I'm one of those people who gave up M$ products for OS X, and various Linux distro's a while ago. I spent way too much of my time fixing PC's running M$ products.

However I did enjoy reading your column, catching up on what's M$ up to (since I don't learn about any of their products anymore).

On a more sour note, looking up in Google "linux freezes" does show a bit of ignorance about what linux really is. Linux itself never freezes. Various applications freeze. The GUI might crash or freeze. The linux kernel, as well as the supporting system utilities does not freeze.

I do agree with you however, that it's impossible to fully part your ways with M$, especially when you're working in the IT. Why try to do it? Some of us in the field have grown very wary of trying to fix problems imposed by M$, that shouldn't have been there. For example, right now I am researching why many of my Windows boxes experience SNMP timeouts. None of the linux/Solaris boxes do, but Windows seems having a problem supporting the open protocol.
M$'s disregard for open standards, forcing additional products for additional price, and forcing third party solutions again for a price (because the software created lacks features) has created it many enemies. I understand that it's part of the business model, but we have to support their products, and go to anger management classes as a result.

Anyways, if you decide to write a column elsewhere, please let us know!

Best of luck to you and your family!

- Igor Gubenko, SA at Princeton University (igubenko Et princeton d0t edu).