Microsoft Set To Be Fined $2.4M a Day

Nexum writes "The BBC is reporting on a European Union threat to fine Microsoft up to $2.4m a day for their non-compliance with the European Commission's demand that Windows be opened up. Back in March 2004 Microsoft was ordered to open up its Windows operating system by way of making documentation available that would assist work on interoperability with other systems, specifically: 'non-Microsoft work group servers [should be able to] achieve full interoperability with Windows PCs and servers'. According to the article, Brussels has found MS to have not complied with the ruling, and, sounding somewhat exasperated, EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has given MS a 5 week deadline before the $2.4m/a day fines begin."

Comments

The trick

[Henry V .009]

The trick is to bleed the giant slowly. If the fines are too big, Microsoft goes home and the EU is stuck with Linux crap that's unusable for anyone with an IQ under 130. But with little 2.4million a day fines, Microsoft stays in the game and EU bureacrats get new Paris offices.

Re:The trick

[tomstdenis]

Um people like you keep saying "linux is so hard to learn" yet more and more people are doing it.

I think you're just a retard or something.

I too was in your camp once [like 5 years ago] where I dabbled with debian and redhat and got flustered at the slighest problem and ran back to windows. But it got to a point where each "dabbling" in Linux lasted longer and longer and I learned to use the tools better. All of a sudden going back to windows is what pissed me off.

So keep on saying "Linux hard! Linux hard!" since that won't stop the influx of people trying it out and making the switch.

Tom

Re:The trick

[gatzke]

Good think this is the EU and EVERYONE has IQ over 130. No retards in the socialist utopia of EU, since education is perfect there.

Or was that Canada, I get so confused.

Re:The trick

[jcostantino]

I agree. I ran a copy of Ubuntu (and Kubuntu to not be biased) on my laptop for a few weeks. Prior to Linux I had a copy of XP Pro running and I do web stuff, email, picture retouching, etc... "the basics" no games, no video editing...

First of all, it's more of a pain in the ass to install software in Linux - end users would hate having to figure out how to get to a package repository and verify a key to finally get the package they need and then figure out that they need to update all these other libraries which need even more dependencies upgraded to work. I literally spent two hours making Mplayer stream video in Firefox under Kubuntu because I had to find a precompiled package, upgrade probably 20 (no BS) libraries and dependencies and then it ran HORRIBLY. It would take forever to start streaming as if there was a bottleneck between the player and the browser.

Second, my laptop would suspend when I closed the lid in Kubuntu but I had to edit the ACPI settings to reassign the lid switch command to call the suspend script. That was a 40 minute web search in itself.

Third, I just wasn't getting ANYTHING extra out of Linux that I was missing from XP. Sure it has virtual desktops (that I don't use) and the whole apt-get thing is neat but I'd rather go download a virtual screen program for XP and use VersionTracker or Download.com. From the user's point of view, double-clicking an icon is way easier than 'dpkg -install ~/Desktop/whatever.deb' any day of the week!

Fourth, the software catalog just isn't there for basic stuff... You want Picasa? Better make sure you install Wine or pay for Crossover Office because I haven't seen a Linux picture cataloging program that even comes near it. Hell, free Picasa even beats Adobe's Album software.

Linux (in my opinion) doesn't have the ease of use and interoperability that people have come to expect from XP. I'm sure it eventually will... its come a long way in a few years. Right now I don't think it's fit for anything other than server/high end workstation/poweruser/geek use.

My best example is Linux vs OS10. I'm using a Mac to type this right now and the OS is the most polished Linux/Unix OS I've ever seen. It's so polished it doesn't even resemble Linux unless you boot in Single User Mode to the command prompt! Assuming a person had no issues with spending money for a new computer, i would suggest a Mac. If they were price-consious I would suggest a PC with XP Home. If they were building a server (I'd still try to push OSX Server) I'd suggest Linux.

I know I'm going to be flamed for this since I'm so pro-Microsoft and all but in the end, I'm really just pro-"Right tool for the job." As soon as Linux gets a single distribution with a single graphic environment it'll make better inroads to end users via ease of use and a consistent experience. That of course flies in the face of the whole free software movement so don't expect wide-spread adoption among the "working poor" of the computer world.

this is stupid

[switchfutguy]

I'm not pro-microsoft in everything...but this is just stupid.

If i was microsoft i would say "ok...well see you later Europe."

Re:drop in the ocean

[OverlordQ]

Why should they have to comply?

It's not M$ job to support 3rd party systems and applications. If people want to make them, then should have to do the work of figuring out how to operate with M$ systems.

exactly.. they should pull windows

[EccentricAnomaly]

I'm not a fan of Microsoft either... but keeping this information to themselves is something that has been done in the computer industry since the beginning. I can't believe the EU would be so fascist as to compel Microsoft to release this information... and with a fine post-dated to Dec 15!! Microsoft should suspend all sales of Windows and Office until this is resolved. Europe is much more heavily dependent on windows than the US... they would most definitely feel the pinch. Hell they might be able to talk Apple into joining the boycott...

Re:If the shoe was on the other foot...

[Anonymous Coward]

What other option does the EU have?

They could finally grow up and work for a living, couldn't they?