Monopoly?

Monopoly (courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
):
1 : exclusive ownership through legal privilege, command of supply, or concerted action
2 : exclusive possession or control
3 : a commodity controlled by one party
4 : one that has a monopoly
First - I DO like Google.
Second - I have no ill will against Google, and that has nothing to do with the fact that Google owns Blogger and Picasa and Hello.
Third - I have long been one who is using a computer because of Microsoft and just want to snap out when I hear/read that real jagasses that rant about "Microsloth", the "Evil Empire" and so on.
Now in that vein I refer to the whole MS is a monopoly mindset/mindrot.
Ok, MS is a monopoly because of their huge and control of the market right?
Google rules in search right? And now in blogging, right? And sports a pretty cool desktop search tool (though it is free, some plug ins are demos, what's up with that??), right? And Picasa and Hello rock too right?
So...not that I am saying it, but using the bonehead thinking applied to MS, wouldn't some comspiracy theorists who must wear aluminum foil hats and use radiation mointors to ward off being radiated by evil neighbors also apply such accusations to Google?
"Nah...not Google, they are just looking to knock MS down a notch or two, which somebody should", they'd say. Hmmm...so if MS is on top of things and has so much in a tight vise grip, then wouldn't knocking of and thereby taking over mean that they would be the new monopolizer?
Here's my thoughts on it all. I like MS (no they are not perfect and Windows NEEDS improved and all the holes plugged just to mention a few things), I also like Google.

As long as users examine what they do and what others may be able to do to them, then who's fault is it at the end of the day if we ALLOW compamies or whatever to hold sway over things and or us? Either build a better whatever or please, please do me and everyone else a favor, please?
Do this. Push your lower jaw up against your upper jaw, and do not make a sound, thx:)

Antivirus

McAfee AVERT Stinger (ver. 2.5.4)
Author : McAfee
McAfee provides a free anti virus tool called STINGER that is a good secondary tool to detect and remove specific viruses.

As stated on McAfee's website, "It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system.", but that having been said it is worth having for certain instances, and it IS freeware.
Filesize : 1.1 Kb Rating : 4
Homepage  -  Download

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AVG (ver. 7.323)
Author : Grisoft
Antivirus is an absolute without question necessity! And AVG is fantastic (not only because it is freeware and that updates are free) in it's functions. I love the shell integration (making it so simple to scan specific files. It can also be set to scan your Outlook Express mail - NICE! (note - the screenshot is of ver. 6)
Filesize : 11 Mb Rating : 5
Homepage  -  Download

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avast! 4 Home Edition (ver. 4)
Author : ALWIL SOFTWARE
avast! Home Edition is a superb antivirus program. It has a ton of useful attributes, like - automatic updates, shell integration and email scanning. Much like AVG, avast! requires registration, but as with AVG I gladly gave up my email addy (ok actually I gave a 'throw away' addy I use for such registration needs).
Filesize : 8.92 Mb Rating : 5
Homepage  - Download

Firefox 1.04

Firefox ver. 1.04 is here!!

Get it here