Man, I am SICK and tired of Microsoft’s sneakiness and threats. I should take out a court order…
For a few weeks, following a stealthy installation of MSN that also added a mean spirited “trojan” program, Microsoft’s “Genuine Advantage” software has been threatening to block my access to any and all MS Office documents unless I purchase their crapware. Well, I refuse!
Friends in the USA and elsewhere, I’ve been meaning to ask–is Microsoft acting like a real wiener these days? Boy! MAJOR poopypants behavior here in Taiwan, at least. I resent their immature behavior–and here’s why.
In the name of a “Genuine Advantage,” Bill (my metonym for all Microsoft cruddiness) has been warning he will cut off our Word and Excel privileges if we don’t purchase a new version of MS Office from him.
Tush in his teeth! I don’t use MS Office any more, save for rare cases when I need one of the few remaining features that the alternatives don’t yet have–nor MS Internet Exploder NOR YET MS Windows. However, try telling Taiwan to switch to OpenOffice.org–or to Linux, Mac, or any other option that does not the smarmy gits’ mark of approval. There’s but one brand in favor here: the worst!
Personally, I prefer [it's my blog and I WILL play with language here!] improprietary software. When I have my way, I’m for Open Software all the way!
Now, I realize that many people do have illegally-installed copies of MS products loaded onto their computers. Many people, indeed, likely did this on purpose. However, I have to point out that many selfish computer salescretins and businessmisers did this to trusting customers in order to save money, charge less for the computers, and make the sale. I don’t endorse stealing intellectual property from anybody, please note. This barging-in of the MS software at least woke me up to the fact that the computer dealers did NOT give us a legitimate copy of the software–so I am dropping it and feel guilty (even if it was their misdeed) about using the software. That should not have happened, and I regret the trespass.
However, there is NOT a need to steal MS software! Anything you need to work with is available free from the true princes and princesses of humanity, the selfless makers and coders who give us open software for free. Why won’t people use this marvelous stuff? What has Bill done to mesmerize the public? Get over MS, people!
I predict that this will be the lead pipe that breaks the camels’ backs. Some people will, with me, say, “Enough! I’m through with Microsoft’s tyranny!” and move to Linux systems and OOo–and never really have a reason to look back. Or as an alternative to Linux (I’m on Ubuntu as we speak, but have a notebook with XP and MacOSX right there) consider MacOSX, which I prize for similar, but at times differing, reasons.
With my wife, we’ve moved all our financial records over to OpenOffice–with NO loss of functionality, even on very rococo, byzantine spreadsheets that I was guessing would not be useful there. And my own records are always there, backed up and useful at any of my machines through Dropbox. J’adore!!
The threats from “Genuine Disadvantage” (MS seems to think that without their love, we’ll break our poor little customer hearts) are getting more and more dire. They can take a flying leap into Al’sswimming pool filled with double-edged razor blades. You can take your ring back, Microsoft. We’re through. I hope that for us men at least, we can enjoy a new kind of PMS–Post-Microsoft Satisfaction!
(Sorry sorry sorry, ladies and fairminded others!)
