Must Read: Sorry, but bringing back the Start menu won't help Windows 8

Topic: Microsoft

Thank you, Microsoft, Apple, and Google

Summary: For making amazing products that I use every single day of my life, thank you, Microsoft, Apple, and Google.

Stephen Chapman

By for Between the Lines |

In the everyday processes of life, it's quite easy to lose sight of the technology right in front of you that does everything from help you with your daily work tasks; to aid in stress reduction; to allowing you to keep in touch with friends and family; to appeasing passions and curiosity; and far more. Although these select 3 are far from the only companies that create products that touch my life on a daily basis, they are arguably the most integral in my day-to-day functions.

Thank you, Microsoft: Even though I'm not too keen on Windows 8 at the moment, I have maintained a certain passion for Windows over the years that transcends the boundaries of "fanboyism" and brand loyalty. I am platform-agnostic to the extent that I want people to use what works best for them; to use what they love. Personally, as an OS enthusiast, I collect alpha/beta/mock-up Windows bits; enjoy installing old builds to play with in virtual machines; perform investigative research to get the scoop on the latest and greatest Windows progress/plans; and much more. These activities all take place within Windows 7. There are some key functions of Windows 7 that I hate to see left behind in Windows 8 -- so much so, as a matter of fact, that I will be using Windows 7 for the foreseeable future. But that's just fine with me, because Windows 7 lacks absolutely nothing for my personal needs in an OS.

Just to be clear, this isn't a gushing, brand-loyal fan view of Windows; this is just a "thank you" to Microsoft for creating an OS that I've been far more passionate about utilizing for more than just typical end-user usage scenarios. Without it, I wouldn't quite be able to go about my daily tasks in the manner that I do now. Sure, OS X and Linux are fully-capable operating systems, but there are too many things I use Windows for that I simply cannot use other OSs for (certain applications, gaming, etc.). Above all, though, I am content as Windows 7 user. It's just that simple.

[Related: Would you buy Windows 8? (Poll)]

Thank you, Apple: One word: iPad. After a brief stint with an Android tablet that sold me on the notion that I wasn't fit to be considered amongst the tablet user demographic, I later purchased an iPad and haven't looked back since. I don't think a single day goes by that I don't have my hands on my iPad at some point -- be it to browse the Web; check email; see which new apps are out; do a bit of gaming; keep Magic Window running for relaxation; or otherwise. Yes, it's an expensive device, but now that the iPad 2 is priced at $100 cheaper, I've a feeling that a naysayer (as I used to be) or three are soon to be converts.

Lastly, the iPad has really contributed to a certain sense of togetherness in my family. As soon as my mom saw mine, she wanted one immediately. Now, there's this back-and-forth of, "hey, have you seen this app or this app? Oh, check out this app!" That's just one small example out of a large handful, but with all the joy this device has brought me and those around me who also have one, the price is but a mere drop in the bucket.

[Related: 10 stress-relieving apps for iPad]

Thank you, Google: As an advanced search aficionado and investigative researcher, I can say with 100% certainty that no other search engine out there (that I've tried) comes remotely close to touching your results insofar as the types of things I search for! Not Bing, Baidu, Yandex, or any other specialty search engine I've tried is as fruitful. And for those of you reading, before you disagree with me and tell me that your preferred search engine is as good as Google, go run the following search query (or its equivalent, if you can) and tell me how you fare: "Windows 8" filetype:pdf | filetype:pptx | filetype:docx | filetype:ppt | filetype:doc | filetype:rtf site:download.microsoft.com | inurl:"ftp://"

That is a prime example of how I frequently search. And Google allows me to do that with a level of success that is unrivaled. The thought of Google ever getting rid of such advanced functionality frightens me, because the majority of people don't have the need to search like that and Google is always seeking to make search easier for the majority. So, with that said, thank you, Google, for maintaining a subset of advanced operators with which to make the absolute most of your search engine. Your index is simply too vast to not provide them for those like me who will most likely always have a reason to make constant use of them!

[Related: 10 Google search secrets]

And with that, I'll bring this post to a close. I wanted to add more than just the three companies above for products that touch my life on a daily basis, but such a list would have been ridiculous without limiting it to 3. After all, there's HTC for my phone needs; Verizon as a cellular provider; Dell for my laptop PC needs; various hardware manufacturers for my desktop PC needs; Nintendo and Sony for handheld and console gaming needs; Toyota for my transportation needs; and the list just goes on and on and on and on and on.

It's really easy to forget about -- and even be critical of -- the technology around you, so why not take a minute to reflect on some positive thoughts about the technology that enhances and enables your life? You may be surprised to find just how much you've come to take for granted!

What are some of the products that enhance your life the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Related Articles:

 

Topics: Microsoft, Apple, Google

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80 comments
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  • Detente ?

    Wow! Someone actually thanking ALL 3 of the companies in the same article. Could someone please contact th Guinness Book of World Records ? We may have a first here ! Careful, you may start a trend ;-)
    jkohut
    Reply Vote

    • Appreciation

      It is good to see "appreciation" rather than "criticism".
      GraphiteCube
      Reply Vote

    • Right?

      I realize this is some groundbreaking stuff, but such is the price one must pay as a writer should he hope to write Emmy-worthy coverage! :)

      -Stephen

      P.S. That was a joke, just in case some of you didn't quite catch it. ;)
      StephenChapman
      Reply 1 Vote

  • A thank you....

    for them pursuing their own self interest? They are not doing ANYTHING to help you, me or anybody else. They are just trying to make money, as they should.

