However breaking them up doesn't really solve any of this....we need to force open standards.
This is exactly the point I was trying to make in my other posts. Breaking Microsoft up will not necessarily help anything. The problem is proprietary protocols and methods that no one else can use.
I'm not convinced OSS is the answer, not yet at least. Open standards, however, seem very much on target.
I'm also very, VERY afraid of government involvement in the day-to-day actions of any business, no matter how bad. Let's face it: if StarOffice offered a MUCH better way of doing things (and it's free), people would start using it more. If there was an open standard as how to save and load documents/data, this would help things even more. Simply separating MS Office from the Windows side of things won't help.
You're telling me that the government holding a gun to your head telling you that you need to break up your company is a solution? I agree MS broke the law. I agree something should be done about it. Breaking them up is not the answer.
They broke up Standard Oil company. Are we any better off? I don't exactly like fixed prices by OPEC.
They broke up ALCOA, which single handedly made prices drop amazingly for aluminum foil. Did consumers benefit? No, they ended up paying more for the same product.
Hell yes I think Microsoft should pay. What they did was uncalled for. I don't think they should be broken up though.
The difference between the MS case and the cases stated above is supposedly innovation. "Software" isn't a fixed product. Well neither is oil.
Maybe I'm just not as easily steered towards the Open Source bandwagon as everybody else. I love programming and I LOVE open source code, but I'm failing to see where it's drastically helped consumers already (or will, when the "500 lb. gorilla" is theoretically removed).
Good point, but the breakup of Microsoft -will- hurt the industry. The Microsoft trial has even hurt the industry. I'm paying for this trial (and more than likely trials in the future) through taxes. I don't like the government holding a gun to my head saying I have to pay for something I don't even believe in.
I hate Microsoft as much as anyone (Windows is pretty much shit for serious development and/or networking), but I disagree with the point that breaking them up would help the industry. Break ups mean losses in revenue, which means a loss in buying power, which eventually trickles down to a loss for everyone.
it's under the "Run" or "RunOnce" key in the registry (can't remember which). search for that and you'll find it, as well as some other goodies that probably load on startup.
Sorry I can't give you an exact location; Windows 9x differs from NT/2000 and I don't know either location =)
Ever wonder why gaim couldn't send files quite like AIM clients can (gaim comes close though, to its credit)? Why you can't do the "direct connection" like you can on AIM clients? This is exactly why. AOL has kept the TOC and OSCAR protocols quite hidden as to dissuade customers from going to other clients (MS, Yahoo) in order to keep their ad revenue. The annoying ads are how AOL makes money off of this "free" service. However the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) was peeping into the case as AOL may be monopolizing the communications market. I'm not quite sure what the FTC was looking at, but AOL didn't want any part of it, especially since the AOL/Time Warner merger was announced. Everyone who works at AOL (myself included) as well as other stockholders want this merger to go through. I'm damn glad AOL decided to open up the protocol -- now gaim will completely kick (even more) ass.
Re:Mozilla... Mozirra... proper pronunciation?
on
Mozilla M16 Released
·
· Score: 1
The Godzilla movies were also (badly) dubbed asian movies. Sounds like an asian accent to me;)
Last time I checked, you had to buy Microsoft software. Buying software is not (that I'm aware of) required by law. Therefore you have to choose to buy the software. Is that not voluntary? Sure I understand your point about their business model and lack of adherence to standards. It sucks. However, as much as a lot of the OSS wants to believe otherwise, Linux is not the best desktop OS in the world. In fact for graphic design (which I do a lot of), it rather sucks. I choose to use Windows for that reason. Windows for my workstation, Linux for my servers. I choose both.
Hah, sounds kind of like what happened to ISDN. The phone companies decided it would be a good idea to make you have to refinance your house in order to have 128Kb of bandwidth. My local government even decided to put a 4 cents per minute tariff on ISDN! Blah!
Oops, replied to the wrong post. That was intended for the guy who mentioned it was impossible to remove. Sorry, it's lunch time and I'm not paying attention. =)
I've had Office 2000 installed since last August, and I chose not to install the Office Assistant. Never seen one since. Who says it's impossible to remove? Just go to Office Setup.
Not only does it give you Administrator rights, it also has an ActiveEfficiency (tm) feature that emails your boss saying that you were playing it in the first place.;)
Slashdot Mirror
This is exactly the point I was trying to make in my other posts. Breaking Microsoft up will not necessarily help anything. The problem is proprietary protocols and methods that no one else can use.
