MS heads for H.C.

[Garrett Goebel]

Brian Densmore wrote:
>
> >> > No one has ever accused Microsoft of failing to test the
> >> > legal limits of competitive practices.
> >>
> >> That's not the problem. The problem is the fact they seem to
> >> have a get out of jail free card. Any small business or individual
> >> that used the same tactics would be in jail now doing 10-20!
> >
> >That's a strawman argument. Small businesses aren't in a
> >position to use the same tactics.
>
> Why? Criminal behavior is criminal. This kind of attitude
> about corruption is part of the problem. If more people demanded
> real justice be carried out, then perhaps things would change.

By "position", I meant small businesses aren't usually in a "market leader"
position. And can not therefore use their dominance in the market to seed
new product through bundling, push new defacto standards, or create
partner/volume licensing agreements which discourage competition.

When people usually grind the "corruption" and "real justice" axes... What
they're usually saying is "Why can't it be the way I want/see it?" And by
extension, why can't the government force everyone to adhere to my values
and principles. -Personally I think the carrying out of "real justice" by
the government is often an example of where the cure is worse than the
disease.

I think it'd be far better to beat Microsoft by delivering better
architecture, interfaces, code, service, and documentation. Where "better"
is judged by actual adoption, usage, and market share. If/when Linux begins
to dominate more market sectors, I hope it will be because it has out
competed MS despite their "unfair" practices. -Not because people have
persuaded the government that it needs to move in and regulate the computer
industry.

The anti-trust findings of fact found that Microsoft did hold a monopoly
position. But monopolies aren't a crime. Not unless they are found guilty in
a court of law to have excluded competitors or controlled prices. Now you,
I, and 99.999% of the /. community might all be in agreement here. But we've
been preempted. After the most recent anti-trust action against Microsoft,
the government settled. I.e., Microsoft was not found guilty. All they have
to do is abide by the settlement until Nov 8, 2007. Can you guess when
Longhorn will finally ship?

> >> Ummm ... yeah? And the point is? Linux desktops now
> >> outnumber Apple
> >> and that number is likely to double in the next year?
> >
> >Check out google.com/zeitgeist. Linux stands at 1%. Apple at 4%.
> >Show me a study that says Linux has displaced Apple. I'm interested.
> >I've got a running $100 bet that by 12/31/05 Linux will
> >displace Apple. I'd love to collect on it.
>
> I could show you studies that give different numbers than
> that, but that is the problem with studies, they are plagued
> by the mindset of the person who designed the study.
...
> The most recent numbers I've seen for Apple and Linux
> desktops puts the numbers at a little over 3% and 2.8% so I'd say
> you stand a good chance of winning your bet.

I hope so...

--
Garrett Goebel
IS Development Specialist

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