You don't own an XBox360. Why?

[Silent_Buddha]

Because there is a Microsoft label on that thing and there is no way I'm gonna support them making the same mess they do with the computer world to the console gaming world.

And besides that I already have a heater at home!

Funny funny, considering computing wouldn't be nearly as cohesive nor popular as it is now without MS's efforts to standardize things as well as their continued efforts to make things easier for non-computer literate people.

Then again I used to hate MS with a passion also, so I know where your unreasoning hatred comes from.

But really I do NOT long to go back to having multiple major OS's, a fragmented application market. And a fragmented gaming market. Not to mention an era with no standardized platform for games to be developed on.

Meh, but then color me greedy for wanting to keep eating my cake.

Regards,
SB

 

[RobertR1]

Funny funny, considering computing wouldn't be nearly as cohesive nor popular as it is now without MS's efforts to standardize things as well as their continued efforts to make things easier for non-computer literate people.

Then again I used to hate MS with a passion also, so I know where your unreasoning hatred comes from.

But really I do NOT long to go back to having multiple major OS's, a fragmented application market. And a fragmented gaming market. Not to mention an era with no standardized platform for games to be developed on.

Meh, but then color me greedy for wanting to keep eating my cake.

Regards,
SB

off topic,

The real fun was in the corporate network market in the 90's. What was more fun than Netware, OS2, NT, Solaris and god knows what else fighting for corporate networking while going well out of their way to ensure competitior products wouldn't work on their system? At that point it was only one company that went out of their way to invite 3rd party software to their platform and help with compatiability. Yet people still hate MS for "pushing out" Novell, IBM and Unix. It was their arrogance of "our product is so good that you'll come to us to make your product work" that ultimately did them in. Still once in a while you'll meet an old Netware or OS2 admin who wants to ramble on about such great injustices...

 

[-tkf-]

off topic,

The real fun was in the corporate network market in the 90's. What was more fun than Netware, OS2, NT, Solaris and god knows what else fighting for corporate networking while going well out of their way to ensure competitior products wouldn't work on their system? At that point it was only one company that went out of their way to invite 3rd party software to their platform and help with compatiability. Yet people still hate MS for "pushing out" Novell, IBM and Unix. It was their arrogance of "our product is so good that you'll come to us to make your product work" that ultimately did them in. Still once in a while you'll meet an old Netware or OS2 admin who wants to ramble on about such great injustices...

Of topic doesnt cover it

 

[betan]

I really never understand this kind of attitude. I really don't. People somehow are perfectly happy to buy products made in countries that employ slave labor, yet they will avoid other products simply because of the company on the box. I realize brand avoidance exists, especially towards Microsoft, as ever single rabid Sony fan that I have ever worked with has been vehemently anti Microsoft. Yet to this day I still don't understand it. Likewise on a/v forums you can find similarly primitive anti Sony sentiments, where people will avoid their products just because of the brand. It just makes no sense to me, I can't imagine living with such huge blinders fused to my head, it seems so incredibly limiting and downright primitive.

But whatever, their loss.

I don't see how this attitude is any different than people continuously praising one platform's games while trolling the ones on the other platform.

 

[joker454]

I don't see how this attitude is any different than people continuously praising one platform's games while trolling the ones on the other platform.

It's completely different. If you prefer games on one box then fine. But people who for example will not buy a Sony TV for no other reason other than it says "Sony" on the product, then that is just dumb and it's their loss.

 

[AlNom]

It's completely different. If you prefer games on one box then fine. But people who for example will not buy a Sony TV for no other reason other than it says "Sony" on the product, then that is just dumb and it's their loss.

What if it's the brand name that makes it overpriced.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

What if it's the brand name that makes it overpriced.

Brand names usually (but not always) come with a higher quality of craftsmanship or more features/options.

Granted the rise in cost isn't usually linear with the amount of increases you get, but it's generally true.

Well until you get to things like Gucci and Monster Cable.

Regards,
SB

 

[goonergaz]

It's completely different. If you prefer games on one box then fine. But people who for example will not buy a Sony TV for no other reason other than it says "Sony" on the product, then that is just dumb and it's their loss.

