I used Windows back then (edit - and MSDOS before that). There was already EEE as far back as Netscape Navigator and they are far from the only example. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguish

Then there is the whole "they stole from Apple who stole from Xerox" before that.

Essentially - at every juncture where MS has had competition, they have behaved poorly. "Linux is a cancer." Sure thing, Ballmer.