I think that a lot of this discussion comes from the fact that one doesn't _have_ to use MS products. However, I think that _most_ people do. Probably noone who reads slashdot, but how many people do you know how haven't even figured out windows explorer, or even know what's on their start menu? Because of Microsoft's bullying tatics on hardware makers, and the impossible to refuse offers to ISP, almost all windows users get MSIE. To 80% of those users, Netscape (and anything else) doesn't even exist.
I'm not saying that the Judges should get into software design, but if your utility company suddenly decided to switch to 240 volts, you'd be harmed, as you would have to switch all your equipment over. Not similar? How many help desks call and IT interaction would it take to convert an office from one browser to another? Let alone an individual...
"Hello, support?" "Yes, how can I help you?" "I'd like to install netscape."
At this point, and there many been many slashdot articles/comments to this effect, the support says, use what was given to you, as we don't support anything else. Now, for the _average_ consumer, where is the choice in this? Go a different ISP? All the bigs ISPs are forced to use IE (for reasons detailed in the judgement). Are you going to tell your aunt, who doesn't know how to install a program (even using autostart) how to setup TCP/IP for a new ISP?
If you really wanted to, you could switch all your equipment to DC, which is more efficent anyway (for inhouse stuff). But to be realistic, are you going to do that? Now what if AC was owned by a company....
Wait a minute... (Score:1) by binarybits on Friday November 05, @08:26PM EST (#467) (User Info) http://www.tc.umn.edu/~leex1008 To the extent that browsing-specific routines have been commingled with operating system routines to a greater degree than is necessary to provide any consumer benefit, Microsoft has unjustifiably jeopardized the stability and security of the operating system. Specifically, it has increased the likelihood that a browser crash will cause the entire system to crash and made it easier for malicious viruses that penetrate the system via Internet Explorer to infect non-browsing parts of the system." So now it's a crime to write buggy/insecure/nonmodular code? Excuse me? It seemed the argument was whether MS used its dominant position in OS's to bolster its position in other markets. How exactly does writing buggy code help them sell their software or damage their competitors? And what business is it of the government what kind of code MS writes? If Microsoft wants to write a browser that is completely insecure and blue screens every 10 seconds, how is that a crime? Sure, it's lousy programming, but I don't remember antitrust law saying anything about poor coding practices being a crime.
The point of this wasn't that writing bad software is a crime, but that customers were/are forced to use a buggy, insecure product (and were/are therefore harmed) by the Microsoft monopoly. If MS was/is a monopoly, but also had better software then anyone else, then the anti-trust law would not apply. From what I can tell, a monopoly is only illegal if it harms consumers.
>As for Matrox and ATI, they have never been in
>the game. I own the rage fury, it sucked, it >never got an x-server until I replaced it with my >voodoo > 3. Matrox took an entire release of another card >before they got their open gl ICD out. (Dual head >is amazing though, and the linux support is great > too). But for 3d? Nahh..
I agree with the ICD comment, but with the newest driver set, the G400 MAX is even with the TNT2 Ultra, and in some cases, faster. Check out Thresh's FiringSquad review of the G400 (but be sure to look for the update when Matrox release the new drivers)
This sounds like a great way to have yet another Columbine and another and another....
At one point in the past, wasn't there a program that used neural networks to make doctor type decisions (ie what's wrong with you) and other types, ie expert systems? Those seem to have gone nowhere, and for good reason. This type of system has proven time and again that humans are in the best position to make these calls, and by setting up a computer to do it, we're just asking for problems.
If I wasn't mad as hell and feeling like an outcast before, being pegged by this thing would do it.
That's interesting, as NSI refused my domain name.
A friend and I were looking at different domain names after we saw what some of them were going for on ebay, and I found that fu*kme.com (The * is really a C, don't know how/. handles swears) had become available. So I figure, sure, that's gotta be worth something. I register it, then about 2 weeks later I get an email saying that NSI refused to register it! The actual email is below.
So, if NSI is not legally responsible for when certain names are registered, yet they can refuse on other grounds. While I'm no lawyer, that seems a little odd.
"Network Solutions doesn't review the names that people are trying to register," Johnston said. "This is critical to the growth of the commercial Internet."
If NSI doesn't review the names, then how is this explained?
