I was wondering how many lines I'd have to scroll down in the comments to see a "M$" reference here on HackerNews.

They're a $2+ trillion dollar company. They're doing something right.

If you shove a bunch of $100 dollar bills on a thorn tree, it doesn't make it any less dangerous or change it's fundamental nature.

Now do oil companies and big pharma.

they violated free market principles (years ago) that left their users captive. Not home users, every business in the country for the past 30+ years. They are profiting from doing many things wrong, anti-competitive, and illegal. In some alternative universe, there's an earth where you can switch just the OS (and keep all your apps, data, and functionality) and MSFT went bankrupt. Another far-away-galaxy has an earth where MSFT's board got decade prison sentences for breaking antitrust law, another where MSFT paid each victim of spyware $1000 in damages due to faulty product design. We don't live in those realities where bad guys pay.

I also finally left Windows behind. Tired of their shenanigans, tired of them trying to force me into their Microsoft account system (both for Windows and Minecraft).

The idea that Microsoft is going to control OpenAI does not exactly fill me with confidence.

Why did it take Windows 11? (Haven't personally used it, but having helped my dad and my coworkers try to navigate it... it does seem pretty terrible. I thought Windows 10 was supposed to fold on to just... 'Windows' with rolling updates?)

I've been using Linux for a while. Since 2010 I sort of actively try to avoid using anything else. (On desktops/laptops.)

Right there with you. In the process of extracting myself from all things MS. Even when they do something right they have to keep changing it until it's crap.

You'd do yourself a favor by not referring to them as "M$". It taints your entire message, true or not.

I’m baffled by this. What is offensive about pointing out that an international for-profit seeks more profit?

Nothing at all. But writing "Microsoft" as "Micro$oft" is just childish and it taints your otherwise potentially valid message. Do you also refer to Windows as "Winblows" maybe?

OP should start by not letting their 4yo play video games.

My kid went from disinterested in the letters we taught him, to fascinated when he realized he could use them to get special blocks.

Minecraft teaches phonics. Anyway, my 4 year old can read books. He doesnt even practice the homework in his preschool because he just reads the words that everyone else sounds out.