"Spoken like a true anti-MS-bot. Thanks for that."
Spoken like a person that doesn't know what he/she is talking about. The way you elucidated your point is telling. Thanks for that.
I guess your remark makes you an "MS-bot?" Why is it so important to you that IE be the sole mechanism for the Copyright Office? Have some stock in MS? Why do I have to use IE to view copyright office material if I prefer another browser?
I have used Windows since Windows/286, but I have also used Linux, OS/2, Macintosh, Lindows, and find each has its strengths and weaknesses. I currently use XP, 2000 (laptop) and Mandriva Linux. Oooo! Makes you want to say "CRUSH. KILL. DESTROY." Microsoft, doesn't it! LOL!
If you object to the "imitate vs. innovate" remark, it was mostly tongue in cheek, but I can give you a long list of programs whose owners went out of business because MS thought that incorporating the same features (after the fact, not before it, by the way) was a good idea. Yeah, it is great for MS, and even great for me, as I don't have to bother buying multiple products to do the things I want. But it is bad for innovation. Maybe I am wrong, and MS's buyout of some program writers is great for competition. Maybe not.
My point is that if Microsoft were as all powerful and wonderful as you apparently suggest, then they would have come out with these products first, not play catch up on features, then give it away for "free." Netscape practically invented the popular web browser. MS copies it feature for feature. Netscape effectively goew away. Newcomer Firefox comes along with all the power of IE, with really new features, and an honest effort to thwart popups which have bedeviled IE. IE's ActiveX controls give it a means to rise above the fray, but it is also its greatest weakness. It is being constantly patched, but I still don't have tabbed browsing!!! When MS fixes the problems, and "innovates" the tab feature, I will look at it again (is this the sign of a true anti-MS zealot?) Until then, I use Firefox. Maybe I will go back to Netscape. Whoever, including MS, comes up with the best browser, will get my business.
I also prefer AMD chips. Wanna complain about that? Then complain about how AMD's presence has driven up chip power and driven down chip prices. Then complain about how Intel has adopted the MS practice of behind the scenes bundling/ad etc. deals with certain computer manufacturers, and found ways to "punish" manufacturers that won't "play ball."