Rick Ross replies to a Microsoft employee about why he doesn't wish to buy Microsoft products..

One point Rick missed out is that whenever you buy a Microsoft product, you are paying for an inordinate number of things you may never use. Outlook Express. Internet Explorer. Windows Media Player. Buy a Microsoft product and you're endorsing Passport. Buy a Microsoft product and you're helping to pay for Hailstorm.

My personal favourite hate is Hotmail. Every time you buy a Microsoft product, your money goes to pay for tens of millions of spam-filled Hotmail addresses.

It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Say you're a small business. It's pretty much impossible to survive these days without Windows and Office, at least if you want to be able to read the documents people send you. Even if your office has no Internet connection, you still have to pay for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. Even if your computer has no sound card, you still have to pay for Media Player. Even if your company has a strict policy against web-based email, you still have to pay for Hotmail.

It's a mug's game, and I'm glad I'm clawing my way out of it.