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MS Judge to Allow Demonstration of Modular Windows
robkill writes: "U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, over the vigorous objections of Microsoft, will allow the nine dissenting states to demonstrate a modular version of Windows. The software is based on Windows XP Embedded, and was built by computer consultant James Bach. Details can be found here [zdnet.com]"
At this point, IANAL.
Microsoft claims that to remove components from their current OSes and make it modular is infeasible. (agreed).
However, they have produced WinXP Embedded, supposedly based on WinXP, supposedly modular.
Also, you could look at their X-Box as another example. I have good friends who are X-Box developers, and they love it, because the API's are *identical* between Windows and the X-Box, so they can test their code on a PC (within reason) before putting it onto the X-Box. Clearly, there are modular versions of "Windows" that Microsoft has chosen to create for it's own purpose. The states just want that purpose to be "for everybody".
Now, either Microsoft is lying to the court, or lying in their marketing. You choose.
PS: I don't give a flying duck about this BTW, the only remedy I want to see from Microsoft is to be forced to publish every single file-format (Word) and protocol (Exchange) that they use, and keep those documents up to date.
Windows NT/XP was written to be modular. The whole thing is based around a microkernel architecture. You could turn Windows into Unix by replacing services. In theory, if the Hurd were further along, the nt/xp (whatever the hell MS marketing want s to call it this week) microkernel could run it and it would be the Hurd.
Windows IS modular, their claims notwithstanding. What microsoft has consistently tried to do is add APIs and then to insist that this is part of the operating system. This is how they "embrace and extend." It is only true to the extent that they can get ISVs to start using these APIs. This is why IE suddenly replaced Netscape in Quicken 2000 -- they got Quicken to swallow the new web integration APIs (and, IMHO they simultaneously screwed up and slowed to a crawl one of the best Windows apps out there).
These claims depend on what your definition of "Windows" and "Operating System" are.
All of that said, I don't think a modular Windows will do a bit of good in restraining Microsoft's outright criminal manipulation of the marketplace. I actually agree with the original breakup plan because I do not think the state should have a right to sieze intellectual property (force open APIs or source code). I think they should just keep financially and structurally beating up Microsoft until they finally decide it is not worth it to remain in defiance of the law. I am a big believer in property rights, given that they back both MS and the GPL.