What everybody seems to misunderstand is that as a world wide monopoly, Microsoft is supposed to act in a responsible way so as not to inhibit the growth of competition. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Microsoft does at every turn.
By denying access to it's communication protocols, Microsoft inhibits competition for network services.
By creating media formats that are secret and proprietary it inhibits competition for media creation and playback.
By creating a browser that is non-standard it skews the entire browser market and online experience.
By creating document formats that are proprietary with unpublished protocols Microsoft effectively locks customers into a continuous cycle of purchases once again locking out competition.
That is why Microsoft was found guilty of being an aggressive predatory monopoly. The only reason Microsoft didn't have to face any consequences is because the Bush administration was flush with Microsoft dollars when they came to power.
Microsoft must be held to a higher standard of conduct because of it's monopoly market condition. Unfortunately, Microsoft uses it's vast wealth and power to stifle competition at every turn. Whether it's a children's learning tool in Nigeria or gaming a world standard or a groundswell of support for Linux in China, Microsoft attempts to suppress competition with bribes and corruption.
I sincerely hope the EU takes their head off because we sure can't rely on the Americans to do the right thing.
Thank you all that wrote, called, emailed or in any way communicated your displeasure to your political representatives about this terrible proposed legislation.
if it was free! And Microsoft can afford to give it away funded by the proceeds of it's aggressive predatory monopoly.
That and Microsoft's massive promotional budget assures lots of Zunes sitting under the tree or in hanging stockings this Christmas. I am just wondering how many will be exchanged come Dec 26th.
The NEW Zune is old technology compared to Apples iPod - typical for Microsoft.
Ed
> linking to an anti-muslim site is not exactly the best way to get the facts about muslims.
Could it be that reporting the facts about Islam's past could all be considered 'anti-muslim'?
Incidently, the True Believers of Islam are still murdering non-Muslims in India in continous undergound warfare. A streetcar filled with Hindus explodes killing all aboard and a few bystanders and then the Islamic community starts demanding protection from the evil unbelievers.
>Had you actually read it, you would have known that Qur'an are the words of God, not of the Prophet.
I read it. It is the words of Mohammad who says they are the words of Allah - talk about your circular logic.
>However, it does show that we respect our religion
It shows that Islam promotes insanity.
Have you seen the madness in the eyes of the True Believers when they are shrieking and screaming for blood - that is some crazy.
You must be proud.
> Hahaha
Can you really equate one evangelist camp with the millions of Madrasah all over the world spewing the message of hate for the unbelievers? Yeah, they are the same.
>And this, children, is what we call a circular argument.
That is not a circular argument. Islam and Arab culture seem to embrace the practice of al-Taqiyya when it serves Islam and Muslims.
>Scared?
I am an immortal spiritual being. I know there is no god or allah or yahweh - they are the maunderings of ancient uncivilized man.
I am sure not holding out for 72 virgins, or is that white grapes?
What is it about the Islamic obsession with virgins? Talk about an immature view of human sexuality.
The warriors of Islam are responsible for the deayth of ~60 million East Indians over the centuries not to mention the enslavement and rape of many millions more.
Wow - I can't believe it.
Somebody has the guts to tell the truth about Islam and isn't afraid of all the PC idiots!
If you actually read the Qur'an in chronological order with the established understanding that later passages take precedence over earlier passages you will be overwhelmed by the rancor and hatred that is Islam and it's psychotic prophet Mohammad.
Ed
>it hurts my head to think of anything north of the Mason-Dixon line as "Down South"
To Canadians, that's 'way Down South' or 'Deep South'.
And New Orleans is of course 'The Big Easy'.
It is also true that The US is also favorite shopping and holiday destination and will continue to be so until Bush & Friends make it too dangerous, too difficult and too expensive.
"By "religious beliefs", I'm sure you meant to say "legal restrictions", since you can't legally ship most of the codecs you mentioned without a license."
That is interesting, but not true.
