source professionals to learn about the latest in Linux and open source technology, careers, best practices, and industry trends. Get news, information, and tutorials to help advance your next project or... -Tons of GPL’d software. -Cheap (download it today for free, or buy it with a thick instruction book for less than $50 total). -Not bloatware. -Fully customizable, even by newbies. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/22 "2001-11-17T03:40:03Z")
And might I add the people who make Linux use Linux, so it is probably the most-maintained OS in the world. But I’ll stop. I wouldn’t want to be seen as prostelytizing. 😃 ---
**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, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/23 "2001-11-17T08:55:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > > Get a Mac. 🙂 > > Here’s a nickel, kid. Go buy yourself a real OS. > > [http://www.linux.com](http://www.linux.com) I’ll see your Linux and raise you one [open-source BSD **UNIX.**](http://www.apple.com/macosx/technologies/darwin.html) Why settle for a watered-down version when you can have the real thing? 🙂 But you get five points for snarfing a _Dilbert_ line in there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/24 "2001-11-18T18:28:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by rjung \* > > > Get a Mac. 🙂 > > > > Here’s a nickel, kid. Go buy yourself a real OS. > > > > [http://www.linux.com](http://www.linux.com) > > I’ll see your Linux and raise you one [open-source BSD **UNIX.**](http://www.apple.com/macosx/technologies/darwin.html) Why settle for a watered-down version when you can have the real thing? 🙂 > > But you get five points for snarfing a _Dilbert_ line in there. 😉 \*\* _ **Watered-down version!?!** _ My attack penguins will be with you shortly, infidel! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/25 "2001-11-19T09:01:17Z")
When I was still in High School–my academic decathlon team had to give argumentative speeches. Since I wanted something challenging–I decided when choosing a topic, to do one in favor of Bill Gates and Microsoft business tactics. It was difficult to do. For the sole reason that all the research I did showed without a doubt that Gates truly is a vicious behemoth. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/26 "2001-11-19T09:17:26Z")
As I write this on my new iMac (with Internet Explorer 5 for Mac) I am saddened. I am cross-platform (well, I seem to be on my Mac more than my PC, but I _am_ cross platform. See? My PC’s sitting right over there.) And I have been looking forward to my next PC being preinstalled with XP. But phooey. It sounds like it sucks. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/27 "2001-11-19T21:16:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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. \*\* as palve said above, Windows XP does suck, i’m going to switch to 98 soon. ---
**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 20, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/28 "2001-11-20T02:59:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by k.os \* > 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. Huh. That’s strange. I remember having Outlook automatically pop up. Maybe that in a previous version of the board. Or another site. Or maybe I’m just confused. Er, carry on with the rant. ---
**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 20, 2001, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615/29 "2001-11-20T03:06:35Z")
**The Ryan** I think it depends on how your windows is set up. I set up my system so that Netscape is my main browser. I still have Outlook on my system, but I won’t even let it connect to the internet (my firewall refuses it access). If you didn’t install Netscape, (or actually, if you don’t give netscape the right file associations) since Win comes with IE bundled, it will pop up for most net-related tasks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-evil-and-monopolistic/93615.md?page=1)