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Where do you think the personal computer industry would be at right now if Microsoft had never existed?

*points at mac* it\'d be right there /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />

I honestly think its one of these things where if Gates hadn\'t done what he did when he did, then someone else would have done it not long after. If Apple hadn\'t made Mac OS for only Apple Computers, they\'d most likely have the upper share of the market...since they did invent a WIMP system first. There is also the other Unix variants, such as Linux, which would probably be more popular is Windows wasn\'t around.

The Internet would certainly be a lot different if MS wasn\'t here and who knows, maybe not too far away things like IE and MSN might not be... <_<

I wouldn\'t be here on the computer right now... I know Windows really helped me with using a computer. /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' /> I started using Windows at age 5 and since then I\'ve navigated smoothly through all the different versions.

I have to agree that the internet would be very different though.

I know for myself.. I wouldnt have used all the same language at WAYYyyyyy to many times by useing MSN products.. I'm sure I'd have more hair left!

[quote name=\'Adaera\' post=\'29441\' date=\'Oct 13 2005, 12:48 PM\']Where do you think the personal computer industry would be at right now if Microsoft had never existed?[/quote]

A better place? /blum.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':P\' />

Naa, the personal computer industry would be quite a different place. Better?...well maybe not, but on the other hand yes. Linux has had a good reason for very few viruses. It\'s just not mainstream in the home. And the only people that are using it; use it for networking, workstations, or are some type of computer enthusiast.

Linux, BSD, and Unix would be ruling the PC world, with about the same results as Microsoft. Viruses would be just as bad for *nix if it were used in almost every home with a PC. (The only saving grace for *nix would be open source-ness.) [i]But if it was popular would it still be open source? We may never know.[/i]

To put it plainly the personal computer industry would be more user centric. I could see just one video and one audio format. Everyone agree to use the best format and be happy. No re-encoding video formats from one to another. No having to buy music devices that is only “compliant” with some audio formats.

The tech world would be for [u]us[/u] and less [i]“Greed, greed, greed, make as much money as we can and screw the people that buy are products.”[/i] At the current state it’s all about making money, and Microsoft has led on this process. Greed has really hurt Microsoft. If it weren’t for this, then the company would be in great standing with me.

If Microsoft never existed....I wouldn\'t have this lump on my forehead!


Microsoft Word....Type in \'payday\' spell check wants to change it to \'pay-day\'...ok sounds good, I click change...spell check has a hissy and wants to change it to \'pay day\' ok, Whatever, I click change....spell check freaks and demands I change it to \'pay-day\' AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH /Debate.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'(debate)\' />

LMAO.......... Yep... Microsnot is ebil!!.LOL,, just ask Adaera,, LOL

Just keep something for the lump on your forehead,, and make sure you dont break the counter top your hitting your head on

Well i can tell you would have to find someone else to complain about...i also started using windows when i was 5...good ol' Windows 95 =) then i graduated to Windows 98 SE and after that to Windows XP and pretty soon im hoping to go to Windows Vista. Windows is a great operating system created by an evil evil man.

I have very little knowledge about the whole begging of computers. I think another question is; Will microsoft stay ontop. Sure they have a very very large piece of the pie, but for how long? Technology is advancing at such a fast pace, it appears many of hte times microsoft is their with the ideas, but were not allways the first. It seems to me, they get the idea and make a slapup beta of the prototype, giving the impression they were the first. Though I think MS can keep the crown for a long time, due to the (and many wont allways agree) the simplicity a begginer on a computer. Of course that last sentence is biasd as i have only ever had experience on windows, with only a few hours ever on a Mac, ditto the same with knoppix.

If Microsoft never came to be, we would have someone in the same shoes as William Gates III; but not the same man. It's not as though what he did was innovative or original in any way, shape, or form. There have been people who have made their own "user-friendly" OS; but since Microsoft was the first on the market, they have the highest level of acceptance across the globe. I don't think Apple would still be around, if not for Microsoft. You wouldn't have iPods, nor would you have Macintosh OS X (or 9.7 for that matter). Most of these things would had probably never came to be. Bare in mind that Gates only worked on 1.0-95. Once 98FE shipped, he wasn't doing any programming for Microsoft anymore (he became more of a "businessman" instead of a "coder"). Really though, Linux wouldn't be all that popular still (too hard for most people to understand, and just as dangerous). And we all know that there would've been someone to come out with a user-friendly OS and would had hit the same streak of popularity as Windows did.