I'm not convinced OSS is the answer, not yet at least. Open standards, however, seem very much on target.
I'm also very, VERY afraid of government involvement in the day-to-day actions of any business, no matter how bad. Let's face it: if StarOffice offered a MUCH better way of doing things (and it's free), people would start using it more. If there was an open standard as how to save and load documents/data, this would help things even more. Simply separating MS Office from the Windows side of things won't help.
You're telling me that the government holding a gun to your head telling you that you need to break up your company is a solution? I agree MS broke the law. I agree something should be done about it. Breaking them up is not the answer.
They broke up Standard Oil company. Are we any better off? I don't exactly like fixed prices by OPEC.
They broke up ALCOA, which single handedly made prices drop amazingly for aluminum foil. Did consumers benefit? No, they ended up paying more for the same product.
Hell yes I think Microsoft should pay. What they did was uncalled for. I don't think they should be broken up though.
The difference between the MS case and the cases stated above is supposedly innovation. "Software" isn't a fixed product. Well neither is oil.
Maybe I'm just not as easily steered towards the Open Source bandwagon as everybody else. I love programming and I LOVE open source code, but I'm failing to see where it's drastically helped consumers already (or will, when the "500 lb. gorilla" is theoretically removed).
Good point, but the breakup of Microsoft -will- hurt the industry. The Microsoft trial has even hurt the industry. I'm paying for this trial (and more than likely trials in the future) through taxes. I don't like the government holding a gun to my head saying I have to pay for something I don't even believe in.
I hate Microsoft as much as anyone (Windows is pretty much shit for serious development and/or networking), but I disagree with the point that breaking them up would help the industry. Break ups mean losses in revenue, which means a loss in buying power, which eventually trickles down to a loss for everyone.
Sorry I can't give you an exact location; Windows 9x differs from NT/2000 and I don't know either location =)
Ever wonder why gaim couldn't send files quite like AIM clients can (gaim comes close though, to its credit)? Why you can't do the "direct connection" like you can on AIM clients? This is exactly why. AOL has kept the TOC and OSCAR protocols quite hidden as to dissuade customers from going to other clients (MS, Yahoo) in order to keep their ad revenue. The annoying ads are how AOL makes money off of this "free" service. However the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) was peeping into the case as AOL may be monopolizing the communications market. I'm not quite sure what the FTC was looking at, but AOL didn't want any part of it, especially since the AOL/Time Warner merger was announced. Everyone who works at AOL (myself included) as well as other stockholders want this merger to go through. I'm damn glad AOL decided to open up the protocol -- now gaim will completely kick (even more) ass.
The Godzilla movies were also (badly) dubbed asian movies. Sounds like an asian accent to me ;)
don't you realize that by listening to metallica mp3s you're doing EXACTLY what they're trying to stop? LISTEN ALL YOU WANT.
I *zzzztt* have relieved all *zzzzzt* my sins using *zzzzzt* an electropsychometer *zzzzzt*. L Ron Hubbard is *zzzzzt* AMAZ *zzzzzt* ING!
...they make funny sounds when you kick em.
*zzzzzzt*
I LIKE scientologists!...
Last time I checked, you had to buy Microsoft software. Buying software is not (that I'm aware of) required by law. Therefore you have to choose to buy the software. Is that not voluntary? Sure I understand your point about their business model and lack of adherence to standards. It sucks. However, as much as a lot of the OSS wants to believe otherwise, Linux is not the best desktop OS in the world. In fact for graphic design (which I do a lot of), it rather sucks. I choose to use Windows for that reason. Windows for my workstation, Linux for my servers. I choose both.
Hah, sounds kind of like what happened to ISDN. The phone companies decided it would be a good idea to make you have to refinance your house in order to have 128Kb of bandwidth. My local government even decided to put a 4 cents per minute tariff on ISDN! Blah!
Oops, replied to the wrong post. That was intended for the guy who mentioned it was impossible to remove. Sorry, it's lunch time and I'm not paying attention. =)
I've had Office 2000 installed since last August, and I chose not to install the Office Assistant. Never seen one since. Who says it's impossible to remove? Just go to Office Setup.
thanks for stating the completely obvious. go away.
Not only does it give you Administrator rights, it also has an ActiveEfficiency (tm) feature that emails your boss saying that you were playing it in the first place. ;)