You can acknowledge that Microsoft revolutionized the world and still take note that most of their current products just don't work as well as they should. Most of the MIT grads I know do just that, in fact...

People like you make subjective statements like this, but backing them up would be tough. People complain about Vista, but it's a better PC OS than any alternatives. (and they've fixed all the early issues people had.) People sometimes note that they like Mac OSs better, but that doesn't matter - Macs have less people trying to make viruses targetting them, and are notably more expensive hardware.

When I think of MS, I think of the following:

Windows

MS Office

MS SQL Server

Xbox

all of those are top notch. SQL Server is extremely cost effective for fairly large scale databases. the Office is a superb productivity tool, and the Xbox is a great console. MS puts out tons of quality products, and just because you can find SOME better products for SOME uses, in the opinion of SOME people, doesn't make it true.

Being an MIT grad doesn't nessecarily make you more qualified to just MS' products, because as smart as they generally are, they're still generally going to have to learn a lot about the business world, and a lot of them feel comfortable casting judgements based on what they use their PC for at home, or judging it against their MacBook. Look at Windows... what it is, what it does. Everything you do and use on a daily basis works so well together - the PC world we have now is thanks to MS, and they are continuing to keep it moving forward, even if you don't want to give them the credit for it.

Apple rock ! Window S*** !! Have you ever tried a apple ?

Ed tu, Squilliam?

It was a Ballmer joke.  All devs, more likely interns slaves.  It is the master-slave structure in corps.  In all devs are supposed to work instead of being lazy.  I would rather have perks than a cardboard box anyday of the week.  People in this day and age cry about everything.

I tried correct grammer once. It worked really well, so I ate an apple.

I have nothing against MS/Gates giving away money to all sorts of charities or whatever but it must all be held in prospective.

A great teacher that lived 2000 years ago warned his followers to be wary of people who, before they paid their offerings to the temple or gave alms to the poor, would gather the whole city to watch them do it (not quite word for word but you get the meaning).

Why? Because they want the world to see them as generous and in the case of MS, buy their products.

Other companies too gave to charities but you never hear about it.

The same teacher asked what is worth more.

The man who has $100 and gave £25 to charity or the man you has 10 billion and gave away 1 billion to charity (up to date translation)?

Obviously the 1 billion would go a lot further but of the two men who has the bigger heart.

No personal attack on MS. Just food for thought.

definition of irony : Turning in a school/college lab report using Microsoft excell/word , then go home and sit on a computer , go online (Microsoft Windows ) log on to Vgchatz , and rip on Microsoft !!

funny !