Microsoft never impressed me, really!
As those of you know that have read my blog, I have a level of disdain for Microsoft regarding its "abuse of power" with regard to competition. This revolves around my growth through the various stages of personal computers. Again, here is what I see. Let's compare Linux, Windows, and Apple OS from a very top level view. I do not support unfair practices.Learn a word. The word is API which is actually an acronym. It stands for Application Programming Interface. It seems that this is where Windows (e.g. Microsoft) screws up.
The UNIX folks provide adequate APIs (they used to provide source code, but have changed that policy), next, the Linux folks go one step further and provide not only APIs, but source code (the actual computer program that comprises the operating system), Apple provides APIs and is moving toward Linux as it's undferlying operating system. Apple APIs are apparently extensive and adequate and the part of the operating system that is familiar to programmers may actually lay on top of Unix. No matter how you cut this technically, the company that lags in the API department is Microsoft.
Someone always has to be the worst. The fact is not that Microsoft is the worst in providing programmers with adequate APIs, it is the reason. The long suspected reason for providing inadequate programming interface information is to give Microsoft a leg up in functionality of their software. This is generally considered the behavior of a monopoly. both here and in Europe.
Today Microsoft is being fined a huge 1 billion four hundred thousand dollar fine in Europe. The fine stems from a 2004 ruling that requires Microsoft to disclose "complete and accurate" technical information (APIs) that would allow rivals to develop products that would work with Windows. Apparently they still cannot bring themselves to do that.
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