It depends surely? I wouldn't go out of my way to rebuy X360 due to the way MS have shafted me from day one I won't repeat myself!)...I only rebought as it was (effectively) free and if I want to play Gears/Halo/Alan Wake - it's the only way (don't mention PCs - too expensive and too much hassle).

So if someone doesn't buy a product because of a company name that's their choice, I wouldn't buy cheap cheap food but I'd buy a cheao HDMI lead - I know there are people that would spend £50 on a lead and then shop at Aldis!

Hate for MS comes from them taking a product that exsists, making an inferior product that is bug ridden/unreliable, then putting the 'better' product out of buisness. Whist people can say 'look what MS have done to bring everything together' you could counter that anyone who may have had the chance has been assimilated by MS. Many saw MSs move into the console land as a bridge too far "they should fix Windows first" people would say...and they have a point!

 

[joker454]

What if it's the brand name that makes it overpriced.

Sure, that's a valid reason! But you know what I mean, the haters out there that won't buy 'x' because it says Microsoft or Sony on it. That's just goofy.

Many saw MSs move into the console land as a bridge too far "they should fix Windows first" people would say...and they have a point!

I don't see why, they are totally separate teams making separate product. Should Sony have stopped making anything else until they got their mp3 players right? That kind of logic can be extended to just about anything, be it car makers or whatever.

 

[obonicus]

I really never understand this kind of attitude. I really don't. People somehow are perfectly happy to buy products made in countries that employ slave labor, yet they will avoid other products simply because of the company on the box. I realize brand avoidance exists, especially towards Microsoft, as ever single rabid Sony fan that I have ever worked with has been vehemently anti Microsoft. Yet to this day I still don't understand it. Likewise on a/v forums you can find similarly primitive anti Sony sentiments, where people will avoid their products just because of the brand. It just makes no sense to me, I can't imagine living with such huge blinders fused to my head, it seems so incredibly limiting and downright primitive.

Actually, that's a pretty big strawman. Read what he said. It wasn't 'I hate Microsoft's name so much I would never touch their product'. It's 'I've seen what MS has done in different markets and don't want to support them in the gaming market'. It's just as valid as people who, say, go 'The label Sony on CE product turns me off because in the past their quality has been rubbish'. Both are reasonable positions -- you choose not to support a company because prior history leads you to believe doing so would not be in your best interests. Whether it truly is in your best interests is debatable (as proven by people wishing to bring up the history of personal computing in this thread) but again, this is a thread about personal opinions on hardware.

It's very convenient to break it down into 'dur, me no like Microsoft' and accuse people of fanboy bias, though.

 

[Phil]

Sure, that's a valid reason! But you know what I mean, the haters out there that won't buy 'x' because it says Microsoft or Sony on it. That's just goofy.

But it isn't that simple. Even if you may dismiss those people down to being ignorant, maybe it's your own ignorance preventing you seeing their motives?

I don't see a problem in favouring one brand over the other based on the badge. There are people outthere that think about which products they support based on some the merits of the company.

The people that 'hate' Microsoft with a passion either have bad experiences with their products (could be anything from Xbox related to what they do in the PC market), have read things about them or their influence, or simply go with the trend that perhaps makes them want to support other companies more?

I once didn't buy Nokia products because I got shafted over badly by our local Nokia dealer many years ago. Eventhough their products suited my needs perfectly, I bought other products instead. While my decision alone didn't cause any change at all, when there are more than enough that think the same, you can bring a message across.

I don't necessarely stand behind the merits of Microsoft, so why should I support their products? I don't even like the X360 - even if there are certain games that I would buy for that console, I rather support the console that I do like and maybe in time, those games will be ported anyway.

I have a friend who stopped using Microsoft products at all because he's fed up with the buggy, overpriced, awful support and shoddy software that they release. He would never buy an Xbox just for that reason, even if all the games he enjoys and plays on the PS3 go exclusive to that console. He'd probably quit gaming first. How is that wrong?

 

[-tkf-]

I don't see why, they are totally separate teams making separate product. Should Sony have stopped making anything else until they got their mp3 players right? That kind of logic can be extended to just about anything, be it car makers or whatever.

