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I have a tendency to assume that everyone is US based. My apologies. I really don't like getting Microsoft in trouble. If they had a place to report an issue with "Set Program Access and Defaults" that was not legalistic, I would do so.

Here are the US websites:
http://www.microsoft-antitrust.gov/
http://www.thetc.org/

My AG recommended reporting complaints to both.

I just had an idea that perhaps an Ask Slashdot would be appropriate for this. We could get several complaints. For me, the complaint is two part or possibly three parts:
a) Outlook should be in the "Mail" section of "Set Access Programs and Defaults". It is "middleware".
b) Let me know if this is still the case. Installing patches, reinstalling Office, or repairing Outlook set Outlook as the default mail client. As my father points out, this isn't Microsoft being malicious, as third party clients don't necessarily register MAPI correctly.
c) we finally get to your complaint.

Have you thought about contacting the mail client's support? In other words, if you use Eudora, contact them. If you use The Bat! contact them. Sometimes, it's a simple matter of installing a Simple MAPI handler.

As for the "bundling" argument, once it registers with MAPI, you could argue that it is "iilegal tying", esp. since MAPI is proprietary. Again, a letter from the vendor saying that they agree would maybe bolster your claim. Although in the US, it is the "consumer" who has to be harmed, not the vendor. You might be able to get a Mozilla dev to say so, on the appropriate bug. I filed some bugs related to MAPI using the Bat!'s bug tracking system.

http://bt.ritlabs.com/

--Sam

The only reason Linux doesn't have thousands of viruses written for it is because nobody runs it. Same with macs.

This meme refuses to die. It sounds credible that more usage would lead to a more attractive target for malware but ignores other factors like:

• monoculture
• ActiveX
• Microsoft's decision to "integrate" their web browser into Windows

An excellent article refuting this meme, which doesn't even mention ActiveX, can be found here:

Windows XP has a better security infrastructure than any UNIX knock off.

Here's my opinion, with references to support it.

Only a criminal monopoly(1), with no consideration of their customer's interests, could embed into their web browser "application" (2) the security sink-hole of ActiveX vulnerabilities(3) to achieve vendor lock-in(4). This has resulted in the mess that is "security" in Microsoft(R) Windows(R) today.

References:

1. Criminal is strong language but Microsoft has a judgement against them regarding unlawful monopoly conduct: http://www.microsoft-antitrust.gov/
2. To everyone but Microsoft, Internet Explorer is an application called a "web browser". MicroSoft testified in their anti-trust trial that IE is not an application but an integrated part of their Microsoft(R) Windows(R) operating system and there is no way to allow users to not have it installed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/04/ 98/microsoft/275248.stm
3. Concern over ActiveX vulnerabilities have been in the media for over 6 years. The issue has gotten more attention migrating from IT trade press to mainstream media and in that time we've gone from viruses (which have not gone away) to Phishing and Spyware infestations:
   • Feb 19, 1998 IT trade press article: http://digitalcity.com.com/A+question+of+safety/20 09-1001_3-208208.html
   • Nov 9 2004 Mainstream Media article: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technolog y/2004-11-09-firefox-sidebar_x.htm
4. 36 page academic paper in PDF format. Network Effects and Microsoft: http://www.stanford.edu/~tbres/Microsoft/Network_T heory_and_Microsoft.pdf

However, this company *IS* evil...

Remember, you can think about robbing a bank all day; it's when you actually walk in and do it that you cross the line.

Go for it:
http://www.microsoft-antitrust.gov/ComplaintForm.a sp

Actually, dummy me. THIS is the page I wanted. There's a form in the middle of the page you can fill out if you feel that MS is trying to take away your software choices. I wouldn't do it right now, but it's damn fishy to me that MS wasn't on Darl's list of tainted OSes, and yet MS still bought a big license for a short period of time.

heh, you're right: "The site www.microsoft-antitrust.gov is running Microsoft-IIS/5.0 on Windows 2000." Wonder who's bright idea that was...

As is clearly stated in the FAQ:

Why can't I submit a complaint here about another problem I have with Microsoft?

This website is intended only to address complaints related to enforcement of the California Group Final Judgment and New York Group Final Judgment. Any other complaints outside the scope of these documents cannot be addressed here. Instead, you should directly contact the state or government agency you believe has jurisdiction over your complaint. You may also contact more than one government agency.

Security Update for Microsoft Windows(KB1337N008)
Download size: 1 KB, < 1 minute
A security issue has been identified in Microsoft Windows that could allow an end-user to see information detrimental to the Microsoft Empire(tm) by allowing the user to visit certain anti-Microsoft government sites. You can help protect Microsoft by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. Read more...

If you go to http://www.microsoft-antitrust.gov/contactus.asp you will find that they have a nice little web form for commentary to them.

For example, my comment to them...

It's pretty darned ironic that your department has chosen to host a website on Microsoft Windows 2000 and Internet Information Services. Was this a deliberate choice on your part to help demonstrate the monopoly power of Microsoft, or did you genuinely no know that you had several no-cost (acquisition wise) choices available to you?

Whilst the prior three fields give you 8K of plain text which to fill in, the final field only lets you upload in one of two proprietary closed-source word processor document formats (one of which is ironically Microsoft's) - nope, you're not allowed to upload SXW format (Open Office), plain text or even PDF files ! Also note that you're allowed a 1000K upload too, thanks to the bloatedness of the two formats they do allow...