If you don't like how restrictive Microsoft is in their contracts, don't use their products. You Do Have That Choice.
Many people do not have that choice. The whole point of Microsoft's manopoly is that they're stifling choice and, incidentally, innovation. It's all very well to say that you have the choice of using another product, but Microsoft has deliberately used its power in a manner that has resulted in a situation where anyone who uses an alternative can find themselves at a major disadvantage--witness, if you will, the ubiquitous.doc format. Sure, I can use AbiWord or StarOffice, and send files as html or txt, but what happens when someone sends me a.doc file because everyone else uses Microsoft Word? Yes, AbiWord and SO have built in Word compatibility. Why do you think that is? Because Microsoft has such control over the market that without conforming to their "standards" you are crippled. The open source support for.doc is imperfect, and always one step behind as Microsoft constantly changes the format system each time they bring out a new version of Word. Why do you think that is? The only reason I can think of to do something so pointless is to keep the competition one step behind. It's not like there're any new features in Word that would require significant reworkings of the.doc format. Additions yes. Modifications? I don't think so.
It's all very well to say that everyone has a choice, and that if we're using Microsoft software it must be because we all chose to, but that's a very naive and simplistic, not to mention unexamined and self-deluding viewpoint.
If I weren't so nice, I'd be inclined to think you're a Microsoft employee, trolling (quite successfully I might add. It's not often I meet a troll browsing at +3).
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Many people do not have that choice. The whole point of Microsoft's manopoly is that they're stifling choice and, incidentally, innovation. It's all very well to say that you have the choice of using another product, but Microsoft has deliberately used its power in a manner that has resulted in a situation where anyone who uses an alternative can find themselves at a major disadvantage--witness, if you will, the ubiquitous .doc format. Sure, I can use AbiWord or StarOffice, and send files as html or txt, but what happens when someone sends me a .doc file because everyone else uses Microsoft Word? Yes, AbiWord and SO have built in Word compatibility. Why do you think that is? Because Microsoft has such control over the market that without conforming to their "standards" you are crippled. The open source support for .doc is imperfect, and always one step behind as Microsoft constantly changes the format system each time they bring out a new version of Word. Why do you think that is? The only reason I can think of to do something so pointless is to keep the competition one step behind. It's not like there're any new features in Word that would require significant reworkings of the .doc format. Additions yes. Modifications? I don't think so.
It's all very well to say that everyone has a choice, and that if we're using Microsoft software it must be because we all chose to, but that's a very naive and simplistic, not to mention unexamined and self-deluding viewpoint.
If I weren't so nice, I'd be inclined to think you're a Microsoft employee, trolling (quite successfully I might add. It's not often I meet a troll browsing at +3).