It's getting a little annoying that some in the tech world want to hang Microsoft with this "judging by their past" standard. I see that with IE 9 and now, seemingly, Windows Phone 7. If it were the greatest phone OS ever (which I am not claiming), we'd still hear the usual boilerplate about "MS is late to the game --as usual", which, of course, totally overlooks Google's very recent and successful foray into the smartphone OS world. I have an Android phone, and it sure as hell ain't perfect.
Microsoft may be guilty as sin for this or that in the past (as could any company be), but they should be judged on the merits of what they have in the marketplace now. I see tech people giving only grudging props (if that) for IE9 because of their hatred of IE6. I see people pan MS Security Essentials, when it's been independently tested as faring quite well in its core mission. And now Windows Phone 7? I guess the "jury" is still out on it, but I'm hoping for impartiality (warts and all), not someone's frustrations with MS of old.
Judge them for today, not for prejudices borne of personal experiences of yesteryear. I'd put my Zune HD up against any comparable iPod. Windows 7, in my view, is easily the match (and then some) of anything Apple is offering in OS X-pick-your-version, but hey, it's Microsoft, and we all know what THEY'RE like. It does get old, and the "too cool for school" attitude by some in the tech media world is yet another reason for me to tune out. I'm guessing I'm not alone.