Definitely a non-partisan issue $wah.
MS does two things that really make techies mad.
1. They develop their own protocols rather than working with other companies and organizations to set a common standard. It doesn't matter that the "open" or common standard is more robust and secure, MS always insists on some proprietary hook that will make users buy their software.
2. The whole Internet Explorer issue provided an example of how MS uses the code to defeat other software companies. IE for instance is tied into the kernel, hence their argument that it is an integral part of the system. Others plug in at a different level, and that's no small thing.
Think of the problems in communication when you have to relay your message through another person. This not only applies to browsers but office and productivity software. Now imagine that you are competing with someone who not only has direct communication but also speaks a dialect that the receiver understands but you do not.
That's been the complaint and the reason the DoJ wanted to split MS into system and application companies thereby leveling the playing field.
That's also when MS started making big contributions to the political parties and members of Congress. None dare call it bribery but that's a fact, and the Bush DoJ scuttled the case. Not so in the EU where they've continued to hammer MS with fines and threats of banning MS software in government offices.
As for TWAT my experience is that since they reverified my OS IE won't load. It was pretty slow before because I set my browsers to a blank page and for some reason IE didn't like that. Doesn't really matter to me because I've been using FireFox for most things, and lately switched over to Chrome because it is faster to boot and load.
Anyway, there's plenty of people who don't like MS because of these practices and the real issues are completely nonpartisan. If the Dems are leaning on MS it's most likely a move to get more "donations." That's not political...it's just business as usual.
