I've never understood the fear and loathing of Microsoft, now or in the past. Microsoft isn't perfect but they've done more than any other company (including Apple) to raise the level of software. They've been the benchmark to which all other software companies compare themselves. Microsoft may not have startup cachet or support of the "fanboys" (of Mac, linux, google, or whatever the latest anti-Microsoft parade is rallying around) but let's hope it sticks around for a long time to come.