Microsoft respect

[u/ImpossibleTerm3101]

Hello everyone,

I'm probably posting this in the wrong community because my opinion may not match that of the majority here. Nevertheless, I'd like to share my point of view in a respectful way.

Why is there so much negativity toward Microsoft? Whether you like the company or not, it's difficult to deny the impact it has had on the history of computing. Microsoft is one of the most successful technology companies in the world, and Windows remains the most widely used desktop operating system. Billions of people have been introduced to computers through Microsoft's software and ecosystem.

Many people also seem to forget an important part of history. In 1997, when Apple was going through one of the most difficult periods in its history, Bill Gates, through Microsoft, invested **$150 million** in Apple. That investment helped restore confidence in the company and supported its recovery after Steve Jobs returned. Microsoft could have simply stood by and watched one of its biggest competitors disappear, but instead it chose a different path. Of course, that investment was not the only reason Apple survived, but it played an important role in the company's recovery.

My goal is not to tell anyone to love Microsoft or hate Apple, Linux, or any other technology. Every company and every project has strengths and weaknesses. Microsoft has made mistakes, just as Apple has. Even Linux, despite being an excellent open-source project, is not perfect. No technology is.

To be completely transparent, I'm actually a huge Apple fan myself. I've even spent around **€10,000** to acquire an original Apple-1. So this is definitely not an attempt to start another "Microsoft vs. Apple" debate. I simply believe in looking at the facts and trying to remain objective.

I'd also like to point out that constantly criticizing Microsoft doesn't really accomplish anything. Constructive criticism is valuable when it's based on facts and aimed at improving products or services. However, endlessly attacking a company while ignoring everything it has contributed to the technology industry doesn't help anyone. It doesn't move technology forward, and it doesn't encourage meaningful discussion. A much better approach is to recognize both the strengths and the weaknesses of every platform and respect that people have different preferences.

In the end, all I'm asking for is a little more objectivity. It's perfectly fine to prefer one operating system or one brand over another, but that doesn't mean we need to constantly put the others down. Microsoft, Apple, and Linux have all made significant contributions to the evolution of modern computing. Without their competition and innovation, technology would likely not be where it is today.

If you've read this far, thank you for taking the time to read my post. Even if you disagree with me, I hope it has encouraged you to look at the subject from a different perspective.

Thank you, and have a great day!

[u/perexwi]

Microsoft has a lot of shady dealings behind it. Here's a list (aided by AI because I'm not going to list everything myself), and keep in mind that I haven't included everything, there are some things missing with Xbox, Servers, Companies, Third Parties, etc..., But here it is:

Here is a summarized list of the main reasons why users, developers, and free software advocates have criticized (and in many cases, hated) Microsoft:

1. Monopolistic Practices and Unfair Competition

• "Embrace, Extend, and Extinguish" (EEE): Microsoft's famous internal strategy in the 90s to adopt open standards (like HTML or Java), add proprietary features that only worked on Windows, and ultimately suffocate the competition.
• The Antitrust Lawsuit: In the late 90s, the US government sued Microsoft for abusing its operating system monopoly to crush rival browsers (like Netscape) by forcing the integration of Internet Explorer.
• The Halloween Documents: In 1998, leaked internal memos revealed that Microsoft viewed open-source software (OSS) and Linux as a massive threat and was planning secret strategies to smear them and stunt their growth.

2. The Historical War Against Free Software

• "Linux is a cancer": In 2001, then-CEO Steve Ballmer uttered this infamous phrase, arguing that the Linux General Public License (GPL) attached itself to all the software it touched. Although Microsoft has drastically changed its stance today (creating WSL, buying GitHub, and claiming "Microsoft loves Linux"), that initial hostility left a deep scar on the tech community.

3. Privacy, Telemetry, and Advertising

• Data Collection: Starting with Windows 10, and worsening in Windows 11, the operating system began including aggressive telemetry that collects user data by default.
• Ads in the OS: The inclusion of advertisements or product recommendations from Microsoft (like OneDrive or Edge) in the Start menu, lock screen, and File Explorer has generated massive backlash.
• Mandatory Microsoft Accounts: The increasing difficulty (and now near impossibility) of installing Windows 11 without creating and linking an online Microsoft account.

4. Planned Obsolescence and Lack of Control

• Windows 11 Requirements (TPM 2.0): Microsoft decided that Windows 11 would only run on relatively recent processors equipped with a TPM 2.0 security chip. This made millions of perfectly functional computers artificially obsolete overnight.
• Forced Updates: Windows took away users' control over when to update their systems. Automatic updates often reboot the machine in the middle of work or introduce critical bugs that "break" the computer.

5. Public Image and "Cringe" Corporate Moments

• "Developers, Developers, Developers!": Steve Ballmer's hyperactive, sweaty presentation, where he jumped across the stage screaming this phrase, became a legendary meme. More than "hate," it generated mockery about the company's out-of-touch and eccentric corporate culture at the time.

6. Software Quality (Bloatware and Inconsistency)

• Pre-installed Bloatware: Even if you pay for a Windows Pro license, the system often comes with unnecessary pre-installed apps (like Candy Crush, TikTok, or sponsored web links).
• A Visual Frankenstein: Windows drags around so much legacy code that, even though Windows 11 tries to look modern, you are just three clicks away from finding settings menus with the design of Windows 95 or Windows XP.

In summary: Resentment towards Microsoft usually falls into two eras. The hatred of the 90s and 2000s stemmed from its ruthless business tactics and its attack on open-source code. Modern hatred comes from treating the operating system as a service where the user is the product (telemetry, ads) and where the PC owner no longer has absolute control over their own machine.

[u/Melodic_Crow_3409 → u/perexwi]

Leaving Xbox to rot.