Microsoft screws up again!

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Read the story here:

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-913219.html

What do you think?

[FrustratedPoet]

Why do people insist on putting incriminating material down on paper ... in memos and other such things?

Are they stupid, or just so arrogant that they think they'll never get caught?

In the case of Micro$oft I suspect it is both.

[Thue]

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Why do people insist on putting incriminating material down on paper ... in memos and other such things?

Not on paper - it was an email...

Are they stupid, or just so arrogant that they think they'll never get caught?

In the case of Micro$oft I suspect it is both.

They do get caught. They have even been convicted. As as they have demonstrated they can get away with an unnoticable rap over the fingers anyway, so why not continue?

[OneFootInTheGrave]

MSFT ba$*****, at least some of the dirty laundry is coming out

[Sava]

How much money does Bill Gates have again?

Oh yeah, he's such a screw up.

[SlowwHand]

It's just anti-linux. What's the big deal?

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
It's just anti-linux. What's the big deal?

It's anticompetitive.

[moomin]

Microsoft has proved over and over again that American courts are its home territory. Why should they care? It's not like what passes for justice in America will ever nail them.

Now, a class action suit by clueless nitwits using Outlook and getting burned by virii might actually work. If ten million people got ten million dollars each - and why shouldn't they, if McDs can be fined that much over hot coffee? - even MS would probably notice

[- Groucho -]

Originally posted by moominparatrooper
Microsoft has proved over and over again that American courts are its home territory. Why should they care? It's not like what passes for justice in America will ever nail them.

Where ya from, Moomin? The EU hasn't done anything to Microsoft, either, despite having the jurisdiction to do so (they could place all kinds of restrictions on Microsoft in exchange for access to their markets). Ever thought that maybe it is because Microsoft hasn't actually broken any laws that deserve drastic punishment (like a $10,000,000,000 fine)? Or maybe where you're from, what passes for justice doesn't require proof of a substantial law being broken?

(edit: oops, 10,000,000 times 10,000,000 is $100,000,000,000,000 - ahh now that sounds like a fair punishment)

[moomin]

Originally posted by Echinda
Where ya from, Moomin?

Sweden. Which, I might add, in case you've got what passes for education in America, is a country in Europe. In the EU, in fact.

The EU hasn't done anything to Microsoft, either, despite having the jurisdiction to do so (they could place all kinds of restrictions on Microsoft in exchange for access to their markets).

Maybe, just maybe, there are enough trade tensions between the US and the EU without us having to contribute to it by unilateral sanctions against a company that has proven time and time again that it owns American courts and all of that which - for lack of better expression - lives inside the Beltway.

Now, though, the US has offered the EU an opportunity on a platter, with the protectionist steel sanctions that GWBs come up with. Rumor has it M$ is among the companies that will eat the retaliation.

Or maybe where you're from, what passes for justice doesn't require proof of a substantial law being broken?

Oh, come off it, will ya? I like America and admire most things American, but there are a couple of things that are really screwed up in your society - your juridical system being among those, certainly - and going all defensive about it ain't gonna fix it.

And M$ should get the Standard Oil and Bell treatment. Guess American legislators were more difficult to buy back then, though.

[Mr. Nice Guy]

Originally posted by Echinda
(edit: oops, 10,000,000 times 10,000,000 is $100,000,000,000,000 - ahh now that sounds like a fair punishment)

I'm with you Echinda. I think M$ needs to pay a huge fine for damages to it's competitors and the all the states that have suited M$. That will stop them from using their financial power to bully competitors and give consumers the advantage.

But $100 trillion? That would shut down the company for good and put them in a huge debt. Sheesh, that's bigger than America's deficit problem. Way bigger!

[Imran Siddiqui]

And M$ should get the Standard Oil and Bell treatment.

Why? Do you think that would actually help the consumer?

[Dom Pedro II]

In the long run, yes.

[moomin]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

And M$ should get the Standard Oil and Bell treatment.

Why? Do you think that would actually help the consumer?

Nope, I'm only into it for pure spite.

Of course I believe the consumer will profit. The whole darn IT indudtry would profit, and you guys could certainly use that right about now. And it's even my firm belief that MS stockholders would profit.

But certainly we don't all need a rehash of the pro and conta arguments again?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Of course I believe the consumer will profit. The whole darn IT indudtry would profit, and you guys could certainly use that right about now. And it's even my firm belief that MS stockholders would profit.

But certainly we don't all need a rehash of the pro and conta arguments again?

Yes we do, because I'm not convinced at all. I think splitting MS in two would result in higher prices and NO benefits to consumers. Like when the Baby Bells were split off. All that led to was higher prices (no more economy of scale) and worse service.