Get Off Microsoft

A lot of people think Microsoft’s “opening” of its Office XML formats show that Microsoft is making nice with its customers, with competitors, and with the open source community. Too bad it’s not true.

I’m using Writely, the web alternative to Word. It’s a powerful word processing application and document sharing environment that works with your browser (no installation required).

True to form, Microsoft is spreading fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) to stall efforts to standardize on a more open document format supported by other applications.

It’s difficult to trust Windows vs. Linux research — whether it is funded directly or indirectly by Microsoft or Microsoft partners and consultants, or by those claiming to be “independent” — because conclusions vary widely.

Windows Vista promises a more secure computing experience than Windows XP, but now may be the best time to jump ship to Mac OS X or Linux.

I’ll be speaking on Nov. 20 at the Berkeley Cybersalon 5-7 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley. The Cybersalon is a monthly panel discussion, open to the public, about the impact of technology of various aspects of society, such as privacy, public policy, education, and the distribution and creation of music. The […]

News agencies are falling over backwards trying to find news about flaws, worms, and viruses that attack anything other than Windows systems. They’re having a hard time making these stories meaningful.

I think we can all benefit by watching Microsoft thrash about in this new “services wave” while we choose alternatives among the service offerings of the likes of Google, Yahoo, Apple, and hundreds or even thousands of new startups that turn the internet itself into a platform.

It’s no longer a mini-trend. Windows users are switching to the Mac. Some say it’s due to the success of the iPod; others say it’s due to malware problems with Windows.

Microsoft’s free services won’t replace its commercial software and therefore won’t make a difference.