"You meant "could count on WMP existing on the users' machines which were running a sufficiently up-to-date (and paid-for) copy of Windows. You haven't had much luck porting your applications to Linux or OS X now, have you? "
Haven't had the need to....And why should I have to patch a media player? What possible value is it to my clients to have me write/fix an open source player when WMP is out there FOR FREE!
You want to open-source your OS, that's your right. No one is stopping you. Just don't try to force the rest of us to go the tinker-toy route with you.
Oh, give me a break. That was and this is a cornhole job on Microsoft from the word go, and nothing more.
They give better products away for free, and they're "bad" because of it?
Bundling WMP was the best thing they ever did from my point of view. I built applications around the FREE OCX for WMP and could count on WMP existing on the users' machines. Real Player and Quicktime won't let you have any control of the player at all, even as a remoted app. You have to hook the hwnd's to even read their position!
WMP - Add a reference, drop on the control. Everything's there for you.
IE is much the same way. I can put an IE browser in my own apps. Not only does Microsoft not get upset about this, they ENCOURAGE IT!! Give me free documentation even at MSDN.
The fact that they have a bigger market share is because they have BETTER PRODUCTS!! That's not an illegal monopoly, that's the benefit of hard work, and of listening to their audience's.
Remember the days when you had to use a shell to ftp your browser install to you? How many average users do you really think are up to doing that from home? IE installed by default and the Internet Connection Wizzard let my grandmother get on the Internet with no help.
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"You meant "could count on WMP existing on the users' machines which were running a sufficiently up-to-date (and paid-for) copy of Windows. You haven't had much luck porting your applications to Linux or OS X now, have you? " Haven't had the need to. ...And why should I have to patch a media player? What possible value is it to my clients to have me write/fix an open source player when WMP is out there FOR FREE!
You want to open-source your OS, that's your right. No one is stopping you. Just don't try to force the rest of us to go the tinker-toy route with you.
Oh, give me a break. That was and this is a cornhole job on Microsoft from the word go, and nothing more.
They give better products away for free, and they're "bad" because of it?
Bundling WMP was the best thing they ever did from my point of view. I built applications around the FREE OCX for WMP and could count on WMP existing on the users' machines. Real Player and Quicktime won't let you have any control of the player at all, even as a remoted app. You have to hook the hwnd's to even read their position!
WMP - Add a reference, drop on the control. Everything's there for you.
IE is much the same way. I can put an IE browser in my own apps. Not only does Microsoft not get upset about this, they ENCOURAGE IT!! Give me free documentation even at MSDN.
The fact that they have a bigger market share is because they have BETTER PRODUCTS!! That's not an illegal monopoly, that's the benefit of hard work, and of listening to their audience's.
Remember the days when you had to use a shell to ftp your browser install to you? How many average users do you really think are up to doing that from home? IE installed by default and the Internet Connection Wizzard let my grandmother get on the Internet with no help.
It's just better - deal with it!