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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]"
By chasing after this silly goal of forcing Microsoft to release a modular Windows, instead of the much more rational goal of forcing Microsoft to release APIs, file formats, network protocols, and other such information, it shows that everyone involved is in Microsoft's pocket.
Just look at the language they themselves use:
Windows XP Embedded is the componentized version of the leading desktop operating system,
Based on the same binaries as Windows XP Professional
They seem to go out of their way to say that it is the same as the desktop XP.
I never understood M$'s argument anyway. What a load of hokum. Too bad there can't be a tribunal of judges that actually knew something about technology, they'd see just how lame M$'s claims are.
This will not be it. This would be a disaster of monstrous proportions. The primary reason this would be a disaster is that it's a business solution to a technical problem -- MS is a master at wiggling out of things like this. MS WILL create a disastrous modular marketplace where consumers will rush back into their all encompassing embrace. That's exactly what they are good at.
The remedies that have been proposed by commenters on
Such as:
mandatory open APIs
open file formats
rational pricing
no "comprehensive" licensing
mandatory list pricing of OS for computer sales (my own contribution)
I can't help but feel that they are too late in the trial to get anything good out this.
The real issue here is not browsers, since removing IE is a just a stupid idea, its forcing MS to disclose its hiddens API's and file formats.
Chopping XP into pieces will only harm the consumer. But for example, if Open Office had access to the complete office file specs we could start to see some real change.
Also how about publishing the AD specs so Samba can be dropped in without any problems.
I really think that if these two steps are implemented, and MS is forced to deal with OEMs in a fair way, we will all be the better for it.
What sucks is, the possibility of this happening doesn't even seem to be on the roadmap.
As an aside I also think the judges and many of the people involved don't even understand the technology which for me is scary. How can you make judgements on something you don't even understand? I know that's a simplistic point of view but seriously, you can't tell me that if the judge was poor and couldn't afford to buy MS Office he wouldn't be pissed that Open Office mangles his word docs because MS is so tightassed about the specs. Having a judge who knows both nix and windows well might produce bias, but at least he would know what he was talking about when he made his ruling. Right now there is a 50/50 chance that because he doesn't understand technology he might rule that "yeah MS not disclosing the API's for security makes sense to me...a lay person".
If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
The real gain would be in simplicity of a streamlined Windows. 99.999% of home users only need to connect to Internet, browse Web and read/send Email. Even the dumb Lookout is too complex and too full of [mis-]features that they can not control it. What real people want is an appliance-like Windows which you *can* extend if you need to, and which you *can* simplify if you need to, as your goals dictate. But as of now, you get "all or nothing" package from which you can not even [easily] remove certain software even if you *know* that it is harmful to your enterprise (OE, IE, MSN etc.)
Yes but I guarantee that the Mozilla rendering engine com object would not be a drop in replacement for the IE object and tons of software would suddenly not work if it went missing.
A modular windows is great for embedded applications but a nightmare for consumers. Even Linux is headed twards some sort of standardization for consumers. Your example of KDE is a good one. KDEs file manager uses the built in Konquer engine. If you completely removed Konq from a KDE install then the file manager is crippled or completely non functional. So even if you hate Konq and want to use mozilla on KDE you still need Konq (Or atleast it's rendering engine) installed. Same with IE. Allow manufactuerers to install Netscape if they want, but Leave IE intact!
Contrary to popular belief, coding is not all free blow-jobs and beer. Those things cost MONEY!
You must be new to programming ... we already have this ...
Version DLL Distribution Platform
4.00 All Microsoft® Windows® 95/Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0.
4.70 All Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x.
4.71 All Internet Explorer 4.0. See note 2.
4.72 All Internet Explorer 4.01 and Windows 98. See note 2.
5.00 Shlwapi.dll Internet Explorer 5. See note 3.
5.00 Shell32.dll Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me). See note 3.
5.80 Comctl32.dll Internet Explorer 5. See note 3.
5.81 Comctl32.dll Windows 2000 and Windows Me. See note 3.
6.00 Comctl32.dll Windows XP. See note 4.
And all of this is FOR 1 DLL!!! ... now the next dll ... (you get the idea) ...
Info stolen from Microsoft and Yes ... I'm deep linking ...
Karma? Karma? I don't need no stinkin' karma.