Defending Evil

Alternate title: Stop Whining and Compute Like a Grown Up!

Computers and I have been around for a long time. Sometimes looking back is a poignant reminder of how far we've come and how quickly we've arrived here. It's relatively easy to focus on the technical aspects over the years but there is a complete set of emotional aspects too. The hateful relationship that many have with the Microsoft Corporation has never been on the forefront of my concerns. Despite news of near constant litigation, bashing them is hardly on my radar screen. In fact, I have always loved Microsoft for their monopolistic tendencies, lack of groundbreaking innovation, and poor O.S. security.

MONOPOLISTIC TENDENCIES: People bitch and complain, but let's thank the Almighty for Microsoft's ability to create standards. One can hardly imagine how difficult it would be driving a car if there wasn't a continuity between models and brands. For example, I am extremely grateful that Ford Motor Company, the Koreans at Hyundai, and even high-gear, Ferrari engineers have all adopted the right foot as being the universal way to accelerate. (Where this leaves left-footed individuals, I've not a clue!) But software does not follow the rules of tired, old industries. Think what you will, but the main reason why software is cheaper and more productive than ever is because of the fact Redmond has the power to unite. If they don't have a technology in-house, they either make a gentlemen's agreement or gobble up those who do. Remember, it's not an obscene thing that they often have the power to stamp out competing standards!

LACK OF INNOVATION: Being a company which provides cutting edge trends has never been a Microsoft forte. Yet they do pull together various technologies and eventually plop them into Windows. One may not be too concerned that a Firewire connection to their PC is possible until they buy a new digital device that needs one. Then, it's an enormous relief for Mr. Average Joe to discover he need only plug in the cable. Microsoft almost never creates the idea, they just wait a while and then push in and make it universal. The realm of Microsoft's all-embracing, monopolistic arms means that areas (you've not yet discovered you need) are slowly and silently being added to your software's foundations.

POOR SOFTWARE SECURITY: The most recent complaints against the company involve a condemnation for a lack of PC security. I have a well-formed theory which defines most of those pundits as acting like chickens with their heads' cut off. They seem to quote each other and stir up fear and loathing but do not correctly blame the source of the trouble. Let me explain something by the way of an example: The fact that one can send an executable program file or script by attaching to an email is a feature. The fact that idiots write virus programs and that stupid people run them is not an inherent security issue. The fact that Outlook now must default to not allowing file attachments, says far more about protecting people from themselves than a grand concept of security. It's nice to plug a hole but we have to remember that we are in reality just removing some of the programs' connectivity. For God sakes man, buy a yearly subscription to McAfee! A few bad apples with evil on their minds can turn any connection between computers into a liability. So, security-de-jour boils down to an exercise in building ways to prevent connections and events from occurring. There's a great deal of perception involved; we could be a great deal more 'secure' if we gave up any access to the Internet. However, although that's ultimate security, it doesn't sound like a solution in which I'd like to participate ...

All this said, I should probably just cover my ears and wait for the Windows XP SP2 release in August.