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In the normal course of business, it's retarded. But there's an OS monopoly, and the gov't has an obligation to make sure Microsoft doesn't abuse that monopoly if there's no real way to break up the monopoly. This is standard stuff in a market economy.
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I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891 -
Here's an article that suggests that Microsoft's offer has been rejected. Not sure that I agree with the precise remedy being demanded by the EU at this point (if the precise remedy can even be divined at this point).
I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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In the normal course of business, it's retarded. But there's an OS monopoly, and the gov't has an obligation to make sure Microsoft doesn't abuse that monopoly
Why?
"Abusing" their monopoly in this case has led to me being able to connect to the internet and download Firefox within 1 minute of initial startup of any system with no difficulties.
Abuse
12-17-10 Mohamed Bouazizi NEVER FORGET
Stadtluft Macht Frei
Killing it is the new killing it
Ultima Ratio RegumComment
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Why, you ask? Quite simply because it's established law in the US and most Western countries. There are ample antecedents to the law.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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So we should vigorously enforce the law simply because it is the law? Anti-monopoly law (at least as currently constituted) is retarded. The Euros are busy proving that.12-17-10 Mohamed Bouazizi NEVER FORGET
Stadtluft Macht Frei
Killing it is the new killing it
Ultima Ratio RegumComment
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Strict enforcement of the anti-monopoly law might suck, but it is the least worst outcome IMO.
For a couple of decades, the US government has been willing to accept less competition in trade for more efficiency. I don't agree with this trend.I came upon a barroom full of bad Salon pictures in which men with hats on the backs of their heads were wolfing food from a counter. It was the institution of the "free lunch" I had struck. You paid for a drink and got as much as you wanted to eat. For something less than a rupee a day a man can feed himself sumptuously in San Francisco, even though he be a bankrupt. Remember this if ever you are stranded in these parts. ~ Rudyard Kipling, 1891Comment
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Obviously, I was only talking in jest. I couldn't give a rats ass about this honestlyOriginally posted by Asher View Post
"An archaeologist is the best husband a women can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her." - Agatha Christie
"Non mortem timemus, sed cogitationem mortis." - SenecaComment
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Originally posted by DanS View Post
After reading the article, I'm left with the impression that the EU sees Microsoft as a source for future fines. Now I realize that Microsoft's rivals might grin at such notions but shouldn't they be concerned that one day the EU might look at other sources of fines? Google is becoming a giant. Should they not be concerned? Of course I'm no financial wiz like some of ya'll here
Which side are we on? We're on the side of the demons, Chief. We are evil men in the gardens of paradise, sent by the forces of death to spread devastation and destruction wherever we go. I'm surprised you didn't know that. --Saul TighComment
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DanS, this isn't "strict enforcement of the law". This is "we get to make up whatever remedy we want".Comment
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It's pretty obvious to me that anti-monopoly law is subject to substantial interpretation...12-17-10 Mohamed Bouazizi NEVER FORGET
Stadtluft Macht Frei
Killing it is the new killing it
Ultima Ratio RegumComment
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Yes. Which means that "strict enforcement of the law" is unattainable.Comment
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So you agree, then, that MS should promptly remove from Windows 7 for its release in Europe the following components:Originally posted by DanS View Post
- Desktop shell environment (the GUI). This is explorer.exe, is not an integral part of the OS and in fact, there is more of a real business around selling Explorer replacements than selling desktop web browsers.
- Windows Defender firewall and antispyware -- this competes with Zone Alarm, Symantec, etc
- File browser (Windows Explorer) -- this competes with other products such as Norton Commander, again this market is bigger than the desktop web browser market
- Ability to decode MP3s, WMAs, WAVs, etc -- this competes with all other media vendors
- Ability to defragment the harddrive
- Ability to write text documents (notepad/wordpad)
- Ability to draw graphics (MSPaint, competes with other graphics tools)
- Text to speech and speech to text engines
- etc
The list of bundled, standard applications that come with the OS is massive and essential. Consumers expect it, and it only makes sense to bundle it.
The fact that the EU and the US legal systems are both incomprehensibly retarded and fixated on internet browsers when there is no market for them in the economic sector, while there's ample and intense competition and changing market demographics for those browsers as well, is not relevant to this discussion.
I am more than welcome to discuss the political failings of your country and the EU in another thread, but your opinion on the matter is not relevant here. EU said MS has a browser monopoly. They fined MS for bundling IE. IE is now being removed from Windows in EU distributions. Bottom line? Suck it, Euros."The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "Comment
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That's why I used the term "vigourous"Originally posted by Kuciwalker View Post12-17-10 Mohamed Bouazizi NEVER FORGET
Stadtluft Macht Frei
Killing it is the new killing it
Ultima Ratio RegumComment
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Dan used "strict", and I was responding to him.Comment
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I know. I just wanted to make myself clear.12-17-10 Mohamed Bouazizi NEVER FORGET
Stadtluft Macht Frei
Killing it is the new killing it
Ultima Ratio RegumComment
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