[Canadaka]

10. Microsoft drives computing costs down
With all the rhetoric surrounding Linux and its "free" status, it is often forgotten why consumers (Linux users included) pay so little for computer hardware these days. Not only have Microsoft's desktop efforts led to led to greater hardware economics of scale, the company has actively worked to drive down hardware prices through standard PC specifications, including simple things like the WinModem. Though WinModems drive Linux aficionados to distraction, the reason WinModems exist is that they cost less, saving consumers money on new PCs.Furthermore, let's not forget that Microsoft has historically charged FAR less than its proprietary cousins. Compared to Sun Microsystems' high-priced Unix servers, Oracle's incredibly expensive database and the price combo of Apple hardware with ANY Apple OS, Microsoft products have been an incredible bargain.

9. Microsoft has been instrumental in bringing computing to ordinary people
Although that might be a "negative" for those who don't want to be bothered by hordes of "newbies," non-technical computer users wouldn't be on the Internet if it weren't for handholding from companies such as AOL and, of course, Microsoft. Through its marketing and products, Microsoft has done more than any other company to help users find ways to integrate computing into their daily lives.

8. Microsoft employees absolutely love their company
Microsoft regularly is ranked one of the best places to work. Programmers are respected, and creativity is encouraged. Plus, the company pays well to boot. That leads to one of the lowest employee turnover rates in the industry, even at a time when the company is in the midst of a government suit which has dragged its name through the mud.

7. Microsoft pays loads in taxes
According to information found on Yahoo Financials, Microsoft paid $1.288 billion dollars in income taxes for the fiscal quarter ended March 31. This will probably go down in the history books as my stupidest analogy ever, but imagine Microsoft paid that sum in pennies. A penny weighs 2.5 grams, and at a grams-to-pounds conversion rate of .002205, would result in a weight of pennies of approximately 270,774,000 pounds (or 135,387 short tons). To put that in perspective, the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier weighs in at 95,000 tons, making Microsoft's quarterly income tax charge worht the weight of 1.5 aircraft carriers.

6. Its founder has donated more money to charity than anyone in history
At the last count, Bill Gates, as an individual, has given about $22 billion--or just under 26 aircraft carriers--to charity. To put that in perspective, George Soros' donations as an individual total a "measly" $2 billion. Andrew Carnegie, the famed philanthropist, gave only $3 billion in current dollars over the course of his life.

5. Microsoft creates a computing economy worth far greater than its own net worth
If one counts up all the companies that develop Windows-compatible software (including such industry luminaries such as Oracle and IBM), all the hardware companies that make money selling to Windows users, and all the technicians engaged in writing software for Windows or providing technical support for it, you'll find that there is far more money made from Microsoft products outside of Redmond than is made inside of it.

4. One of the largest R&D budgets in the industry
In fiscal year 2001, Microsoft spent $4.4 billion, a spending total that rose to more than $5 billion in fiscal year 2002. R&D benefits us all through technological advancements. Though developing software that is more productive might not seem as earth-shattering as, say, finding a cure for cancer, such advances improve the efficiency of the digital infrastructure upon which we build our lives.

3. Microsoft takes risks
This might seem a strange reason to consider Microsoft a good corporate citizen, but consider the results. How many companies would have the courage--much less the stamina--to take on Sony in game consoles, Palm computing in handhelds, Sun in server operating systems, Oracle and IBM in databases, AOL in internet access, and practically every wireless phone maker in existence (Nokia and Ericsson among them) in the provision of operating systems for advanced cell phones? Not many.

Microsoft is the primary competitor to these leading companies in most of these markets, which helps boost quality and innovation. I might be going off on a tangent, but if Microsoft can enter already dominated markets and manage to keep its head above water, why can't other large companies compete in markets Microsoft dominates?

2. A beacon of profitability in a sea of red ink
Microsoft is one of the few companies TO have managed to maintain robust sales throughout the current recession. That should matter to those who care about the health of the U.S. economy.

