Death announcement? Where? All I see is someone reporting on him being ill, and as a well known person, this is definitely of interest to people who might be interested in his work.
It is a valid counter-argument, since the software industry is an industry like all others, and all other industries are regulated. I just happened to mention some very critical industries. Like the software industry is a critical industry, seeing as we rely on this industry to keep our society running.
Like how Apple does with the iPod and iTunes, you mean?
You ignored the word "dominant". Maybe Apple is in danger of breaking the law, but they are nowhere near the dominance Microsoft has in the desktop market.
MS bundles for ease of use, not to prevent competition.
At best, a combination. Documents revealed during the US antitrust trial clearly showed that Microsoft used bundling and lock-in as a conscious strategy to destroy other browsers.
How can you look at the existence of 4 of 6 third party browsers, all of which arose AFTER msie, and stand there with a straight face and claim bundling prevents competition?
"When the only real competition comes from a not for profit open source organization that depends on volunteers for almost half of its work product and nearly all of its marketing and distribution, while more than half a dozen other "traditional" browser vendors with better than I.E. products have had near-zero success encroaching on Microsoft I.E.'s dominance, there's a demonstrable tilt to the playing field. That tilt comes with the distribution channel - default status for the OS bundled Web browser."
His comment will fall on deaf ears because he is missing the point. The browser is a communications tool to a worldwide network which should be accessible from any type of device. Microsoft tried to turn it into the Microsoft Network by locking people to IE by abusing their dominant position on the desktop. No such thing with Notepad, which actually produces plain text files that any text editor can read, and in addition to that, is only local to your machine (no network infrastructure relies on it).
Sigh. You are assuming that the EU will fall for nonsense like that again. As their announcement indicates, they learned from the WMP crap Microsoft pulled. Mozilla is on board to offer advice as well. They are not going to let Microsoft get away with any tricks this time, I bet.
Hospitals shouldn't be regulated like this. The food industry shouldn't be regulated like this. Nothing should be regulated at all. Market anarchy, here we come!
Ive been involved in building and shipping web browsers continuously since before Microsoft started developing IE, and the damage Microsoft has done to competition, innovation, and the pace of the web development itself is both glaring and ongoing. There are separate questions of whether there is a good remedy, and what that remedy might be. But questions regarding an appropriate remedy do not change the essential fact. Microsofts business practices have fundamentally diminished (in fact, came very close to eliminating) competition, choice and innovation in how people access the Internet.
When the only real competition comes from a not for profit open source organization that depends on volunteers for almost half of its work product and nearly all of its marketing and distribution, while more than half a dozen other "traditional" browser vendors with better than I.E. products have had near-zero success encroaching on Microsoft I.E.'s dominance, there's a demonstrable tilt to the playing field. That tilt comes with the distribution channel - default status for the OS bundled Web browser.
.
What's next? Requiring that they allow for the customer to choose what notepad program they want to use? What media player?
Yes, in fact, Microsoft was convicted because of their illegal bundling of WMP
As for Notepad, that comparison proves that you are either ignorant or dishonest. The browser is a communications tool to a worldwide network which should be accessible from any type of device. Microsoft tried to turn it into the Microsoft Network by locking people to IE by abusing their dominant position on the desktop. No such thing with Notepad, which actually produces plain text files that any text editor can read, and in addition to that, is only local to your machine (no network infrastructure relies on it).
Imagine for a moment that a car manufacturer had 95% marketshare and the government forced them to offer air conditioning units from three other companies in addition to their own - it's the same level of ridiculousness.
Your ignorance is astounding. Do you ever even try to educate yourself before spouting nonsense? Monopolies aren't illegal. Bundling isn't illegal. But abusing one's monopoly to prenvent competition by bundling is illegal. All over the world, including the US.
That's assuming that the EU will fall for nonsense like that again. As their announcement indicates, they learned from the WMP crap Microsoft pulled. Mozilla is on board to offer advice as well. They are not going to let Microsoft get away with any tricks this time, I bet.
