Griping about Microsoft IE4

[CMUNSON]

Bill Drew said:
>I really don't understand the griping and whining about Interent 
>Explorer 4.  Yes, it can take over your desk top, BUT you can also turn 
>that ferature on/off in the settings under the Start menu.  It only 
>makes sense that IE4 be so closely integrated with Windows 95.  Remeber 
>that Microsoft is Windows 95.  I get sick of the whining from users and 
>other companies about a so called Microsoft monopoly.  If you don't 
>like Microsoft load LInux on your machine or go buy a Mac (remember 
>"the computer for the rest of us" that none of us could afford).
     
     Anyone who follows the computer industry can see that Microsoft is a 
     monopoly in that industry and that it wants to monopolize the 
     entertainment and information industries that are online. It has a 
     project called Sidewalk that is an attempt to eliminate Yahoo. It 
     gives its IE browser away FOR FREE. It is attempting to privatize 
     image collections (Corbis and Bettmann) and trying to buy librarians' 
     silence with puny donations (Bill's worth 36 BILLION). Microsoft is 
     trying to dominate the online travel industry with Expedia. It's even 
     trying to colonize, no, assimilate Star Trek fan sites with Continuum. 
     It's managed to get webmasters to stupidly put Microsoft IE button 
     ADVERTISEMENTS on their websites, WITHOUT EVEN PAYING THEM. Its site 
     builder program for webmasters is another attempt to get the techies 
     hooked on Microsoft products. This idea that Microsoft has about 
     including "channels" to corporate websites in its new browser is 
     pretty scary too. This is an attempt to take back the web by the 
     advertisers and the big corporations. They are frightened about how 
     the web lets the small gal put up a website that looks as good as the 
     megacorp.
     
     Is there no end to Microsoft's reach and ambitions?
     
     That is just some of the evidence and it should concern us. It doesn't 
     have to be THIS WAY. IF MICROSOFT HAS DESTROYED THE ALTERNATIVES HOW 
     ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO GO CHOOSE THEM? 
     
I am not an apologist for Microsoft.  My browser of choice currently is 
Netscape Communicator but that may change if Microsoft keeps getting it 
right.  Netscape has made a big mistake in making the browser so closely 
integrated with such features as e-mail and newsgroups.  IE4 lest you 
pick if you want to install e-mail or not.  On public stations we may be 
removing Netscape and installing IE4 after it is in fianl release.  I am 
getting sick and tired of Netscape ignoring the needs of libraries, 
schools, and academic institutions.  We need a browser that is fully 
configurable without spending $800 or more for a configuration 
management program.
     
     Yeah, like Netscape has the same R&D budget as Microsoft. If you want 
     to collude with the Microsoft Empire, so be it. Have you attempted to 
     convey to Netscape what libraries need? Has anyone? I would think they 
     would be more receptive than Microsoft.
     
     If we don't fight back, soon our web experience will be totally shaped 
     by Microsoft and our caffeine will be limited to Starbucks coffee.
     
     </FLAMEOFF>
     
     Chuck