[tman]

Microsoft Security Essentials is free now, works at least as well as the other anti-virus programs, and doesn't get in your face about it.

If Microsoft had released it in 1999 instead of 2009, they wouldn't have Apple and Google nipping at their heels today. It's that simple.

[eli]

Released it? They should have built it into the OS (on by default)

I still don't quite understand why they chose antivirus as the extra piece of software that requires a legit windows install. People running pirated versions of Windows without antivirus are exactly the people causing grief for the rest of us (spam, botnets).

[tman]

Absolutely right. That's actually what I was thinking. It should be built into the OS. Same for adblock in IE (too late for that, maybe).

And there needs to be serious backup software built into every version of Windows (not just the premium versions). The recovery discs should be as ubiquitous as AOL CDs, recovery partitions on every hard drive, etc. Backups should be on by default and as simple to use as Time Machine.

In fact, if they were really going to do it right, they'd go to a repository system for software (like Linux uses), give free online backups for user data to everyone, and basically make the process of duplicating your home computer somewhere and somewhen else a point and click exercise.

Instead, what we get is a company that manages to steal Apple's bad ideas, ignores its own innovative ideas, and delivers products that are only 90% there. It's painful to see so much wasted potential.

Ah well, if Microsoft shareholders ever get tired of Ballmer and want to give me a call, I'm on the internet.