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Microsoft's Longhorn Faces Antitrust Scrutiny
benore writes "The Department of Justice
will be reviewing Microsoft's Longhorn product as part of the company's antitrust settlement. One analyst opines that Mircosoft is appearing to soften its image to become kinder and gentler. 'They don't want people to hate them anymore. They've learned from their mistakes.' Hmmm."
One area that DOJ regulators will be looking at, in particular, is a control panel in Longhorn that facilitates use of a browser and media player other than the Microsoft versions that will be pre-built into the system.
Does this mean that the next version of IE will be built directly into the new OS, as with XP, ME etc? I sincerely hope not, as I am not looking forward to further years of routine tech maintenance on my friend's PCs due to this integration.
I'm not stressed. I'm just terribly, terribly alert.
All third-party browsers e.g. Firefox and media players e.g. Quicktime ask whether you wish to make them the default when they are opened for the first time. So what is a control panel supposed to achieve ? The effort for the user is in the downloading and installing of the third-party software.
The DOJ should be instead insisting that Microsoft bundle third-party alternatives with the OS not just providing a control panel.
Funtage Factor: Purple
'review' a product that hasn't been released yet?
...
And why is the Yahoo article writer so keen to get opinions from that twit of an analyst Laura DiDio? I'm sure someone else here will point out her lovely work defending SCO
Finally, why the hell do I care about this? Oh yeah, that's it: because every single one of my clients continues to use MS. Arrgh.
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Death will come, and will have your eyes
-- Pavese
I went to Linux, loathed it, went to FreeBSD, liked it, and finally got a Mac.
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
I admit I 'hate' Microsoft even though their products are useful and enjoyable enough to use now. But their aggressive business style and the (successful) way they lock consumers/industries into using only their products as well as forced upgrades, unfriendly software and malware intrusions has now left such a bad taste in my mouth that I've been wanting to turn my back on *anything* Microsoft related for a couple of years now.
Mac mini arriving will allow me to eagerly switch from MS's world to that of Apple Macs and Unix/Linux OSs and tools. Over the next couple of years I plan to seriously limit my MS use to that of 'as and when needed', and will be advocating limiting the use of MS products to anyone who will listen (friends/family/businesses/schools)!
-zahg
I don't think MS should underestimated about learning from their mistakes, they've done it before (both of them). It's also something FOSS circles should be concerned about, because a more humble MS could reduce the amount of interest in the alternatives.
I believe that the arrogant and hostile attitude of MS has been the number one reason corporations and governments have been looking for alternatives, not for example the arquable quality and price of their products. If we for example look at the EU sanctions concerning Media player, I find it hard to believe that anybody was interested in MS hurting the "media player industry" or that there's something wrong with OS including a media player. More likely the EU just wanted to show that they have the political will to confront MS if they don't get the co-operation they want.
Actually most of XP's security problems with RPC, default services in listening state etc. all came from win2k. 98se was a brick wall (remotely) after you dissabled netbios. You could run "netstat -a" and get 0 results, try that on XP, 2K, or even Linux.
Saying Java is nice because it works on all OS's is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders.
The thing is people don't hate MS. It's like OGG - restricted to a small group of geeks who can be bothered caring.
Most people know about MS, know they use their software, some geeks are rabidly anti-MS... and the rest of the world couldn't care less.
Oh, this made me laugh. We have a room full of SuSE Linux machines here, and since they were upgraded to 2.6 kernels USB pen drives haven't worked.
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
You could run "netstat -a" and get 0 results, try that on XP, 2K, or even Linux.
Oh well, just another ignorant reference, and amateur trial of useless comparison with Linux. You obviously never heard of xinetd, did you.
There are many thousands of Linux boxes out there which run dozens of services internally or intranet-ally which you couldn't ever access or even know they are available on that remote box.
That said, you're right.
I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I can think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.
I would like to know:
Is Microsoft working with hardware and computer manufacturers to make PC's "unfriendly to Linux"?
Or is this just a case of someone who can't get his favorite linux distros to recognize all of his hardware, and thinks Microsoft has conspired to make the "unfriendly to Linux" item a possibility?
I have a Dell PC, and of course it comes preloaded with XP. In trying a bunch of live CD linux distros, only SuSE 9.2 Live Eval will recognize my Sound Card. I'm running XFLD now, and no sound.
Here's what I'd have liked to see:
.Net. Then just say, "Look, our stuff runs on OS X and that Linux thing! Mono!" At least they'll still be selling copies of Office.
Windows XP Professional, at the Home price, shipping with SP2 preinstalled. The product also includes MS Antispyware and MS Antivirus with free updates for the life of Windows XP.
The default install comes locked down - firewall on, IE security cranked up to High, Messenger and other unnecessary services turned off, user accounts are by default Users and not Administrators.
There is no nagging about associating your Windows account with your Passport, and IE will cleanly uninstall with no complaints. Explorer does not treat you like an idiot and lets you navigate into any folder you choose without having to opt in.
Then I would say that Windows is OKAY. So, maybe these antitrust guys can keep Microsoft on its toes and get them to produce an OKAY Windows.
Great insurance against future antitrust stuff: port Office to
The US Army: promoting democracy through unquestioned obedience
Well come to think about it, you use your software under the mercy of MS. If they chose to release a new Windows and make something you use in windows incompatible with the old version, you're forced to spending money on upgrading, eventhough what you have is currently working just fine.
You might be forced into buying some program you use in a new version, since the software developers aren't supporting the old one for the old windows, in addition to buying a new windows. Ofcourse, your old computer isn't capable of using the new windows, so there goes a new computer as well.
This is how it works with properitary software, you really are a much more free man with free software.
Life is Reality