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Does Microsoft Cause Lower Software Prices?

Posted by timothy on from the imagine-that dept.

AngusSF writes "OK, slashdotters, , so is this FEE article Antitrust Benefits Consumers? It Just Ain't So! true?" AngusSF quotes from the article: "... as Stan Leibowitz and Steve Margolis have shown in their book, Winners, Losers and Microsoft, in virtually any market that Microsoft has entered (financial software, spreadsheets, etc.), the effect has been a dramatic reduction in prices and an expansion of output and innovation. Software products that do not compete with Microsoft's products fell in price by 12 percent from 1988 to 1995, but by 60 percent where there was competition from Microsoft.", and writes "I'd really like to see some on-line evidence of this. Has Microsoft competition in office suites really cut prices there?"

11 of 726 comments (clear)

  1. Must Be True by fembots · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ever since Microsoft entered the desktop OS market, Linux felt so threatened that it's been giving away free source codes!

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    1. Re:Must Be True by savagedome · · Score: 2, Funny

      giving away free source codes

      Yeah. True. I download it from the Internets.

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    2. Re:Must Be True by IdleTime · · Score: 2, Funny

      You mean the Enternets, right?

      Isn't that what the blue E means? Enternets?

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    3. Re:Must Be True by randallpowell · · Score: 2, Funny
      I thought Linux xealots never bathed, Apple zealots worked all day to afford Macs and iPods, Limbaugh zealots abused morphine, and Moore zealots have bad taste in films.

      I prefer Linux zealots but I am one.

    4. Re:Must Be True by Anonymous+Writer · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's a perfectly cromulent word.

  2. In other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Wars often reduce overcrowding.

  3. Oddly enough... by Xaroth · · Score: 4, Funny

    "I'd really like to see some on-line evidence of this. Has Microsoft competition in office suites really cut prices there?"

    Oddly enough... the price dropped 100% in the office suites arena. ;)

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  4. Photoshop by mishmash · · Score: 5, Funny

    The existance of MSPaint doesn't seam to be making Photoshop more affordable.

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    1. Re:Photoshop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      MS Paint costs the price of Windows XP because it's bundled with it. OTOH Photoshop is freely downloadable from the Bittorrenternet lol!!!

    2. Re:Photoshop by msully4321 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Who modded this funny? By default, anybody who laughs at their own joke is *not* funny.

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    3. Re:Photoshop by nsasch · · Score: 5, Funny

      Imagine if MSPaint didn't exist. Photoshop would cost even more! But thankfully, I can do everything in paint, from stick figures to solid backgrounds. What can Photoshop possibly do to make it better than MSPaint?!?!?!

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