I am not a fan nor a detractor of MS, but I am a realist. All these folks that despise MS are like the ones who hate the Post Office. They complain about the cost of letters etc... but in perspective name one other company that will take a piece of paper from you and for .42 drive it from Miami to Seattle in 5-6 days, they complain but offer no alternative.

The same with MS naysayers, I may not like what they do but name some other company that has a product that 70%+ of businesses use or give a viaable alternative that does not require a total re-tool of the business world from Forune 500 all the way down to the mom and pop dry cleaners that uses Windows based tools. Apple and UNIX/Linux do not command enough market or have enough tools to be a realistic option and say what you want about open source, businesses really do not want a software tool that has been passed around the world for input. It is a pipe dream. So like MS or not, you are stuck with them and might as well take a drink now and then lest you dehydrate.

If one does not like MS the are free to start up an alternative, many have tried and many have died. So say what you want they are the king and can do what they want.