This has never been my position. Personally I think Microsoft makes some good desktop software (e.g. Excel) and some appallingly
Problem is that even where the software may be reasonable the single user assumptions (in either application or OS) can let things down a lot.
bad operating systems.
However, Microsoft's business practices have been and continue to be seriously worrying to anyone who values fairness and decency in business. Linux is uniquely threatening to Microsoft because it is hard to see how their traditional weapons ("embrace and extend", "buy out and incorporate") can be applied to fighting against it. It is because of this that people who value Linux have to be on their guard against some novel and disturbing developments such as attempts to use the law in the US against open source software as such.
I don't think that things such as extending copyright and digital rights management are primarily Microsoft attempting to bash open source. (Though if they are offered a weapon they will take it.) They are really the attempts of publishing companies trying to protect a business model which is obsolete. -- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763