The teams may be different but the face and feel is still Microsoft. I have lived a professional life with Microsoft it´s really a good and bad relationship. The problem for me is that they "do evil" to often and the only reason they can act like they do is because there isn´t any other choice in to many cases. My main problem with the XBOX platform has been that fear, PC and Consoles ruled by Microsoft is something i consider a real posibility and i think that would be incredible bad for every gamer in the world.

At least Sony is only Evil and Arrogant, but very few rely on them for their daily business like they do MS

 

[DuckThor Evil]

At least Sony is only Evil and Arrogant, but very few rely on them for their daily business like they do MS

OS and consoles are different in that consoles will always have to fight for people's time spent on entertainment with numerous other activities and thus should always provide good service to the users to be competitive. What actually is the worst case scenario that the "evil" MS could do in the console realm?

I don't think it's anything strange to buy PS3 instead of 360, but I think it's pretty weird not to buy 360 if one likes games and if it were the only console, just because MS is evil. I think that is funny and sad at the same time.

 

[Phil]

Of course consoles and OS are different markets, but the company behind it is still the same one. And if you happen to disagree how said company is being run, why should you support them? Because there's no alternative and that should suddenly make them worthy?

If you see Microsoft has a company that holds a negative influence to the marketplace (if that is true or not is entirely subjective, arguable and in the eye of the beholder), why shouldn't you not buy their products? If you do buy them, you are supporting their cause - or do you disagree with this sentiment?

 

[-tkf-]

OS and consoles are different in that consoles will always have to fight for people's time spent on entertainment with numerous other activities and thus should always provide good service to the users to be competitive. What actually is the worst case scenario that the "evil" MS could do in the console realm?

I don't think it's anything strange to buy PS3 instead of 360, but I think it's pretty weird not to buy 360 if one likes games and if it were the only console, just because MS is evil. I think that is funny and sad at the same time.

When i was young and more angry i had a more military approach to the XBOX platform but that is not really the point here. The point is that because i have seen, felt the pain and paid for Microsoft monopol in so many cases and over such a long time, i do everything i can to avoid putting money in their pocket, and by everything i am serious, i stop where it might hurt the company i work for.
Microsoft is not evil they just do "evil" things.

I draw the same line on a personal level, if i think i would be missing something essential i would buy a 360, but it really doesn´t offer me anything i can´t get equally or better from my PS3 and PC. Back in XBOX days i wouldn´t buy it no matter what

 

[DuckThor Evil]

Of course consoles and OS are different markets, but the company behind it is still the same one.

I mentioned different markets, because consoles aren't necessary for people so if you bring a bad product people can stop using them, that should keep the product "in check" OS is something that people can't just drop, so my point was that MS could not make console realm into some nightmare crazy scenario what many of these MS is evil sayers try to paint.

If you see Microsoft has a company that holds a negative influence to the marketplace (if that is true or not is entirely subjective, arguable and in the eye of the beholder), why shouldn't you not buy their products? If you do buy them, you are supporting their cause - or do you disagree with this sentiment?

yes I would be supporting their cause, but I would also be supporting my dear hobby and I personally see a difference between the OS business and the video games business, despite it being the same company. I generally don't feel the need to make bigger statements with my own actions regarding right or wrongs in the business world as there are other people who are paid for taking care of those things.

If the product is good and suit my needs I won't do background check on the company. If some other people feel that they are doing something important when taking a stand against grey area company then that's fine by me. Everybody should have the right to use their wallets where ever they wan't, just don't expect me to understand all of those decisions.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

This thread (and it's related PS3 thread) is veering towards closure. It's been afforded a lot of lattitude for people to discuss their choices where normally they'd be zipped up (aren't the mod time Infinitely Wise and Benevolent? ) and generally they've been civil, but the scope of the console forum doesn't really stretch to the corporate shennanigans and historical trickery of the companies involved.

It's a difficult line to judge, but I think where a person states why they haven't bought a console is okay, and sensibly questioning that choice in a response is okay*, proper discussion about those choices isn't appropriate for this thread which is more about listing them. And the moral choices of brand purchasing are definitely right out. Suffice to say some people snub some brands. That's their prerogative. Anyone wanting to question that needs to take that discussion to an ethics board.

*Hmmm. Still uncomfortable about that. When does a response become a discussion?

Please reflect on how your post contributes to the thread title and OP, rather than just following a tangent that will lead OT.