Arrogant Quote by Jerry Pournelle
“Microsoft has gotten so big that it can put out a Preview that will install itself without checking first to see if it has expired. The message here is that Microsoft's time is worth more than yours… no start-up company could get away with being that arrogant.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Byte Magazine, 1995
Microsoft’s massive size lets it release software that installs without user verification, showing corporate arrogance.
In simple terms: Big companies may push updates without checking user consent.
Key Takeaway
Question software updates.
Themes
corporate power
software distribution
user autonomy
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- enterprise IT
- software testing
- user consent processes
- policy reviews
Key Concepts
ethical design
consumer rights
software licensing
Questions to Reflect On
- Should users have the right to reject automatic installs?
- How can companies respect user time?
A Different Perspective
User convenience can be compromised by forced updates.
![“[T]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom, just waiting for us to pick the whole thing up and heave it away. It has to happen. Free people can put up with such laws only for so long.” quote by Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aed/dick-armey-16265_america_t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-af_12886.jpg)
