Page 2 - Those that lack innovation.... live in Redmond

Completely agree. So much for harmony among technology. They're like the kid in the sandbox that doesn't let anyone else play with his shovel so all he does is keep hiding it. In the mean time he's not being creative himself. Since Open Source is catching on more and more I can only wish that more companies start saving money and using free apps that do 99% of what MS does. One day Linux will be a realistic option for a desktop. Mac OS X already is and has been but it's $100, not free like Linux. NeoOffice/J runs of Mac OS X though and it's even better than OpenOffice is because of its speed. One day Microsoft might catch on. I'm SUPER disappointed in them.

/sign

we have office xp at work but I DLed open office. I only have O.XP incase I get a .doc document with formatting that screws up in open.

I have a hard time believing that the folks that make open office won't make a patch or something to deal with that formatting. Thankfully a lot of people use Office 2000 still because, well, why go to XP if you don't have to, therefore they don't cause problems for the Open Office users.

I've been using the OOo2 beta and it is a huge improvement over the (o)OOo, in terms of interface it is much more MS Like and the speed is much improved too.

MSo is becomming more and more about collaboration, which individuals and small offices don't really need.

I also tried Linux (Fedora Core 2 and Mandrake 10.something). It's rubbish on a laptop.

Not to turn this thread the wrong way but Ubuntu is a very friendly Linux install. It's got an understandble installer and is probably the closest to Windows/Mac OS X as an OS. I put it on my old computer and it runs well. It supports wireless well too.

Cheers I'll give it a bash (pun intended)

I'm sad to see this thread started by a moderator of a microsoft-oriented forum, and then to see all the misinformation and inaccurate comments. And at least Eclipse doesn't completely crash any MS OS like it does to Fedora, that robust Linux thingy that you have to power off to get back to life after the above crash.

My suggestion, if you want to post unspecific anti-ms garbage go do it somewhere else. There is a receptive audience over at devshed.

Doug, I respect your opinion about this thread but this is an appropriate topic to be help in the Free Lounge. It's OK that frustrations about Microsoft's recent lack of innovation be voiced because, like government, if disapproval is suppressed then changes will never be made. The ability to question those in power is a beautiful thing and being a moderator doesn't give me less of a voice or a more-restricted voice when discussing the "operating" system recently developed by Microsoft. If I were to criticize ASP Free (which I've never ever seen a reason to do) then that would be biting the hand that feeds me but complaining about Vista and how my expectations have been let down has no foreseeable impact on anyone on these forums or elsewhere in the world. You don't have to agree with my post(s) but you should recognize my right to voice these thoughts as I would yours or anyone else's. If we were all clones and thought the same way, that would be boring Either way, I respect your disapproval but will not move my thoughts and feelings elsewhere as nothing inapproriate has been said.

I dunno why people are constantly critical of Microsoft... Maybe it's because Microsoft is the proverbial man.

Doug - you think very highly of yourself - we understand this. More importantly, I understand that you are probably better than I am at just about anything having to do with a computer. The point is: You're old. Young people feel comraderie in identifying the exploiters and rallying behind the rebels.

This is the primary reason behind a lack of college-age conservatism and a prevalence of college-age liberalism. Microsoft makes some damn fine pieces of software-- don't get me wrong -- Only problem is: Microsoft does not like competitors (who does?) and will do anything within its power to prevent competitors from entering their market space. Furthermore, they have been very successful at preventing the majority of their competition (for some of the results, click the links above). Microsoft has been so successful that it takes a grassroots-style / idealist MOVEMENT to even shake their throne (Open Source).

You had your "free-love" movement... this is ours. Stop telling the kids to turn down the stereos and just shut your windows for once.

OK, find someone else to offer MS support here, I'm not interested with the attitude displayed here.

Bah.

Let's make sure we're not getting personal. Doug is a great, smart, helpful guy and deserves respect from all of us. Let's all be nice. Personal attacking is something we have to watch out for. It's a sure path to getting warned.

Ironically I don't exactly embody college-age liberalism, rather I am graduate-school-age conservatism but the reason I am bashing MS is that it has been many many many years since they contributed to the pioneering of technology. It's always the other companies developing new technology and MS comes by 3 years later and incorporates it into their own technology. My frustration is that there is so much other technology out there and I feel like it's the best kept secret and I'm frustrated that it's a secret at all. More people should know about free alternatives and new technology rather than wait for MS to make a worst version of it and stick their logo on it. Windows XP is Mac OS X 10.1. I'm sure that Vista will be Mac OS X 10.2.

I'm closing this thread. Starting personal attacks ends a thread. medianox, make that your last insult of anyone on this site please.