And last but not least...

1. No accounting scandals at Microsoft
In contrast to all the revenue-padding at Enron, WorldCom and even AOL, Microsoft was prompted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to adjust its past income upwards.

[RoyalHighlander]

YA so whats your point????

[Canadaka]

nothin, just something to post, and to somewhat justtify why i like MS, it was an email sent to a friend who does MSN tech support.

[Canadaka]

$1:

If you look at a company like Microsoft, and if you look at their stock, itÂ’s been pretty stable through this very difficult stock market. Some people would say that their success is due simply to the fact that they have the so-called monopoly in operating systems. I would point out that PCs are only one type of computer. There are Internet servers, there are hand-held computers, there are game computers, computers in cameras and in other specialized devices. Microsoft is involved in all of these areas, but does not dominate any of them. Their success in my view is because they have a significant ability to adapt. I think it comes from Bill GatesÂ’ justified concern, what he calls his "paranoia" about relying for too long on any particular business model, but rather trying to predict where technology and the industry are going.

[-Mario-]

Good post... Changed my view on Microsoft.

[Legion]

Microsoft, another wonderful US invention.

[Defector01]

I can't pick one of the choices...I like Microsoft, thay have come a long way and done very well for themselves but I only use their OS's...Nothing else of theirs do I particularly care for? Could we have that choice added?

What does everyone else use anyways? Their are other application and "end user" software solutions out there.

[Canadaka]

I use a wide range of Microsoft products.

Windows XP Pro
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Rocks!)
Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Microsoft ISA Server 2004

Microsoft Office 2003
Outlook 2003 (can't live without outlook)
Microsoft Streets and Trips 2005 (friggin cool program!)

Microsoft Antispyware Beta
Internet Explorer 6.x kernel through Maxthon Browser (i hope they add a lot of maxthon features to IE7)

[Defector01]

I use:

Windows XP Pro
OpenOffice 2.0 (testing it for them, upgraded from OOo 1.1)
The Gimp 2.2 (For graphics)
QCD player (for MP3, It's Canadian Made!!)
Mozilla Firefox (with the Lila Theme)

Anyone else?

Use a wide range of Microsoft products at work, plus Adobe Photoshop. Microsoft and Adobe make good stuff (I own Adobe Audition)...But for cost...the above works for me...

[Canadaka]

I also use adobe products at work and others.

Adobe Photoshop CS
Adobe Indesign
Adobe PageMaker
Adobe Acrobat

Macromedia Dreamweaver
Macromedia Director
Macromedia Fireworks

Alias Maya 6.5
Alias Mocap 6.0

I use some version of Winamp for mp3's
Windows media player 10 for movies (with MCE2005)


I will check out that QCD program

[Canadaka]

so you use Gimp to make those wallpapers? but you can't open photoshop psd's can you? i should give you some transparent png's for the logos then.

[FuBaR]

I use The GimpShop....Its a beauty of a program. And of course good old Dreaweaver.

[Defector01]

The Gimp 2.2 will now open anything you throw at it...Photoshop files...even Paint SHop Pro files. So the .png's work fine and actually the files you sent were .png's...either way I could make them work ...

I've seen GimpShop ...and it is a sweet program also...might I recommend a Free program for viewer photo? Freestone Image Viewer. Outstanding features...especially it's FREE!! GIMPshop for windows is available...have to give it a spin and test it out.

[Canadaka]

i dont use or liek picture viewers, XP has a perfectly fine picture viewer and thumbnail system, no need for extra crap.

no no click on those png images, they are links to download the .psd layered versions of them. not meant to use the images displayed on the page.

http://www.canadaka.net/modules.php?nam ... .net+FAQ#3

[Defector01]

True, true..no need for extra crap...I just test development versions and provide feedback for developers. This sorta keeps the Open Source and Freeware Community alive and kicking. I report Bugs and stuff to them and it helps out. Windows XP does have an awesome viewer and file browser though.