As freak legislation, the antitrust laws stand alone. Nobody knows what it is they forbid.──Isabel Paterson
說句公道話︰沒有微軟，根本不會有今天的Internet盛世。試想想，是誰讓每個人的桌面上都有一部PC？雖然我們當中有不少人用的都是老翻，不過，老翻程式也總要有人寫出來吧！
為微軟說公道話，思哲自知是不討好的事。當然，有人會說，微軟將種種技術申請專利，是霸道。不過，請看看RIMM被人截糊拿了專利之後，被人家告有多慘吧！要知道美國是個律師搵食的天堂，若我是Bill Gate，自家有用過的技術，有理無理都拿個專利保護，不是要來告別家，而是要來自保。就像孫柏文說，只有一種人在交通意外中不會被人同情，那就是開超級豪華跑車的二世祖，無論是否有錯，旁觀者總會對着那紅色法拉利指指點點，但就是沒有人去想那個司機究竟有沒有犯錯。
說到底，微軟要是有錯，就是錯在太過成功，年年做世界首富，自然樹大招風。自從微軟被美國司法部盯上了，那反壟斷案就似永遠都打不完，由美國再到歐洲到亞洲，微軟就像千年難得一見的無底古井一樣，到處被人抽水；細心者不難發覺，不少微軟反壟斷案的結果，都不是為了所謂的消費者。在南韓，微軟官司的結果就是庭外和解，微軟花了錢買下一間沒有價值的韓國土炮軟件公司，這種吸引外資的方法也夠新鮮！
可能微軟被人打得多了，阿標人也老了，竟然被打得有點微軟。話說最新一宗反微軟官司，是由Google提出，理由是微軟的Vista未有讓對手在Desktop Search上有開放的競爭。Google也算是三寸丁大衛嗎？別儍氣了！大家要是真的很怨恨微軟，對它最有效的懲罰，是永遠都不再用它的產品，用 Linux，再不是就用Apple，不用Office，轉到Google Docs和Spreadsheets，不玩Xbox360，玩手指，這樣微軟才會真的怕；否則，麻煩閣下搞清楚，自已憎恨的其實是甚麼。
2007年6月21日刊於《蘋果日報》
尹思哲 
Yes. Of course, most of us use pirated software. Fine. But is it a bit unfair to blame the innovator because they are not free? Is it a must to open code source? Google builds on Microsoft window righteously; on contrary, I have heard that some of the Office 2007 filetypes are not supported in some Google products and it also automatically prompts users to Googledoc and spreadsheet. Google is just make use of the greed of users to freely work for her to build a large advertising-based empire. Not do one thing evil? I don’t believe so, it is merely preaching an ideology making her conveniently search all the data, be it private, or invented. In certain sense, it is another kind of monopoly on Google platform. Something free is good (otherwise our technological advancement would not be that fast), but if it goes too far (like now), who is going to invent new serious intellectual property? Web 2.0 is to invent new culture, new way of human interactions. Good to profit from owing the new channels. Recently, I can throw away all the comic books, nice – and no need to pay to read new issues, great. Overall, the whole game is a redistribution of profitability to the new channel owner, and some long-tail producers but the latter profits a little (or have a limited ceiling) in comparison.
Forget to say that I like Google and adore her innovations as well – but this doesn’t mean that everything it does must be good and non-evil; by the same token, I don’t hate Microsoft either – without her, I can’t work as efficient as now.
Dear 思哲,
Honestly as a developer in MS technology, I can’t agree with what you said. I think you should look at the ecosystem in more grant view across other areas.
See my post for details.
http://bugthis.blogspot.com/2007/06/we-hate-microsoft-then-why-we-still-use.html
思哲兄這篇寫得好公道…
I have to make it clear – we don’t hate MSFT. In fact, we hate no one.
We just want to state that people always have the option of not using MSFT’s products and services.
But when one uses what MSFT offers (often without paying for which) and keeps whining – I would say that is not something right to do.
Personally, we uses MSFT products – in many aspects of my life.
By the way, Zune is the one of the products which we think MSFT sucks. But it has nothing immoral about it.
Also, people complain MSFT strategy to patent everything they use – that is true but not the whole picture. I could imagine the kind of lawsuit manic should there be anything MSFT uses but not patenting.
Afterall, I think MSFT has been one of the victims of such abusive culture amongst people who manipulate the sentimental hatre against the riches.
Fortunately, such sentiment has been gradually abating, thanks to the lessons we learnt from the first half of the 20th century.
I agree there are certain people abusing Anti-Trust. It is very factual, and in fact a lot of laws have been abused. However, what I am trying to bring out is, while Microsoft might look really innocient on some of the cases, there are some evidence that the software giant does indeed abuse his power (both on dominance and resources) to take unfair advantage. I feel the way you post this article is very pro-Microsoft, thats why I have written that passage on my blog which wants to bring out the other side view of the computer ecosystem- which MS indeed is one of the giant inside this ecosystem and can easily take over certain victim at ease.
Think about VMWare, they are the pioneer of the virtualization technology. Now MS is trying to do the following:
1. Bundle Virtual Server to Long Horn;
2. Making it illegal for VMWare to support VHD format, their virtual hard disk format which has been supported for a long while by VMWare.
