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Microsoft Loses Appeal of "Vista-Capable" Lawsuit
bfwebster writes "Microsoft has lost its appeal to remove class-action status for the 'Vista Capable' lawsuit that has already resulted in some embarrassing internal e-mails being released publicly. As Computerworld reports, in its appeal to the US Ninth Circuit Court, Microsoft argued (among other things) that 'continuing the lawsuit might mean new disclosures of insider e-mails, which could "jeopardize Microsoft's goodwill" and "disrupt Microsoft's relationships with its business partners."' Given what's been released so far (158-page PDF), not to mention Microsoft's history of rather frank internal e-mails, that's probably putting it mildly. There could be some interesting reading ahead."
I wonder, though, how much this will really cost.
Some of the machines that said "vista capable" were, some were barely capable. But they've been downplaying the minimum requirements forever. If you had a system with the minimum requirements for XP, it ran like a dog. Did people expect that buying something with the minimum requirements for Vista would generate better results?
In the end, I think some entertainment might come out of the trial, but the financial award will end up being little more than a slap on the wrist to Microsoft. Time will tell.
- Greg
Start a happiness pandemic
Fsck the customers, they are merely corporate assets.
Engineering is the art of compromise.
continuing the lawsuit might mean new disclosures of insider e-mails, which could "jeopardize Microsoft's goodwill"
That soooo reminds me of one of the memorable quotes in LiarLiar (http://www.amazon.com/review/R2TISC7BK6BUTV)
Fletcher: Your honor, I object!
Judge: Why?
Fletcher: Because it's devastating to my case!
Judge: Overruled.
Fletcher: Good call!
I suppose the short summary of their appeal case was "We'd like you to stop digging because you'll probably find more dirt." No, the legal system is supposed to work that way, thank you. (care to borrow my shovel? how about my backhoe?)
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
The thing is at these emails actually have relevance to the case, bad attitude and real bad attitude were nothing other than rants with no technical/buisness dealing in them, and microsoft still subpoena them.
In memory of mozilla, about:mozilla should have something really fitting in firefox 3: "And then the just as the rage of the hero had been shown when he first fell to the ground, the deceit, lies & horror of the beast were opened for the world to see" For bonus points somebody at Mozilla could grow some and stick a link to the court records of MSs emails as an update when they're all out!
IranAir Flight 655 never forget!
I like freedom and competition. Freedom is about my being able to choose what I like and need based on real information about real option--not just the advertising propaganda. Competition creates those options. Together they work to drive progress and the evolution of better products.
Microsoft's idea is that I should only be free to choose some flavor of Microsoft, and Microsoft gets to tell me what me needs are and what the options are. Change? Only when Microsoft has bled the revenue stream dry. Evolution? Only if the better ideas outside of Microsoft are getting too much cursed publicity.
I see this as a philosophic deadlock. However, there is an easy solution. Chop Microsoft into four or five pieces. Give each of them a copy of the source and let them compete with each other (and with Linux and Apple and the rest of the current crop of dwarfs).
Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
Don't get too excited the 9th Circuit court of appeals is the most often overturned court int he land. Maybe because they don't actually take the LAW into account when making their decisions. http://www.centerforindividualfreedom.org/legal/9th_circuit.htm
Or, Microsoft has shown lots of goodwill by allowing XP to be sold longer and donation kagillions to charity.
Now, I'm no MS fan here (I run OS-X and CentOS), but that's an awfully wide brush.