WinXP SP2 delayed; anti-trust issues to arise?

[optimus2861]

Sources:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,1222635,00.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/servicepacks.mspx

Excerpt from the eweek article:

"It's possible that Microsoft is preparing a more substantive-than-usual service pack that would add new features to Windows XP or hybrids Media Center and Tablet PC," said [Joe] Wilcox, [senior analyst for Jupiter Research].

One such potential feature is Microsoft's PC Satisfaction package, currently in beta testing. PC Satisfaction extends the native functionality of Windows XP with services such as an enhanced firewall and virus scanner that give customers a better Windows experience out of the box.

MS distributing their own virus scanner application, tied into their OS monopoly? Anti-trust lawsuits, here we go again. The AV firms are going to be extremely hostile to such a move I suspect, and I'd hope that the US DOJ would be as well. The AV firms, unlike Netscape when it was under assault by Internet Explorer, sell their products and there is healthy competition in the market. If MS starts giving away a free virus scanner tied to its monopoly product, it could undermine that entire market. There's just no way that can be anything other than a bad thing for consumers.

Surely MS couldn't get away with this one.

[Whaleboy]

I think its great!!! Its going to crash and burn and I'm needing a good fireworks display about now!

[Verto]

What's wrong with Microsoft adding a free virus scanner to Windows? It's improving it's software. No one is forced to use it, just like no one has to use Windows itself.

[Whaleboy]

I'm not too read up on it, but if the courts judge a monopoly business to be abusing its position, presumably by taking measures to stifle competition that the competition itself (by their nature) can take and still remain healthy to the marketplace, the courts can take action against MS.

[Asher]

Yes, everyone should write their congressman and complain at once that consumers do not like having anti-virus software bundled for free, even given it is an absolute necessity for any windows OS.

When will MS think of the customers and stop giving them free things that should be part of the modern OS? Bastards.

[Ted Striker]

Plus there are already free anti-virus scanners out there.

[Asher]

The problem with today's anti-trust laws is they were written for **** like oil and rail tycoons, not for a constantly evolving and rapidly growing market like consumers.

Honestly, how was anyone hurt by IE being free? How did this harm consumers?
How will anyone be hurt by IE being free? How would THIS harm consumers?

Intelligent comments only, so that means you guys should actually think before posting your knee-jerk comments this time.

[Asher]

Also, everyone please keep in mind that MS bundled a free basic firewall as well, and people complained about that then, too.

The anti-MS people need to get real. It's sad, really.

[faded glory]

good. Im sick of pirating Symantec products.

[Joseph]

If MS does it, I will buy it.

[mrmitchell]

Yes, everyone should write their congressman and complain at once that consumers do not like having anti-virus software bundled for free, even given it is an absolute necessity for any windows OS.

I can't imagine MS being able to track viruses as effectively as an outside firm.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Originally posted by Asher
Honestly, how was anyone hurt by IE being free? How did this harm consumers?
How will anyone be hurt by IE being free? How would THIS harm consumers?

Look at the development of HTML as a language during a) the browser war period and b) the post-Netscape-as-a-viable-entity period.

And the problem wasn't it being free, the problem was bundling. If they had released it as a free download without making it a default (and non-removable) install item, that would have been fine.

[mrmitchell]

Non-removable? No friggin way.

Already installed, I can live with that one, though.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Already installed was the problem, though. That's what killed Netscape.

[Asher]

Originally posted by dv8ed
Already installed was the problem, though. That's what killed Netscape.

Netscape died because:
1) Netscape 4.x was a wholly uncompetitive product.
2) Mark Andresen is a bonafide moron.
3) They wasted most of their time and money whining about MS instead of releasing a 5.x release.
4) The lack of a 5.x release gave MS all the marketshare it needed.

Netscape died because it was incredibly poorly run, and it hasn't "died" at all -- it still lives on in Mozilla. People can still choose to run alternative browsers. When they get their brand new computer, then can use Internet Explorer to download Mozilla, Firebird, Opera, KMelon, whatever.

And the problem wasn't it being free, the problem was bundling. If they had released it as a free download without making it a default (and non-removable) install item, that would have been fine.

Think this through, buddy: How do you access a free download without a web browser?