why bash Microsoft ?

why is it that people love to hate microsoft, and for that matter Bill Gates? It is one of America's great corporations. I just don't get this hatred.

Ofcourse they have indulged into some questionable business practices in the past, but then which company hasn't? The companies that people support so dearly (*cough* apple *cough), are they really that saintly in their practices???

It almost seems like it is a fad to speak ill of microsoft.