You are assuming that the EU will fall for crap like that again. As their announcement indicates, they learned from the WMP nonsense Microsoft pulled. Mozilla is on board to offer advice as well.
Your comment is missing the point. Are you trolling on purpose, perhaps?
The browser is a communications tool to a worldwide network which should be accessible from any type of device. Microsoft tried to turn it into the Microsoft Network by locking people to IE by abusing their dominant position on the desktop. No such thing with Minesweeper. Minesweeper doesn't even communicate with anything. Furthermore, you must show that there is a "minesweeper game" market.
You are missing the point. Your comparisons are terrible. So your conclusion is basically bogus.
The browser is a communications tool to a worldwide network which should be accessible from any type of device. Microsoft tried to turn it into the Microsoft Network by locking people to IE by abusing their dominant position on the desktop. No such thing with Notepad, which actually produces plain text files that any text editor can read, and in addition to that, is only local to your machine (no network infrastructure relies on it).
Let Microsoft keep doing what they're doing
Let Microsoft continue to break the law? Why should Microsoft be allowed to break the law, but no one else?
The average user does not, and continues to not, care.
But now the average user will at least know that there are alternatives. You make them care. Forcing several choices with Windows is a huge step to making more people care.
So MS is just being punished because of their success, not because of their actual actions?
No, they are being punished because they broke the law by abusing their dominant position in the OS market to prevent competition in the browser market. Seriously, doesn't anyone at least take 30 seconds to read up on what this is all about?
"Violate the law as much as you like, just don't become too successful at it or then we'll have to take you to court."
Being dominant is not illegal. Bundling is not illegal. It is illegal to bundle with a dominant product in one market to prevent competition in another market.
It is. There are multiple companies out there that make a living from browsers. Maybe not on desktop, but on phones and devices, companies like BitStream, Access, and so on, are definitely competing in a browser market. The market Microsoft killed on the desktop.
In addition to the other comments that have pointed out some nonsensical parts of your trolling, let's look at what Mozilla says. Not only has Mozilla joined the complaint and thrown its support behind it, but they have also explained why Firefox's success in no way shows a healthy market:
Ive been involved in building and shipping web browsers continuously since before Microsoft started developing IE, and the damage Microsoft has done to competition, innovation, and the pace of the web development itself is both glaring and ongoing. There are separate questions of whether there is a good remedy, and what that remedy might be. But questions regarding an appropriate remedy do not change the essential fact. Microsofts business practices have fundamentally diminished (in fact, came very close to eliminating) competition, choice and innovation in how people access the Internet.
When the only real competition comes from a not for profit open source organization that depends on volunteers for almost half of its work product and nearly all of its marketing and distribution, while more than half a dozen other "traditional" browser vendors with better than I.E. products have had near-zero success encroaching on Microsoft I.E.'s dominance, there's a demonstrable tilt to the playing field. That tilt comes with the distribution channel - default status for the OS bundled Web browser.
Despite your trolling, this is not about European vs. American. It's about whether Microsoft broke the law or not.
Slashdot Mirror
They can do so in a capitalist society by forming their own company.
Death announcement? Where? All I see is someone reporting on him being ill, and as a well known person, this is definitely of interest to people who might be interested in his work.
Why should I have to overclock to get the most out of my brand new graphics card?
The global flood did not happen. There never was one. Local floods are the origins of the global flood myth.
Why is control of software bad, but not control of hospitals, power plants, etc.?
It is a valid counter-argument, since the software industry is an industry like all others, and all other industries are regulated. I just happened to mention some very critical industries. Like the software industry is a critical industry, seeing as we rely on this industry to keep our society running.
No. Only if you break the law.
You ignored the word "dominant". Maybe Apple is in danger of breaking the law, but they are nowhere near the dominance Microsoft has in the desktop market.
At best, a combination. Documents revealed during the US antitrust trial clearly showed that Microsoft used bundling and lock-in as a conscious strategy to destroy other browsers.
