Is Apple More Evil Than Microsoft? (Switched)

May 12th 2010 8:07AM Interesting article. The Apple bubble has finally burst for me as I bought my daughter an ipod.
We went through the registration process. How old are you? It asks. 9. we tell it.
OK. now to the final part: enter your credit card details to get full functionality.
No! Hang on - we just spent £70 on your product, told you we're 9 years old - and now you want credit card details?

And this is where I get some Apple fan emailing me back saying "You don't have to enter your credit card details. This is the way round it". Well, too late. The way round it took too long to figure.

Windows have had some pretty crap products, but at least they're fair. Bringing legislation against MS for bundling internet explorer into its operating system seems to me like legislating against Ford for not providing a choice manufacturer of steering wheel.

But the final icing on the cake. A few years ago, an Edinburgh company released a product innocently titled The Podfather (POD standing for Proof of Delivery).

A letter from Apple's lawyers arrived several months later. You're infringing on our trademarks. It said. Change the name of your product, or be sued.

As I understand it, a consultation with lawyers resulted in a letter being sent back to Apple along the lines of "Thanks for your letter, but we don't think you have a case".

I don't think it was ever formally resolved.

Are Apple Evil? Maybe no individual within the company, but the collective Apple certainly is.

Tam, Scotland, UK.