And, the way how VSTS response to open source NUnit is one of the most allergic action they have made.
When you want to compete in the market, I think enhance your feature is the right way, not to block your opponent. For example, VMWare has a much better IO performance and allow virtual SMP simulation, how about Microsoft? Should you abuse your dominance to hold your opponent when you just not having enough resources to compete on this area? It might be a tactically correct action, but it won’t win the consumers’ heart.
As a developer, we concerns how Microsoft competes not only because we don’t want MS to step on our way, but also to hope the platform can live well. Martin Fowler’s blog regarding Alpha Geek goes away from MS platform is a great example on how their destructive way has discouraged passionate people from using their technology. Afterall, now Java is the #1 dominance to development (20%+) and C#, despite of the good language breed and has been out for 5 years, has still only less than 3.5% share (source: TIOBE Programming Community Index- http://www.tiobe.com/tpci.htm)
You are right we absolutely have choices, what we really worry about is one day it really turns out people given up Microsoft because of their destructive actions. It probably won’t happen on Windows and Xbox, but when you talk about places where Microsoft has to compete (such as developer market), the bad sign is looking a lot clearer.
“說句公道話︰沒有微軟，根本不會有今天的Internet盛世。"
個邏輯好似張藝謀 O既 “英雄"…
歷史係無如果.無 o左微軟,邊個能擔保軟件界唔係更百花齊放,更多可能性,眼見的 “盛世" 提早十年,產品更 tailor-made?
無資格,亦無能力斷定時至今日web2.0 o既多姿多彩,係因為微軟統一六國後所 “造就" o既 “美麗新世界" 令各界安居樂業而安心去拼,還是群雄在沒有作業系統的羈絆之下(e.g. google o既 server-based computing)而殺出的一條血路.只想話好多 對 internet 盛世舉足輕重 o既基建項目,如瀏覽器,IM 軟件,在萌芽之時,微軟要麼沒有份兒,要麼推出的時候劣評如潮(還記得十年前用 IE 的苦況?).
微軟最高瞻遠矚的地方,乃一開始就鏈住電腦界 o既咽喉:作業系統,一如地主鏈住香港.
微軟最高瞻遠矚的地方,乃一開始就鏈住電腦界 o既咽喉:作業系統,一如地主鏈住香港.
I love this one. I don’t mean its a negative thought though. As a business finding the most profitable and strategic important area to invest is the key of success.
To II,
Talking about IM and Browser, I must say that the early version of MSN and IE really sucks. That I agree with you totally.
But then, Navigator and iCQ when down the wrong path on their own too. I also remember the power hungry ICQ2000, which has bundled too many useless features, unnecessary eating up the then expensive computing power.
While Navigator 3 was a legendary, Navigator 4 was known as the fall of this company – it was not been able to handle the increasing complicated webpage design. However, IE 5, which was introduced at about the same time, was more robust and less faulty.
I remember in mid 90’s, I had my webpage disclaimer saying it is tailored for Navigator and IE users might experience anormalty in viewing it. But gradually, I found Navigator even more erratic and I took that disclaimer away. MSFT did a good job in relentlessly improving its product while Navigator from the point onwards obsessed about using lawsuit to strifle competition – personally I take that as when Navigator started to steer away from creating consumers driven software.
The fall of Navigator was classic. Although many people still “blame" IE and MSFT for bringing the downfall of Navigator, the rise of Firefox shows that dominance in OS couldn’t stop a good software company from competiting with MSFT.
II,
I agree with you. There is no “what if" in the history. But people who complaint about MSFT dominance uses its product – that is something I find ironic, if not disguisting.
There are obviously alternative – Linux was always there, also there was Apple OS, one can keep using Navigator… I would like to find such hardcore anti-MSFT, if he / she is out there.
思哲兄:謝謝回應.
– 當年網景點死法,小弟其實濛查查.不過當全世界都嫌疑緊微軟出那渣招,微軟點敢郁火狐半條狐毛?相信火狐倖免於重蹈網景之覆轍,此一因素雖非充份條件,但絕對是必要條件.
– 當埃撕蕉比 AOL 買起果一刻,成件事都變得沒趣.但係如思哲所言,果個核突兼比 d friend suspend o左九世 o既 2003b,我仲未剷,全民皆玩 o既 msn 依然未登記(雖然坐斜對面想追好耐 o既女同事都玩緊…).
– 讀書果陣慕張教授之名聽 ECON1001,唔記得係咪講 opportunity cost,佢都話過呢個世界無咩景況係無選擇.諗一諗,無得駁,至少 “to be or not to be".30度天,你可以選擇唔開冷氣訓覺,不過你會比全條屋邨開到盡 o既冷氣機焗死;比人劏死牛,你可以選擇反抗,不過把刀捅落邊處就講唔定.小弟未夠九點就開大冷氣;未比人劏過死牛,但未至於"錢就無,命就有一條" o既境界;同樣,買唔起 mac 機之餘,買 dell 果陣,都未型到叫人唔好 pre-install XP-就算係佢都唔會減翻錢比你,亦都唔會比 linux 你揀.