So why all this Microsoft hatred? Although Apple brought us the home computer, Microsoft was the one that made it actually do something else than making calculations and editing documents. And let’s not forget that they were the one who brought down the price from $2,000+ in the 80’s to $3-400 today. But no matter how much Microsoft has done every company keeps taking puck shots at them from big old Google all the way down to tiny Apple. The only major companies who seem to be on their side these days is of course HP, Toshiba, DELL and IBM, which is obvious seeing Microsoft was one the major reasons why these companies became the giants they are today (although IBM and Michael Dell will disagree with me).

Now don’t get me wrong. Microsoft (as with any major company) has its problems. But all this crap about Vista being the worst OS over (that title goes to Window’s ME) and this other stuff about them copying Apple (Vista has been in the works for over 7 years, way before Apple’s OS became so advanced) are just not flying because there is hardly any proof. But the major though on this matter is competition is good. Many said for years that Microsoft was unbeatable because they were the giant (Mozilla and Apple and Google proved that wrong). All three companies have taken different segments of the company and chipped away at it. But what people hardly realize is that this encourages competition which drives technology.

Take Mozilla for example. After Microsoft came out the triumphant winner in the browser wars back in the 90’s we were stuck with a lackluster internet browser that was good but not best. Than out of the ashes of Netscape rose Mozilla. While Mozilla has not posed any major competition to the giant yet Microsoft has taken notice and thus we have a more secure internet explorer and one that actually rivals and beats Firefox in many features.

Another example is Apple. Back in the late 90’s Apple was in so much trouble (after kicking Jobs off the job) that Microsoft was about to buy them out (literally), than Jobs came back and with a series of victories to his name including the iPod, iPhone, Final Cut Studios (but minus Apple TV) has set himself as one of the leading men of the digital revolution. How has this helped the consumer? Well it made Microsoft Windows just a bit better and the upcoming Window’s 7 (codenamed Vienna) will be Microsoft’s major step into an OS that is 10x more secure with better CPU and memory usage (to simplify the complicated).

But the major example has been Google. Started by two college students in their dorm, Google has moved from being just a tiny company with hardly any life to the biggest player in the advertisement industry. And with their step into the mobile platform as well as Internet based OS programs it has really put Microsoft on its toes.

So yes Microsoft has its problems but had it not been for the “bad” company you would not actually have a choice between MSN and Google, or Mac and Windows, or IE and Firefox and most importantly the choice to live a Microsoft free life. Although the latter is impossible because whether they like to admit it or not Apple, Mozilla and Google are only successful because they have someone who is better than them to compete with. Take Microsoft away and we’ll see where the technology revolution will be in the next 20 years.

1. Availability is one of the major reasons why Microsoft has become so popular. Thanks to the idea that Bill Gates had to put a computer in every home Microsoft has been seen all around the world from Los Angeles all the way to Tokyo. This means that as Microsoft moves on in the US many other countries that now use their products will move along with them.
2. Habit: we humans are creatures of habit and nothing has sown us this fact better than history. While we cannot say that a whole generation has grown up in Microsoft’s backyard it sure seems like that. Many Apple fanatics will agree with this point that the major thing holding Apple back is the fact that people do not like change. If they are used to something chances are they are going to stick with that even if something can outperform what they are currently using (not to say that Apple outperforms Vista).
3. Price: One of Microsoft’s major advantages and Apple’s big weak link. Although it might not seem like a lot it’s not impossible to see that Apple is a lot more expensive than Microsoft. Where can you get an Apple system in the sub 300’s? Yet Microsoft has been able to manufacture systems in the economic range. While they do not carry the same performance as many of the bigger systems, it’s still affordable for families, individuals and companies who might not be able to afford a better system.
4. Customizability: Ask any gamer if they would trade their Alien Ware or Dell XPS for a Macbook Pro and the resounding answer will be NO. While you might be able to get a knock off of the Apple OS X on a mobile phone (something Microsoft has done with its Window’s Mobile for years) yet you still do not have OS X tablet PC’s, gaming rigs, or dedicated systems for such things as programming, CAD or 3D animation. This gives Microsoft a huge advantage which means that Microsoft has built an OS that is able to run in a multitude of devices and thus secure itself a spot in the digital revolution.
5. Last but not least is integration. Microsoft X-Box integrates with Windows Media Center. Now you have Window’s Home Server which allows you to store all your data such as pictures movies and videos (even work documents) on a server in your own house and access it from any computer in the world (granted internet is available). And now with the addition of their new MP3 player - the Zune it’s going to be a touch challenge but its looking like Apple iPod finally has some real competition.

1. The only other OS that competes in this area is Linux. Window’s is one of the few OS that has the ability to work on multiple devices with few configurations. While Microsoft did not do so good at this a few years ago (as they were in new waters) they have began to refine it and it’s looking a lot better. Not only that but with their advances to a new BOOT system this means that more devices will be able to run their own version of Windows. Not to mention the fact that it also runs on many enterprise servers which means that it’s possible to integrate an entire company on one network.
2. Thanks to the popularity of the Eee PC and many other small lightweight and inexpensive PC’s it is now possible for many developing countries to have the power of the PC in their hands. And since many of these companies such as Asus have secured a deal with Microsoft, they are now able to install the Home version of Windows XP on these systems. Thus Windows is making a ground breaking entry into the developing world. This means that finally smaller countries will be able to afford a piece of the cake in a smaller and more affordable version.
3. Microsoft is one of the main reasons why our computer revolution is where it is. Due to the rivalry and the competition among Microsoft and its competitors it has caused better systems to be produced. Within the last five years computer performance and specs has nearly been doubled and thanks to the competition posed by Apple, Linux and others it has done nothing but provide better options for the consumer.
4. Bill Gates once told Steve Ballmer that his intention was to put a computer in every home. Although he has not succeeded he has become the closest of any company. If it were not for Microsoft we would not be able to do most of our shopping at home not to mention that most of the things we either use in our office or at home would not be there. Thanks to Microsoft it has transformed the western world into the leader of the digital revolution.
5. Microsoft is largely responsible for the progress we have made in communication. Before the advent of the company, communication other than fax, mail or phone was unheard of except for short distances where people could use 2-way radios. From the 90’s VoIP and other communication types such as web cam (which sadly has been abused by the adult entertainment community) and of course IM has seen the price of telecommunication drop drastically within the last decade.

So yes - Microsoft does have its problems but thanks to it we are a better connected world, and although they were wrong on certain tech revolutions (most notably HD-DVD) they have more wins under their belts than losses.