You may wonder about what you have heard on TV lately. It seems that two companies have earned the reputation of a "bad guy," Microsoft and Intel.
What bothers me is that people are being misled by other companies that are painting themselves up as "good guys," who are really trying to rise up and destroy the "bad guys."
Netscape, the company which has been screaming bloody murder ever since Microsoft released Internet Explorer, has not been totally truthful to the public. Netscape itself could have been considered a monopoly until Internet Explorer came along and stole 25 of its market share. Now Microsoft has around 49 of the market share, which is even with Netscape.
Both companies have been caught deliberately doing things to de-rail the other company. This has had a downside and an upside for the consumers. The downside is that neither browser is very reliable. The upside is that the arguments that people have had with the companies has opened up an opportunity for better browsers made by neither company to come out, like the Opera browser which I recommend (It is the one that I use, and has very few bugs).
As for the other company, Apple, which is on the anti-Microsoft bandwagon, it is the little monopoly that couldn't. It tried to be a monopoly until Microsoft came out with Windows. Even now, Apple still refuses to let other companies make their computers.
Consider Microsoft a monopoly. Look at them, they not only makes the computers, they make the OS. Now, if everyone had a Mac, they would have a reason to smile, for they would be twice as rich as Bill Gates.
As for Intel, I can say that if it tries to make other processors compatible with its own, it will seal its own fate. AMD, one of the companies that is on Intel's heels, is catching up the old fashioned way, namely making better stuff for less. That is why Intel will never become a monopoly, just overpriced.
Now, I am not saying anything bad about any of these companies. I am just saying they have the same goal, and that none of them deserves to be called the "good guys" or the "underdogs." When you buy a computer product, chose it for its usefulness to you, not by the brand name. Compare the advantages to each product and get one that will last a while.
Do not listen to salesmen. Do not listen to commercials. Do your own studying and buy the one that is right for you. Also, don't be swayed by the Mac fans or PC fans out there. If you want good advice, visit the following sites. They are neutral, and will help you in your decision.
C/net: one of the leading tech industry news magazines.
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