COLLOQUY

"Richard Barker argues that we must accept Microsoft's dominance in the Operating System marketplace (and the anti-competitive behavior which such dominance fosters) because..." -- David W. Simon, Deputy District Attorney, San Bernardinoi County District Attorney's Office (posted 7/2, 11:20 a.m., E.D.T.)

"While Microsoft may be the 'industry standard,' many of us feel the real issue is one of choice..." -- Walli Haley, UTEP (posted 6/23, 2:10 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Although I have no quarrel with including the principal Microsoft products on the network, it is a huge mistake..." -- Bruce Rollier, Associate Professor, University of Baltimore (posted 6/22, 2:20 p.m., E.D.T.)

"I for one would not blame Microsoft for anything. The fault, if any, lies with us the faculty, and more so with the overzealous systems/LAN administrators. For example, at my own school..." -- Jagdish S. Gangolly, Associate Professor, SUNY at Albany (posted 6/1, 8:56 a.m., E.D.T.)

"There is nothing wrong with Microsoft, Apple, or any company funding academics to do research or just spout ideas. What is wrong is when universities who, under the guise of efficiency and saving money, then insist..." -- Wise Young, Professor, Rutgers University (posted 5/5, 9:23 a.m., E.D.T.)

"We have met the enemy (again) and he is still us. It is from our needs and our visions as eductors that we have to work back to the technology. We must first consider and decide what..." -- Craig P. Donovan, Assistant Prof. at Kean University (posted 4/27, 10:51 a.m., E.D.T.)

"Here is a good research topic: How did Microsoft get into the..." -- James L. Wood, Chair of Sociology, San Diego State University (posted 4/23, 4:45 p.m., E.D.T.)

"I feel that first off, Microsoft is only in this for the money and nothing else..." -- Phillip Roberts, Computer Resource Specialist, UC Davis (posted 4/23, 4:45 p.m., E.D.T.)

"I believe Microsoft puts out a wonderful product; it works well for its area. My only problem with this "love of Microsoft" so many college administrators have..." -- Jody Strauch, instructor, Northwest Missouri State Univ (posted 4/23, 12:55 p.m., E.D.T.)

"I consider it unethical for a faculty member at a university to receive money from a commercial entity for any purpose except substantive work done for that company..." -- Leonard Evens, Professor, Northwestern University (posted 4/23, 12:40 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Dominance by Microsoft is worrisome because it appears to be stifling the development of Information Technologies..." -- Eric Larson, Graduate Student Information Science (posted 4/23, 12:20 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Our universities are supposed to be places of higher education. Despite what Microsoft would like you to believe,..." -- Josh Arnold, Student, UWSP (posted 4/23, 10:15 a.m., E.D.T.)

"Microsoft's actions to manipulate educational institutions as well as the media are very frightening..." -- Joseph Fisk, Student, Florida Institute of Technology (posted 4/23, 10:10 a.m., E.D.T.)

"I'm thrilled to see people openly questioning the motivations behind Microsoft's "philanthropy." Too many people have been bribed or brainwashed..." -- Disillusioned with the Evil Empire, graduate, WWU (posted 4/23, 9:45 a.m., E.D.T.)

"As is stated in the article Microsoft is simply (1) filling the void left by Macintosh, and (2) allowing colleges and universities to obtain high quality technology..." -- Robert B. Tallitsch, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL. (posted 4/22, 3:50 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Perhaps we are arguing about the wrong thing. Standardization, if one is manufacturing a million widgets a day, is a good thing. Everything has to fit its niche..." -- Doug Stanfield, Coordinator, Information Technology, Penn State (posted 4/22, 3:40 p.m., E.D.T.)

"A routine exploration of the World-Wide Web has let me to a pair of sites that officials in Idaho and Texas may wish to know about. Today, I explored a Web site at Idaho State University's Business School that..." -- Brett Glass, Author (posted 4/22, 10:54 a.m., E.D.T.)

"It is apparent that even in education we to fail to see the forest for the trees. If not Microsoft, then who? Through the years..." -- Mark Underwood, ITV-Learning Resource Specialist (posted 4/21, 6:03 p.m., E.D.T.)

"The debate is a no-brainer. Monopolies are bad for consumer value and choice. Period. In the long run, how could..." -- A Blair, Student, Dept. of Earth Sciences, Carleton University (posted 4/21, 5:59 p.m., E.D.T.)

"My personal experience with this issue is my sole reason for commenting. Some of our vice-presidents have bought the propaganda that..." -- Alan Davis, Graduate Student, Educational Technology @ SMSU (posted 4/21, 5:56 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Isn't it ironic that in the biggest booming economy in recent history, universities, formerly places of divergent ideas and competitive philosophies, are too fiscally poor not to..." -- Paul Takeuchi, artist (posted 4/21, 5:51 p.m., E.D.T.)

"The biggest threat to higher education is the way Microsoft products and lack of standards in engineer. They have a hacker culture that has..." -- Joan L. Brewer, Retired Computer Systems Engineer, BS CSE (posted 4/21, 5:40 p.m., E.D.T.)

"The following is a copy of a petition being sent to Indiana University administrators: We, the undersigned, have..." -- Paul Rickard (posted 4/21, 5:31 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Perhaps the introduction of paid endorsements into the college classroom is not new, but it is simply not acceptable and..." -- Mark Hinds, Software Engineer (posted 4/21, 5:28 p.m., E.D.T.)

