Stuff like this is actually starting to get boring
(if you don't work for Microsoft that is).

I read that the actual "need" for Microsoft is dwindling down to zero.
I agree.

Can anybody name something from Microsoft that you absolutely can't live without?
I can't.
I wouldn't have said that 5 years ago.

Free software has come a long way.
It has everything that I need.

Here are a couple of interesting links
http://microsoft.toddverbeek.com/
http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-lin-soft-en/table.shtml

It is generally not a good thing when buying decisions are based on politics and emotions, instead of reason. If any government wants to forego the business advantages for going with one type of software over another, and do instead what is politically correct, it shouldn't be surprised if it finds itself at disadvantage compared to others. If China broadly adopts socialized (GPL) software over software that is more friendly to business; though it may be able to thumb its nose at MS and others today, it will have to pay for its lack of foresight in the future, as it suffocates entrepreneurial opportunities for local software development.

I'm guessing that P Douglas works for Microsoft by his labelling of free (as in freedom) software as "socialized". It's the GPL License that prevents Microsoft from stealing it like Microsoft has with BSD. All countries including ours should be very wary with using Microsoft product especially knowing all the backdoors that Microsoft has placed in Windows. Also, there's the serious security issues with Microsoft products. This is because its foundation was based on being a standalone personal computer; not a serious connected operating system. It is still the case today. Don't buy another 6 months subscription for some "antivirus" protection that will not work. Use one of the many superior operating systems with a long tradition of security and stability. Don't support this destructive monopoly that is in our backyard.