As Mozilla's Asa Dotzler puts it:
"When the only real competition comes from a not for profit open source organization that depends on volunteers for almost half of its work product and nearly all of its marketing and distribution, while more than half a dozen other "traditional" browser vendors with better than I.E. products have had near-zero success encroaching on Microsoft I.E.'s dominance, there's a demonstrable tilt to the playing field. That tilt comes with the distribution channel - default status for the OS bundled Web browser."
His comment will fall on deaf ears because he is missing the point. The browser is a communications tool to a worldwide network which should be accessible from any type of device. Microsoft tried to turn it into the Microsoft Network by locking people to IE by abusing their dominant position on the desktop. No such thing with Notepad, which actually produces plain text files that any text editor can read, and in addition to that, is only local to your machine (no network infrastructure relies on it).
Sigh. You are assuming that the EU will fall for nonsense like that again. As their announcement indicates, they learned from the WMP crap Microsoft pulled. Mozilla is on board to offer advice as well. They are not going to let Microsoft get away with any tricks this time, I bet.
Hospitals shouldn't be regulated like this. The food industry shouldn't be regulated like this. Nothing should be regulated at all. Market anarchy, here we come!
They are not, as Mozilla explains:
.
Yes, in fact, Microsoft was convicted because of their illegal bundling of WMP
As for Notepad, that comparison proves that you are either ignorant or dishonest. The browser is a communications tool to a worldwide network which should be accessible from any type of device. Microsoft tried to turn it into the Microsoft Network by locking people to IE by abusing their dominant position on the desktop. No such thing with Notepad, which actually produces plain text files that any text editor can read, and in addition to that, is only local to your machine (no network infrastructure relies on it).
Your ignorance is astounding. Do you ever even try to educate yourself before spouting nonsense? Monopolies aren't illegal. Bundling isn't illegal. But abusing one's monopoly to prenvent competition by bundling is illegal. All over the world, including the US.
Did you even read the damn title? Microsoft will have to bundle several browsers. Geez.
Not at all. This is about bundled browsers.
That's assuming that the EU will fall for nonsense like that again. As their announcement indicates, they learned from the WMP crap Microsoft pulled. Mozilla is on board to offer advice as well. They are not going to let Microsoft get away with any tricks this time, I bet.
You are assuming that the EU will fall for crap like that again. As their announcement indicates, they learned from the WMP nonsense Microsoft pulled. Mozilla is on board to offer advice as well.
The browser is a communications tool to a worldwide network which should be accessible from any type of device. Microsoft tried to turn it into the Microsoft Network by locking people to IE by abusing their dominant position on the desktop. No such thing with Minesweeper. Minesweeper doesn't even communicate with anything. Furthermore, you must show that there is a "minesweeper game" market.
You are assuming that the EU will fall for crap like that. As their announcement indicates, they learned from the WMP nonsense Microsoft pulled.
The browser is a communications tool to a worldwide network which should be accessible from any type of device. Microsoft tried to turn it into the Microsoft Network by locking people to IE by abusing their dominant position on the desktop. No such thing with Notepad, which actually produces plain text files that any text editor can read, and in addition to that, is only local to your machine (no network infrastructure relies on it).
Let Microsoft continue to break the law? Why should Microsoft be allowed to break the law, but no one else?
But now the average user will at least know that there are alternatives. You make them care. Forcing several choices with Windows is a huge step to making more people care.
No, they are being punished because they broke the law by abusing their dominant position in the OS market to prevent competition in the browser market. Seriously, doesn't anyone at least take 30 seconds to read up on what this is all about?
Being dominant is not illegal. Bundling is not illegal. It is illegal to bundle with a dominant product in one market to prevent competition in another market.
It is. There are multiple companies out there that make a living from browsers. Maybe not on desktop, but on phones and devices, companies like BitStream, Access, and so on, are definitely competing in a browser market. The market Microsoft killed on the desktop.
You are kidding, right? Not only does Nokia sell far more phones than Apple, but smartphone sales are dwarfed by the sales of lower-end phones!
And this:
Despite your trolling, this is not about European vs. American. It's about whether Microsoft broke the law or not.