"What is different about Microsoft's involvement than that of Apple, IBM, Sun and other vendors? The depth and breadth of their intent, which is to..." -- Wayne Caswell, Digital Consumer Mkt.Devel., IBM Microelectronics (posted 4/21, 5:25 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Most of the comments I've read here have been formed on the basis of opinion (i.e., Microsoft is an ugly ogre out to get us, or, Microsoft is a friendly giant who can help us..." -- Richard Barker, Program Director, Computer Training, UCFV (posted 4/21, 5:20 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Education is not the place for the brain washing marketing tactics that Microsoft has been pushing. Their products are..." -- Cole Camplese, Instructional Designer, Penn State University (posted 4/21, 5:17 p.m., E.D.T.)

"As a former academic, I am saddened to see the growth of the Windows operating system in higher education at the expense of the Macintosh. Not only are all the arguments..." -- David Livesay, Director of Educational Services, ProMetrics Consulting, Inc. (posted 4/21, 5:16 p.m., E.D.T.)

"The overused argument for standardizing on one computing platform as a way to cut support costs and enjoy savings is only too readily embraced by..." -- Steve Niewald, Senior Sales Specialist at Top Driver, Inc. (posted 4/21, 10:56 a.m., E.D.T.)

"In the U.S. businesses are free to make contributions, stipends, and grants to higher education. Microsoft Corporation is free to..." -- Thomas Harvick, Consultant of Public Education (posted 4/21, 10:55 a.m., E.D.T.)

"Just as Microsoft currently dominates the labor market -- because its products form an insulating layer of required skills between..." -- Tom Nadeau, Marketing Director, VOICE (posted 4/21, 10:51 a.m., E.D.T.)

"Basically, the fact that you had material on Microsoft to print on a Web site just shows that Microsoft is up to no good by buying off academics who are willing to..." -- Jennifer Ho, Graduate Student, UC Berkeley/Associate Editor, MacAddict (posted 4/21, 10:47 a.m., E.D.T.)

"Remember 10 years ago? Apple was..." -- Kerry Johnson, Director ISET (posted 4/21, 10:45 a.m., E.D.T.)

"Microsoft does not "give" anything away. Microsoft has not done anything that has not made money for Microsoft. Philanthropy? No..." -- David Van Brunt, Assistant Professor, Phase II PA training program, Univ. of Neb Med Ctr. (posted 4/21, 10:09 a.m., E.D.T.)

"Microsoft already has its foot in the door when it comes to the computing environments that students use. I have observed that nearly every student in my residence hall owns..." -- Michael Hicks, Student, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (posted 4/20, 5:35 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Recent deals and attempted deals involving Microsoft, where organizations have attempted to oust all other brands of operating systems, notably the situations at..." -- Michael Craig Amper, Coordinator of Internet Services, TekConnect Corporation (posted 4/20, 5:31 p.m., E.D.T.)

"How many teachers, and how many institutions, would rush out to purchase all of their textbooks from just one author and consider our next generation well educated? How many can..." -- Ben Holland, Computing Services, University of Colorado at Denver (posted 4/20, 5:30 p.m., E.D.T.)

"The biggest problem I have with this issue is that the technology that Microsoft is promoting for the students of these institutions are for the most part, not..." -- James Ryan, Software Developer, Elsie Arts (posted 4/20, 5:25 p.m., E.D.T.)

"If Microsoft truly wanted to prove its commitment to education, it would purchase and then give away to..." -- Christopher Adams, Student - Central Bucks HS East, Doylestown, PA (posted 4/20, 5:22 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Microsoft shouldn't only be compared to other companies. Historically universities have supported what's now called "free" or "open source" software (cf. www.opensource.org), leading to..." -- Havoc Pennington, Student, University of Chicago (posted 4/20, 5:19 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Microsoft is investing in it's future. It has to because what it has to sell or give away for free is not..." -- Peter Boling, Student, Ball State University (posted 4/20, 3:46 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Microsoft has perfected the art of public beta testing (virtually any version of any of their software products numbered less than 3), and has persuaded the public to pay handsomely for the privilege. Their consistent behavior in..." -- J. Biello, President, Technology Consulting Services, Inc. (posted 4/20, 3:38 p.m., E.D.T.)

"The current marketing efforts of Microsoft are designed to help to company maintain its monopoly. The issue is one that involves..." -- Dr. Goldson Oliver Brown, Dean of Student Services Southeast Community College (posted 4/20, 1:55 p.m., E.D.T.)

"A few weeks ago, a so called computer failure at Stanford Business school should give warning of the future. Unlike UNIX, Microsoft Windows NT has..." -- Jon J. Allen, Consulant (posted 4/20, 1 p.m., E.D.T.)

"With regard to Microsoft paying $200 to professors for mentioning they used their products to the audience: How does..." -- Andrew Bairnsfather, Symbiotech Consulting (posted 4/20, 12:55 p.m., E.D.T.)

"Microsoft campus software policy does limit or "control" the types of software that students and faculty use. Our campus, like many, received a "grant" which allowed..." -- Dr. Michael H. Marcovitz, Associate Professor of Biology, Midland Lutheran College (posted 4/20, 12:52 p.m., E.D.T.)