>It's one thing to provide tools that help me create solutions for others (and let me make a living). It's another to put obstacles in the way and force me to tolerate it because they're the only game in town.
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>Like all companies that grow so big that they get out of touch with their customers ... < you finish the sentence>
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This "event" might be worth marking on the calendar.

I have occassion to visit some pretty obscure news groups and forums on the Web when I'm looking for software. I was surprised at the extent to which the "coming generation" despises Microsoft's tactics and sneers at its "XP" philosophy. They have no use for Windows and have no use for any of MS's products; the "registration" (crap) solidifies their position. It won't happen tomorrow, but one day these "kids" will be writing PO's and it won't be for MS software. They're using free compilers from Borland and cutting their teeth on commercial grade open source applications. Word has it that (some number of) Universities are also going the Linux route simply because of Open Source. The hassle of staying "legal" with MS has become too much and many cannot be bothered with it anymore.