    Give me a break.
    D.T.Long
    Reply Vote

    • That's true

      But as you can see by your collapsed comment, denial is still a main component out there.
      ScorpioBlack
      Reply Vote

      • Redacted.

        Edit: Not worth the ensuing argument.
        FuzzyBunnySlippers
        Reply Vote

      • @FuzzyWuzzy

        Smart boy. ;)
        ScorpioBlack
        Reply Vote

    • Aren't popularity contests cool?

      Granted, I'll be blunt and say the truth is in the middle. Companies do good things, but it's not out of altruism. For-profit capitalism tends to mean companies will do things for their own self-interest first and foremost.

      How can anyone deny that?

      Maybe more of the people voting negatively will expound on their answers, instead of resorting to inane insults.
      HypnoToad72
      Reply Vote

      • Adam Smith and the Wealth of Nations

        You're only telling half the story. Of course companies act out of self-interest. But the miracle of capitalism is that in so doing they are guided to do what is good for their customers.

        "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.-Adam Smith


        "...he intends only his own security..., he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention. Nor is it always the worse for the society that it was not part of it. By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it."-Adam Smith
        Falkirk
        Reply Vote

    • Do you people realize that, hiding or collapsing a post, just gives it more

      interest, and people will be curious about it and will click just to find out why it was hidden or collapsed. As such, it's stupid to do so.

      Having said, that, D.T. Long is wrong.

      A company that doesn't cater to the users' needs or wants, won't be around for long, even if the company is primarily in business to be make as much money as they can take from the consumers.
      adornoe
      Reply Vote

      • Not Quite That Simple Either

        After all, the coal companies cater to our "needs and wants" for more energy, but the cost of the externalities is much higher than the value of the benefits they provide to their customers. But they ARE able to stay in business because their customers are too short-sighted to realize the disastrous effects of the high costs.

        Now I doubt the same is true for Apple, Google or MSFT. But that could change quickly with the first big data breach from Google, seeing how much information they have on us all.
        mejohnsn
        Reply Vote

  • Could not agree more

    We spend so much nit picking and arguing and talking about how this company's product is better or worse than this other company's product. The reality is, I benefit every day from the products of all three of those companies, and the years ahead are going to very interesting because of efforts by each company to put out products that are better than those of the others.

    Eric
    johngalt_0705
    Reply Vote

    • Indeed.

      I'm a little bummed out that Windows 8 isn't resonating with me right now, but I'll certainly give it a fair shot. Either way, it will be interesting to see what all three companies cook up in the following years!

      -Stephen
      StephenChapman
      Reply Vote

    • Not me

      Apple and Google are, although I hate use such dramatic language: Evil.

      Apple's "Walled Garden" is the new standard, and it is obliterating the P in PC. Sorry Apple, but I fundamentally disagree with your idea of what a computer [i]is[/i], and I hate that those who make real computers (ahem, MS) are increasingly trying to emulate what you're doing. Thus, I will not support your products.

      And Google...well, Google is a spyware company that raises the prices on all the products I use (how do you think they pay for all those "free" products?). Sorry, but your recent changes to your privacy policy have made it explicitly clear where your priorities are, and they are with your customers, not your users. I am not going to be your product for you.

      Now MS is a convicted monopolist. I take great pride in the fact that I wrote letters to my Attorney General's office (MA resident, here) urging us to continue the fight after other states wanted to settle. But, today you seemed legitimately reformed. I do wish I had alternatives, but you are really the only ecosystem left that is functional and stomachable. For now, you get my loyalty...but I'm still waiting for something better to come along.

      What do you call someone who is not a fanboy of any company, just [i]dislikes[/i] certain ones? A hater? I guess that's me.
      x I'm tc
      Reply Vote

      • Funny thing...

        You hate Apple because of what their "idea of a computer is" but still you love Microsoft that copied everything that they are. Go figure...
        rpollard@...
        Reply Vote

      • rpollard

        I'm not sure I'd call my "praise" of MS -- stomachable -- to be love.

        Indeed, I am greatly distressed by the direction MS is headed, and I blame that direction on their Apple-envy.
        x I'm tc
        Reply Vote

      • It's all in the terms of service

        If people don't like them, they needn't use them.

        We're assuming they've actually read them and thought through the implications, and most people don't. It's human nature...
        HypnoToad72
        Reply Vote

      • Where to turn?

        If both MS and Apple go the way of the "walled garden" where is a user left to turn? To Linux? I wish I could say that was doable, but it really isn't. I have a few Linux machines at home, but they are for tinkering with. They simply [i]cannot[/i] work as daily drivers.
        x I'm tc
        Reply Vote

      • Somebody needs to be informed it's the 21st century now

        @rpollard: This is not the 1980s, it is 2012. Saying Microsoft copied Apple is stuff people would say 30 years ago, not in this civilized age. Tell me how they copied Apple and even if you do come up with a miniscule of indictment, it will all be razed down by the legal CONTRACT Apple made with Microsoft. Microsoft engineers worked WITH Apple engineers on making a particular operating system but when Microsoft branched away, and releases their own version of Windows, Apple complains they copied them when it wasn't Apple that made the operating system, but a combined effort UNDER A LEGAL CONTRACT. People have been brainwashed too much by Apple fanboys these days.
        Jabe124
        Reply Vote

      • Microsoft is the same

        Collecting a tax from all the Linux and Android companies.
        Forcing all PC manufacturers to sell PCs that are difficult to install Linux.

        Are you are real? I doubt it. MS is the biggest evil of all
        Van Der
        Reply Vote
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