MPlayer has been shipping these codecs for almost 8 years and they haven't experienced any problems. They even have mirrors in the US and UK and still no problems.
As for libdvdcss, it is developed and hosted all over the world. Since the DVD CCA and MPAA had their heads handed to them twice in a row in California the case has been dropped.
The only people that use libdvdcss are people who bought or rented DVDs and who are entitled to watch them and even make backups if they like.
Slashdot Mirror
Hey, I have an idea.
Why don't you view a website with small images and smal;l test and hit the + key in Opera.
Wow! Absolutely fucking amazing - not only does it scale the text up, it also scales the images up as well.
Try that with IE or Firefox.
Asshole!
Ed
TROLL?
What The Fuck?
Slashdot Sucks Dead Goat Ass.
Ed
What everybody seems to misunderstand is that as a world wide monopoly, Microsoft is supposed to act in a responsible way so as not to inhibit the growth of competition. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Microsoft does at every turn.
By denying access to it's communication protocols, Microsoft inhibits competition for network services.
By creating media formats that are secret and proprietary it inhibits competition for media creation and playback.
By creating a browser that is non-standard it skews the entire browser market and online experience.
By creating document formats that are proprietary with unpublished protocols Microsoft effectively locks customers into a continuous cycle of purchases once again locking out competition.
That is why Microsoft was found guilty of being an aggressive predatory monopoly. The only reason Microsoft didn't have to face any consequences is because the Bush administration was flush with Microsoft dollars when they came to power.
Microsoft must be held to a higher standard of conduct because of it's monopoly market condition. Unfortunately, Microsoft uses it's vast wealth and power to stifle competition at every turn. Whether it's a children's learning tool in Nigeria or gaming a world standard or a groundswell of support for Linux in China, Microsoft attempts to suppress competition with bribes and corruption.
I sincerely hope the EU takes their head off because we sure can't rely on the Americans to do the right thing.
Ed
Thank you all that wrote, called, emailed or in any way communicated your displeasure to your political representatives about this terrible proposed legislation.
Ed
I am looking at my brain right now and I don't see any difference.
Ed
The way to a man's heart is through his sternum.
if it was free! And Microsoft can afford to give it away funded by the proceeds of it's aggressive predatory monopoly. That and Microsoft's massive promotional budget assures lots of Zunes sitting under the tree or in hanging stockings this Christmas. I am just wondering how many will be exchanged come Dec 26th. The NEW Zune is old technology compared to Apples iPod - typical for Microsoft. Ed
A good test for ID: Put an empty sealed jar on a shelf and wait for God to put something living in it.
Ed
God spontaneously made the copyrights disappear.
They could make that argument work for 45% of the US population.
Ed
Now who lives in The Home of The Free?
8^)
Ed
And it is going to land Wal-Mart and ToyQuest in court.
In view of the fact that the device is of such poor quality almost ensures Nintendo will be able to get an interlocutory injunction within days.
Wal-Mart really should know better - I am surprised.
Ed
I applaud Pirate Bay their sense of irony and their sense of humor!
Now if we could just get a photograph of Mickey Mouse smoking a dube.
Ed
> linking to an anti-muslim site is not exactly the best way to get the facts about muslims.
Could it be that reporting the facts about Islam's past could all be considered 'anti-muslim'?
Incidently, the True Believers of Islam are still murdering non-Muslims in India in continous undergound warfare. A streetcar filled with Hindus explodes killing all aboard and a few bystanders and then the Islamic community starts demanding protection from the evil unbelievers.
Happens every week.
Ed
It is unfortunate that your post wasn't modded up - it is an excellent post.
Ed
The problem you and all your Muslim friends have is the West is awakening to Islam's bullshit.
Islam is no more a religion than Nazism.
Allahu Akbar dickhead.
Ed
>Muslims feel so hated and oppressed.
More circular logic.
They feel hate because they hate.
They feel oppressed because they oppress.
The world would be a better place without the hatred and terror of Islam.
