Microsoft- How Fair Can They Be?

By Greg Norman

Microsoft is something of an enigma in the minds of computer-users. Is the company a benefit to the world of computers, or a great detriment?

I don't hope to answer that question, but I can say that their practices disturb me. On the one hand, Microsoft is an excellent company. It provides a wealth of superior products, and has set standard after standard in the industry. Windows has brought a sort of uniformity to computers everywhere, and has therefore promoted compatibility. That's good, but my concern lies in how far Microsoft reaches into the industry.

First, Microsoft leaped into the computing industry with DOS and Windows. These eventually became the overwhelming standard, and are now in most computers around the world. Microsoft turned that into a very lucrative business, and Bill Gates has become the richest man in the world.

Next, Microsoft turned out software packages to "complement" Windows. While other companies had been producing software like spreadsheets and word processors already, Microsoft was able to parlay their advantage- Windows- into domination of those fields. Then with the advantage, they were able to make all of their products interact efficiently with each other and Windows to create Office, an almost unbeatable combination of good products.

That's understandable. Microsoft has followed the American Dream- to build a company from scratch into one of the richest companies in the world. They sell great products.

BUT, there comes a point where you have to stick to what you do. Microsoft has since turned their advantage into domination of the industry. They use their advantage to create products that cannot be competed against.

The best example of this is its battle with Netscape. Netscape obviously dominated the Web browser market for some time before Microsoft entered the fray with what was at that time an inferior browser, Internet Explorer. Did they need to be in the browser market? Not necessarily. As with most other cases nowadays, Microsoft jumps in to any expanding field, and dominates it. Netsape still won out for quite some time, and is still more popular, but the company is sinking and may now sell to someone else.

How did Microsoft do it? By latching the browser onto- you guessed it- Windows. Can Netscape compete with that? Doubtful. Pending the outcome of Justice Department investigations, Explorer could become an integrated part of Windows. Netscape will be struggling to maintain what they have been a leader in for some time, their key product, while Microsoft fights back with a component. It's hard to see how Netscape could have a shot.

And that returns me to my point- why is Microsoft in the Web browser market? Why are they in all of the pertinent markets today? I understand growth and expansion, but the combination of the OS advantage, domination of multiple markets, and constant delving into every evolving field makes me wonder where it will stop.

I use Microsoft products. It's incredibly hard not to use at least something made by the company. In a way, I feel I don't have a choice. Of course I do, but it's such a difficult choice, and one that would completely affect the way I use computers. That's just how integrated they are. That's the problem- it's too dificult to pull free. It shouldn't be.

Read the other side of the story.