> A. Introduction. This domain name registration agreement > ("Registration Agreement") is submitted to NETWORK SOLUTIONS, INC. > ("NSI") for the purpose of applying for and registering a domain name > on the Internet. If this Registration Agreement is accepted by NSI, > and a domain name is registered in NSI's domain name database and > assigned to the Registrant, Registrant ("Registrant") agrees to be > bound by the terms of this Registration Agreement and the terms of > NSI's Domain Name Dispute Policy ("Dispute Policy") which is > incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Registration > Agreement. This Registration Agreement shall be accepted at the Network Solutions declines to register the domain name for which you have applied. Network Solutions has a right founded in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to refuse to register, and thereby publish, on the Internet registry of domain names words that it deems to be inappropriate. Additionally, Network Solutions' outside counsel has advised us that the Supreme Court of the United States has held that no corporation can be compelled to engage in publication which that corporation finds to be inappropriate. Best Regards, Vincent S. Network Solutions Registration Services World Wide Web: http://www.networksolutions.com E-mail: hostmaster@internic.net Tax ID #: 52-1146119
Has anyone read this patent? I can't believe that it could be as broad as it appears. In an attempt to find out, I went to the patent database search, and attempted a search on amazon and order. It appears that the patent is not in the online database. Does anyone know why not?
I was on GEine years ago, and I could order stuff with one keyboard click (once I had found something worth ordering, which was rare). Let loose the lawyers of war!
Slashdot Mirror
Something I heard from someone who works for MS...
they are already working on SP1 for win2k.
Unless it's powerful enough to bounce around the wall. I know that a normal IR remote will bounce off of two walls before dying....
I'm not saying that the Judges should get into software design, but if your utility company suddenly decided to switch to 240 volts, you'd be harmed, as you would have to switch all your equipment over. Not similar? How many help desks call and IT interaction would it take to convert an office from one browser to another? Let alone an individual...
"Hello, support?"
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"I'd like to install netscape."
At this point, and there many been many slashdot articles/comments to this effect, the support says, use what was given to you, as we don't support anything else. Now, for the _average_ consumer, where is the choice in this? Go a different ISP? All the bigs ISPs are forced to use IE (for reasons detailed in the judgement). Are you going to tell your aunt, who doesn't know how to install a program (even using autostart) how to setup TCP/IP for a new ISP?
If you really wanted to, you could switch all your equipment to DC, which is more efficent anyway (for inhouse stuff). But to be realistic, are you going to do that? Now what if AC was owned by a company....
The point of this wasn't that writing bad software is a crime, but that customers were/are forced to use a buggy, insecure product (and were/are therefore harmed) by the Microsoft monopoly. If MS was/is a monopoly, but also had better software then anyone else, then the anti-trust law would not apply. From what I can tell, a monopoly is only illegal if it harms consumers.
Joikm
Erick
I agree with the ICD comment, but with the newest driver set, the G400 MAX is even with the TNT2 Ultra, and in some cases, faster. Check out Thresh's FiringSquad review of the G400 (but be sure to look for the update when Matrox release the new drivers)
At one point in the past, wasn't there a program that used neural networks to make doctor type decisions (ie what's wrong with you) and other types, ie expert systems? Those seem to have gone nowhere, and for good reason. This type of system has proven time and again that humans are in the best position to make these calls, and by setting up a computer to do it, we're just asking for problems.
If I wasn't mad as hell and feeling like an outcast before, being pegged by this thing would do it.
A friend and I were looking at different domain names after we saw what some of them were going for on ebay, and I found that fu*kme.com (The * is really a C, don't know how /. handles swears) had become available. So I figure, sure, that's gotta be worth something. I register it, then about 2 weeks later I get an email saying that NSI refused to register it! The actual email is below.
So, if NSI is not legally responsible for when certain names are registered, yet they can refuse on other grounds. While I'm no lawyer, that seems a little odd.
"Network Solutions doesn't review the names that people are trying to register," Johnston said. "This is critical to the growth of the commercial Internet."
If NSI doesn't review the names, then how is this explained?
I was on GEine years ago, and I could order stuff with one keyboard click (once I had found something worth ordering, which was rare). Let loose the lawyers of war!