Ed
>Had you actually read it, you would have known that Qur'an are the words of God, not of the Prophet.
I read it. It is the words of Mohammad who says they are the words of Allah - talk about your circular logic.
>However, it does show that we respect our religion
It shows that Islam promotes insanity.
Have you seen the madness in the eyes of the True Believers when they are shrieking and screaming for blood - that is some crazy.
You must be proud.
> Hahaha
Can you really equate one evangelist camp with the millions of Madrasah all over the world spewing the message of hate for the unbelievers? Yeah, they are the same.
>And this, children, is what we call a circular argument.
That is not a circular argument. Islam and Arab culture seem to embrace the practice of al-Taqiyya when it serves Islam and Muslims.
>Scared?
I am an immortal spiritual being. I know there is no god or allah or yahweh - they are the maunderings of ancient uncivilized man.
I am sure not holding out for 72 virgins, or is that white grapes?
What is it about the Islamic obsession with virgins? Talk about an immature view of human sexuality.
Islam is a blight on humanity.
Ed
I am sorry - were you giving me a piece of your mind?
It was so insignificant.
Ed
What are you bringing to the discussion?
Nothing?
Well done.
Thanks for nothing.
Ed
What is wrong with Brigitte Gabriel? I read her first hand account of her life in Lebanon and found her observations and revelations very instructive.
Further, I have read the Qur'an in chronological order and understand what Islam is about by reading the words of your prophet Mohammed.
I am also witness to the insanity that is Islam over such trifles as the Mohammad comics.
I am also witness to the hypocracy that is Islam in the Middle East - I like how you indoctrinate your children to hate and murder.
I don't believe what you are saying because it is part of Islam to lie to infidels if it is for the purpose of furthering the cause of Islam.
I am not a Christian.
I am an infidel by your standards.
Islam is the religion of hate.
I won't be seeing you 'on the day'.
Ed
The warriors of Islam are responsible for the deayth of ~60 million East Indians over the centuries not to mention the enslavement and rape of many millions more.
Check out:
http://www.geocities.com/akhandbharat1947/ISLAM.html
Ed
Why don't we try:
http://americancongressfortruth.com/
and
http://jihadwatch.org/
and
http://www.apostatesofislam.com/
and
many many more sources of the truth about Islam.
Islam is all about hate for anything not Islam.
Ed
Wow - I can't believe it. Somebody has the guts to tell the truth about Islam and isn't afraid of all the PC idiots! If you actually read the Qur'an in chronological order with the established understanding that later passages take precedence over earlier passages you will be overwhelmed by the rancor and hatred that is Islam and it's psychotic prophet Mohammad. Ed
>it hurts my head to think of anything north of the Mason-Dixon line as "Down South"
To Canadians, that's 'way Down South' or 'Deep South'.
And New Orleans is of course 'The Big Easy'.
It is also true that The US is also favorite shopping and holiday destination and will continue to be so until Bush & Friends make it too dangerous, too difficult and too expensive.
Ed
Canada is the US's biggest customer
and,
The US is Canada's biggest customer.
I remember a time when I was a kid when the Canadian dollar was actually a little more valuable than the US dollar.
Even with the equal exchange rate, US gasoline and many foods are still cheaper Down South - at least it is between BC and Washington.
It will be interesting to see how this will affect our relationship with our Southern cousins.
Ed
"By "religious beliefs", I'm sure you meant to say "legal restrictions", since you can't legally ship most of the codecs you mentioned without a license."
That is interesting, but not true.
MPlayer has been shipping these codecs for almost 8 years and they haven't experienced any problems. They even have mirrors in the US and UK and still no problems.
As for libdvdcss, it is developed and hosted all over the world. Since the DVD CCA and MPAA had their heads handed to them twice in a row in California the case has been dropped.
The only people that use libdvdcss are people who bought or rented DVDs and who are entitled to watch them and even make backups if they like.
So just what are we supposed to be afraid of?