Confessions of a MicroSerf

April 18, 1998

Yes, I admit it. I'm a MicroSerf. I use Windows 95 as my only operating system. I write my mail in Outlook Express, I surf the web in Internet Explorer, and I'm writing this entry in Notepad. Besides that, I have Microsoft Home Essentials, Age of Empires, Flight Simulator 98, and a Microsoft Natural Keyboard, and I play games on their Internet Gaming Zone. Me? Support Microsoft? With my wallet, I do.

Am I happy with their products? Some of them... Jevim and I had fun playing Age of Empires yesterday. I really do like my keyboard, and it feels weird and cramped to go back to a normal "flat" keyboard now. Money does help me keep my finances straight (when I remember to use it), and as a text editor, Notepad is great. I don't think I've ever had that crash on me. Windows 95 OSR2 isn't so bad... it still crashes, but I can usually keep from hanging it more than once a day. But not everything is rosy.

I hate Outlook, which Jev thought I would like. It's bulky and clunky and slow as molasses. Outlook Express was fine, but now I wonder if I go back, will I have all my newer messages. I liked Microsoft Image Composer, but Front Page, which it was bundled with, writes HTML that almost makes me sick. Word isn't much better about it, either, but Word has other uses. I wasn't going to go out and buy FrontPage just for Image Composer. I know I wasn't the only one who sold it seperately, but what did the folks at the Microsoft newsgroup say to us? "Buy it and just use Image Composer." Like hell! I bought Paint Shop Pro instead, and saved about $30. I miss Image Composer, but I'm not going to throw my money away on a piece of garbage just so I can have it.

Of course Microsoft has been big in the news lately, with the Department of Justice going after them for monopolizing the industry. Some people want to split them up, and I agree! They don't play fair. How to do it? I see something like this...

• Microsoft Windows (operating systems, exclusively)
• Microsoft Productivity (office, works, money, etc.)
• Microsoft Internet (Explorer, outlook express, etc.)
• Microsoft Entertainment (all their games and so on)
• Microsoft Accessories (keyboards, mice, joysticks)
• Microsoft Content Providers (IGZ, MSN, Hotmail, etc.)

Granted, there are still grey areas. Outlook is a PIM as well as an e-mail client, and I'm sure that's not the only one that sits somewhere in the middle of two areas. That would have to be their decision... it would fall under one area or another, and could not be packaged as both.

[Editor's Note, 4/28: One of many unfinished entries I'm finally posting]

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