EU sleuths think Microsoft sabotaged Windows

[Asher]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
WMP is a lot more than just codecs. It has an integrated media database, disk burning interface, various device controls, webradio and other pretty bloated stuff. This is not meant as rant, I use WMP myself mainly because I rarely play music anyway and it satisfies my media needs.

But my question is, why should an user, who wants to install 3rd party software, have to install this bloated monster, if all he needs is the codecs?

My question is, how do this affect the consumer?

The spirit of the anti-trust laws is to ensure the consumer is getting fair prices and good products. If the consumer is given choices -- you can make competing players your default player and never use WMP -- and still choose to use the default one, are they harmed?

And you focus too much on the interface. The issue is the codecs, having the ability for the OS to decode WMA files out of the box, but not Quicktime or Real media.

[Harovan]

I'm not very fond of proprietary formats at all, so I don't make a big difference between WMA, Real and Quicktime, when it comes to useability in multimedia programs. On a sidenote, quality-wise I hate the latter two with passion, because they are junk.

A higher level multimedia interface, which would make it possible to add codecs for third party proprietary formats, but does not depend on a proprietary user frontend (which necessarily comes with a preferrence for the own format), would do nicely and most certainly prevent further complaints.

[aneeshm]

The antitrust case against MS is BS in the first place . AFAIK , value addition was not a crime the last time I checked .

[TCO]

What's the one that comes loaded with spyware that seems like it really resists being deleted?

[alva]

WMA, Real and Quicktime, when it comes to useability in multimedia programs. On a sidenote, quality-wise I hate the latter two with passion, because they are junk.

What's the one that comes loaded with spyware that seems like it really resists being deleted?

You're probably thinking of real.

[Q Classic]

Real.

[TCO]

That is evil. WMP rawks.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Spiffor
@ Ag's deludeness

I guess you are a masochist then.

[Verto]

Originally posted by Agathon
A better option would be to have compelled manufacturers to install Realplayer and Quicktime.

Then people could have decided which one to use.

I would lead an armed revolution against any government that forced RealPlayer into my home.

[Agathon]

I would lead an armed revolution against any government that forced RealPlayer into my home.

I guess it's just bad on Windows. The OS X version is pretty inoffensive.

But MS could have removed WMP just as Apple could remove the Quicktime Player app without removing all the rest of the stuff.

I hope the EU ****s them big for this.

[Asher]

The EU said remove the player, ie. the things that plays the codecs.

They're now upset because it seems what they meant was the WMP interface, and not the player itself.

They ought to be fined themselves to recoup MS' development costs in excising components that were not necessary due to their gross stupidity. As has been said, this is blatant political pandering. Removing the interface does f*ck-all to address the concerns Real raised...MS using the OS to proliferate their own codecs instead of Real's.

[Whaleboy]

I just found a WMP10 skin that works like winamp. I'm happy!

[Agathon]

The EU said remove the player, ie. the things that plays the codecs.

They're now upset because it seems what they meant was the WMP interface, and not the player itself.

That's retarded. I knew what the EU meant. MS are just being petulant. But if it leads to them getting ****ed by the EU it suits me.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Agathon
What can I say, people are morons. Only a masochist would run Windows.

Intelligent people use real player.

[Agathon]

Intelligent people use real player.

The Windows version of Realplayer is terrible. The OS X version is pretty inoffensive. It's actually better than WMP for OS X.