To Be Announced...

I've never felt cheated or robbed by Microsoft. Frankly, I don't really understand the whole hoopla about what they apparently did to me. If it was forcing me to buy Windows XP because Windows ME sucked, then I still have nothing to complain about. I wish Ford could be sued for that lousy Grenada I used to own.

I can't remember the last time I saw the "blue screen of death" using XP and I'm iffy on whether to upgrade to the new Vista operating system. Like any consumer, I'll weigh the benefits and drawbacks before plunking down my money.

If it was the bundling of Internet Explorer and marrying it to my operating system...even that doesn't bother me. It takes up a little tiny space on my 250-gig hard drive and I never use it anyway.

In fact, in the first edition of the GregSays Newsletter, I offer some great computer advice for subscribers.

Only recently did I have a bad experience with Internet Explorer...during a recent Windows Update, I was given the option of installing the new version of Internet Explorer, version 7.o or something. I downloaded it...looked at it...fiddled a bit with it...considered it clunky and a virtual clone of Mozilla...and went back to my Firefox browser. No worries.

Apparently, I'm in pretty good company...

More than 1,100 Iowans sought exclusion from Microsoft lawsuit

DES MOINES, Iowa - More than 1,100 individuals and businesses in Iowa have decided not to be a party in the class-action antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft Corp.

To exclude themselves, business owners or individuals had to contact the plaintiffs' attorneys, saying they wanted to give up their right to any money that might be available if the case is settled or the jury rules against Microsoft.

"This lawsuit appears to be a huge bunch of crap," wrote Mike Franzman, of Iowa City. His note is one example of the strong feelings some Iowans have toward class-action lawsuits.

Des Moines attorney Roxanne Conlin filed the lawsuit representing thousands of Iowans who purchased Microsoft software between 1994 and 2006. The lawsuit claims that the company engaged in illegal monopolization and anticompetitive conduct that caused customers to pay more for software than they would have if there had been competition. The plaintiffs' expert witnesses will place damages at more than $300 million.

I wish I had known about such a list to sign...I would have signed it too. I would probably have added some choice words of my own. Especially considering how much I would allegedly receive in "compensation" for the horror of choosing to buy a Microsoft product. After the lawyers take their cut...which will be huge...

The buyers of software could be compensated anywhere from $11 to nearly $57 per copy of software, depending on whether they bought spreadsheet, word processor or Windows products.

Reading through the story - curiously missing from any Iowa sources - we find more great examples of Iowa common sense. The kind of stuff about Iowa I wish we would promote more of in our tourism brochures...

"These frivolous lawsuits cost us and the economy too much money. We hope Microsoft wins," wrote Murray Ellis, of Urbandale.

Paul Bargar, 80, of Ida Grove, in a handwritten letter addressed to Conlin and dated Sept. 26, complimented Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, saying he "has done many wonderful things in the world."

"Have you done anything for anyone that would even compare in the tiniest way compared to what he has done?" Bargar wrote.

Marie Latta, of Wilton, opted out with these words: "I am opposed to using the people from the state of Iowa for your ridiculous lawsuit."

For more good news about Iowa, I suggest you read the entire article.

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Labels: microsoft