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Yeah, imagine: I even own stock in IBM. Dell. GE. Those damned evil corporations...

IBM has been caught including the sales of an optical division as sales revenue falsely inflating their earnings. Now there is concern that their books have been cooked for years. Their stock was already hit for this reason, and there’s a good chance it’ll be hit again.

Companies put out articles all the time to hype their products and stock. Microsoft did this when they released XP – initial reported 'sales' numbers were large since ‘sales’ primarily went to stock up Microsoft's worldwide sales channels. Actual sales to consumers was not spectacular and businesses, at the time, were just getting around to incorporating Windows 2000 into the enterprise with XP not even on the radar screen. There wasn’t a ground-shaking move to XP like the Microsoft press release you posted implied, but you took it upon yourself to post Microsoft’s investor propaganda on the FreeRepublic and defend it like gospel - or shall I say like a Microsoft ‘bigot’ using your terminology. The article you posted was not dealing with a technical aspect of XP - it was promoting XP with hyped up sales numbers. You didn’t mention your affiliation with Microsoft as you hyped up Microsoft with that article.

It isn't my obligation to put a disclaimer on every post that I make. We all have opinions and biases. I don't get paid to post here. I do it because I enjoy discussing technical issues

You work for and own Microsoft stock – but you’re correct – it isn’t your obligation to notify us when you promote Microsoft. However, from now on I’ll hit the abuse button anytime I see you promote Microsoft in a way that hypes Microsoft products and/or stock IF you don’t reveal your affiliation with Microsoft in the same posting. I’ll leave it up the free market owner(s) of the FreeRepublic to decide if they want to be a sales instrument for Microsoft.

I have a particular interest in Windows-related threads because, frankly, MS has been unfairly attacked by not only a bunch of ignorant *nix bigots bent on reshaping the computing world but also by a government out of control. Somebody has to provide balance to your load of crap. That's me.

Give me a break. If I criticize some aspect of Microsoft, it doesn’t mean I have a vendetta against the company. I have favored Microsoft’s development tools starting with C version 2 and assembler through the “Visual” series IDEs over Borland’s and others. Even XENIX, which I wrote about earlier in this thread, had Microsoft involved in its genesis and incorporated a Microsoft compiler and assembler. I watched IBM attempt at a world class graphical OS with IBM/Microsoft co-developed OS/2, but IBM dropped the ball. After working with OS/2, I choose window products mainly due to IBM’s lack of support.

I don’t ‘preach’ Linux as the alternative to Windows, it’s not even close for the average user on a desktop. Linux needs to be optimized for the desktop, and is nowhere as consistent as windows is from the user’s standpoint – a crucial perception to survive in the market place. As you know, perception is reality in politics and sales.

The bad press Microsoft has received is justified in some cases and not in others. The XP licensing issue gives the end user, especially those that constantly fiddle with hardware configuration, the feeling like Big Brother Microsoft is watching. Those, like me, who constantly mess with hardware are put off by Microsoft’s edict to re-register their OS when the configuration limit bell rings. This is a perception that exists in several segments of the potential XP market segments including CIOs and IT groups within various companies. You can scream back at these folks with an environmental activists’ intensity, like you and innocentbystander have been doing, or you can accept that there is a perception issue and deal with it by providing fact instead of name calling. You lose credibility by labeling these folks as bigots and just dump more fuel on the fire. Do you really think you’re going to ‘fix’ these people’s perception by screaming at them?

The article you posted was not dealing with a technical aspect of XP - it was promoting XP with hyped up sales numbers.

BFD. It was news. Associated Press reported it. Don't like it? Don't read it.

You didn’t mention your affiliation with Microsoft as you hyped up Microsoft with that article.

You must be new here. I've already mentioned on multiple threads that I worked for MS as a contractor years ago. I also own a very small amount of MSFT stock.

Give me a break. If I criticize some aspect of Microsoft, it doesn’t mean I have a vendetta against the company.

There are plenty of folks on FR who do qualify as bigots, however. They usually are the most prolific posters of anti-MS demagoguery. They know exactly who they are. I've made no bones in calling them out as such. I don't know enough of your views to consider you a bigot. Yet.

The bad press Microsoft has received is justified in some cases and not in others.

Here we agree.

The XP licensing issue gives the end user, especially those that constantly fiddle with hardware configuration, the feeling like Big Brother Microsoft is watching.

A feeling? A lot of people have feelings that UFOs and BigFoot exist, too. But that doesn't make their "feelings" any more true.

Those, like me, who constantly mess with hardware are put off by Microsoft’s edict to re-register their OS when the configuration limit bell rings. This is a perception that exists in several segments of the potential XP market segments including CIOs and IT groups within various companies.

Corporations with enterprise licenses don't have activation requirements. You're blowing smoke on this point.

You can scream back at these folks with an environmental activists’ intensity, like you and innocentbystander have been doing, or you can accept that there is a perception issue and deal with it by providing fact instead of name calling.

Here's the problem: Many of these people are Mac or *nix users with no vested interest in the debate other than to spew FUD. They're disruptors. They have no intention of using Windows under any circumstances. So their "perceptions" are pretty worthless. What bothers me is that they're viral advocacy has given a lot of poorly-informed folks bogus information. I have encouraged people to read the facts at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/overviews/activation.asp and not listen to a bunch of ill-informed and paranoid Mac blowhards.

You lose credibility by labeling these folks as bigots and just dump more fuel on the fire.

These folks aren't interested in contributing. They're more interested in sowing paranoia and fear. The only way to deal with them is to call them what they are.

Do you really think you’re going to ‘fix’ these people’s perception by screaming at them?

No. You don't 'fix' a bigot's perceptions. But you can alert others to their bigotry. That is a useful function.

your #201 was a well-reasoned statement that had the added
virtue of including some good advice.

having said that however, i feel it incumbent to remind you
that sometimes it just feels good to holler really loud ...

(whomever/whatever) SUCKS ! ! !