I am not an anti-Microsoft radical. I’m learning Linux because it’s interesting to me and MS does need competition, but it’s really not that bad. Who hates the conveniences Microsoft has offered?
However, I have been forcibly moved to the rant sector. I am developing an app in VB that has been designed to use an Access 2000 database. My boss has dragged his feet about providing the Access software I needed until one day he wondered why the database portion wasn’t done yet. Anyway, on Wednesday, I received a box of Access and put it down for later installation. My attention was diverted for a couple of days by the Nimda virus. When it’s back to business, lo and behold, my new Access is of the XP(2002) variety! I had already decided to boycott XP because I’m not sure it’s entirely compatible with VB6(despite what they may say)and I must protest MS’s well-known dictatorial practices with XP. So, I call my supplier to return it. Two days later, they call back to inform me that it can’t be done. Access 2000 is no longer on any retail shelves. They even called MS to get just a LICENSE for a copy of Access 2000, but they will not sell them one. Is this not illegal? (I mean clearly, not a matter of interpretation.) Are we going to be forced by this fascist regime to pay for this crap? If I cave in or am forced by the suits to make do, will I have to upgrade everything else? Will I be forced to pay tribute for support every time I wipe out my hard drive and reinstall this XP morsel of anti-consumer terror? I didn’t think breaking them up was a good idea, just sour grapes from those who couldn’t. But who can really argue now? I know the world is in an uproar over more serious things, but can we let the Evil Empire use this for cover? A terrorist is one who uses such tactics for their own agenda. Who will stand with me in the fight against these marketplace terrorists?