I thought long and hard before I posted regarding my use of OneCare and for good reason. I fully expected a backlash of some kind directed at Microsoft and I was not disappointed. Let me first state that not everything Microsoft is good and it is also not all bad.

I understand the reluctance of some to use its products, but I am always somewhat taken aback by the vehemence of some of the comments.

My article regarding OneCare concerned one portion of the population. It is not for everyone and there are plenty of other products to choose from. I agree with some of the criticism of Microsoft, but I am a long way from considering the company to be sinister.

Ben Oddo wrote “anyone with the least amount of interest in PC Technology would have at least heard of the multitude of lawsuits against Microsoft…” Yup, I took offense at that statement. I have more than “the least amount of interest” when it comes to PC Technology and I am aware of the lawsuits. I’m sure that some have merit and most likely some do not. I will allow the courts to settle the issues at hand. We are a long way down the PC road and the landscape has changed since the early days. It used to be user to user, but more and more it is corporation vs. corporation.

I do have a level of trust in Microsoft but that doesn’t mean that I like all of its programs or practices. I also know that I will recommend OneCare before I recommend Symantec. For users beyond the beginner stage I would probably recommend Nod32 for antivirus, but many of my customers do not fit into that niche.

I do not expect to change any minds here, to each his own, but I would refrain from painting anyone with a broad brush based on the computer software or hardware that they use. You can read more about this subject on my blog, DevineReflections.

Tags: windows, onecare, microsoft, antivirus, connie devine