Software company that produces the Windows series of operating systems. Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and generally considered responsible for modern computing.
People like to knock their near-monopolistic control of the OS market but in truth, while at times unpleasant, its almost a necessity for widespread computing due to the way OS's work, and how software has to communicate with the OS. Those of you who dabbled with computing in the early '90s when many different computers/OS's on the market instead of just one know what I'm talking about; trying to find a particular piece of software compatible with your particular setup could be hell, and trying to code the stuff was even worse. Having a good compiler helped of course, but it had to be kept up to date on all the latest OS builds and/or you had to do all sorts of manual tweakage with the compiled code, neither of which was a particularly pleasant experience.
Aside from Windows, MS has released a number of things like DirectX to make programmers' lives easier. All in all they help more than they hurt.
People like to knock their near-monopolistic control of the OS market but in truth, while at times unpleasant, its almost a necessity for widespread computing due to the way OS's work, and how software has to communicate with the OS. Those of you who dabbled with computing in the early '90s when many different computers/OS's on the market instead of just one know what I'm talking about; trying to find a particular piece of software compatible with your particular setup could be hell, and trying to code the stuff was even worse. Having a good compiler helped of course, but it had to be kept up to date on all the latest OS builds and/or you had to do all sorts of manual tweakage with the compiled code, neither of which was a particularly pleasant experience.
Aside from Windows, MS has released a number of things like DirectX to make programmers' lives easier. All in all they help more than they hurt.
An operating system is like the lines on the road, if everyone's not using the same one bad shit starts happening.
by C++ September 13, 2005
Get the microsoft mug.Pure Crap. The only good thing they've ever made is probably the xbox360 which is full of bugs and crashes (it's an unfinished product)
The day microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they make vacume cleaners.
The day microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they make vacume cleaners.
by ivansusanin1 January 2, 2006
Get the microsoft mug.Related Words
by Arkz September 12, 2004
Get the Microsoftie mug.An overwhelming feeling of despair, rage, agony and/or defeat that is brought on by problems with Microsoft products.
The bastard cousin of a Kodak Moment.
The bastard cousin of a Kodak Moment.
A: "Dude, are you allright? You look terrible"
B: "Microsoft Moment..."
A: "Blue screen of death?"
B: "... and then some..."
B: "Microsoft Moment..."
A: "Blue screen of death?"
B: "... and then some..."
by fisherguy June 16, 2009
Get the microsoft moment mug.Its both very soft to the touch and micro-sized at the same time, making it the strangest computer company in the world.
by ClickedEnter October 19, 2020
Get the Microsoft mug.1. noun : A large company specialising in making cock-ups, and then blaming them on the user.
2. adj : Any entity, company or individual who makes a useful product which can only be used if you buy other, more expensive, products.
3 To Do A Microsoft - to sell a product, claiming that it is good value for money when, in actual fact by the time you buy the addons, it is more expensive than better versions that don't need the add-ons.
2. adj : Any entity, company or individual who makes a useful product which can only be used if you buy other, more expensive, products.
3 To Do A Microsoft - to sell a product, claiming that it is good value for money when, in actual fact by the time you buy the addons, it is more expensive than better versions that don't need the add-ons.
1 + 2:
User: I have been infected with a virus and have lost over £1,000 worth of work from my computer.
Microsoft: That's because you didn't buy a firewall, virus scanner, anti-spam and port blocker.
User: But the Microsoft box said the your product was safe.
Microsoft: Yes, but you didn't use it properly. When we ship the product it is set so that viruses can attack you - you should have spent a week securing it before using it. It wasn't our fault, it was your fault, so tough shit!
3. iTunes music has protection which means that it can only be used on iTunes software and ipods, retricting you enjoyment of the music to their products - they have Done a Microsoft!
User: I have been infected with a virus and have lost over £1,000 worth of work from my computer.
Microsoft: That's because you didn't buy a firewall, virus scanner, anti-spam and port blocker.
User: But the Microsoft box said the your product was safe.
Microsoft: Yes, but you didn't use it properly. When we ship the product it is set so that viruses can attack you - you should have spent a week securing it before using it. It wasn't our fault, it was your fault, so tough shit!
3. iTunes music has protection which means that it can only be used on iTunes software and ipods, retricting you enjoyment of the music to their products - they have Done a Microsoft!
by Geordie John April 11, 2006
Get the Microsoft mug.A terrible, terrible expensive-mans CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) program that will drive you insane with rage
Your honor, my client pleads insanity because of his extenisive job-use of the program Microsoft Visio
by katanainthestone February 2, 2009
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