Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
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Originally Posted by
rai4shu2
As big as Debian? Now, that would be cool. Imagine you could have most of the freely available software for Windows all on a small USB flash drive. They could charge a nominal fee (like $25 for 16 GB or $40 for 32 GB). With the way flash drives keep getting bigger and cheaper, they could get some ridiculous amounts of software, too.
Jeez, that would be too cool. Too bad, Microsoft is always so behind the curve in that department.
But in free nations, it should be their right to be behind if they desire.
Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
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Originally Posted by
VTPoet
So it's OK for Apple to restrict browser choice on the iPhone, iPad and IPod Touch, but Microsoft can't? If I were Microsoft, I would be quick to accuse the Europeans of blatant hypocrisy.
The point is that it's possible to buy smartphones and tablets that don't run IOS, but it's nearly impossible to buy a PC that doesn't run Windows.
The problem is that Microsoft has a monopoly on the PC.
Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
BTW, "Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"" is totally incorrect.
Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
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Originally Posted by
ki4jgt
But would we punish them b/c of it? No, we'd just stop going there or bring in our own. If they didn't allow us to bring in our own, that would be a problem. Windows allows you to bring in your own.
In case of Burger King: you could eat somewhere else.
In case of Windows it used to be neigh impossible to go somewhere else for your (business) computing need.
And Windows may allow you to bring in your own, in the past they have been convicted of making it very hard to bring in your own. (Not supplying API's to ISV's or asking exorbitant fees for them)
Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
vasa1
BTW, "Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"" is totally incorrect.
That is the other point I still needed to address: they are going to be prosecuted and possibly fined for not adhering to an earlier conviction which required them to offer a browser choice screen.
Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
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Originally Posted by
Paqman
...it's nearly impossible to buy a PC that doesn't run Windows.
No it's not. It's very easy. I don't want to be in a position of defending MS, but c'mon, it's ridiculously easy to buy a PC that doesn't run Windows. What's "impossible" is running Firefox, Chrome or IE on your iPhone. That is impossible.
Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ki4jgt
But in free nations, it should be their right to be behind if they desire.
You talk about Microsoft like they're a person. They aren't. They are a large organization that wields a great deal of influence. They practically print their own money, and they constantly lobby governments all over the world for even greater influence with laws that their army of lawyers design.
Rights only exist as long as your rights don't cancel out my rights. But this is exactly how large corporations wield so much power: by taking away your right to choose competition. This particular case is a perfect example of a large corporation, chipping away at your rights. It doesn't seem like much, but it sets a precedent. Once you set a precedent like this, it opens the door for greater abuses. Before you know it, everyone will be forced to sign their rights away like "cast members" working at Disneyland.
Free nations are only free as long as they are populated by free people. People who allow corporations to rob them of their rights to a fair market with true competition are not free. They are slaves of the monopolies.
Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
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Originally Posted by
VTPoet
it's ridiculously easy to buy a PC that doesn't run Windows.
Do you think the majority of people shopping for a PC have any clue where to get one? How many bricks and mortar stores are there selling anything except Windows on their machines?
Compare this to phones, walk into a phone shop and you'll find phones running at least four different OSes in every single store.
Microsoft face another fine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
vasa1
BTW, "Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"" is totally incorrect.
I changed the title.
Re: Microsoft sued by Europe for not providing "Browser Choice"
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Originally Posted by
Paqman
Do you think the majority of people shopping for a PC have any clue where to get one?
Yes. Just how stupid do you think people are?
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Originally Posted by
Paqman
How many bricks and mortar stores are there selling anything except Windows on their machines?
Well, I'm sure you don't know the answer to that rhetorical question, but in my own area, there are two stores that specialize in Apple computers, while also selling PCs, Best Buy which sells Apples and PCs, and then there's Radio Shack and Walmart which sell only PCs. That makes the representation in our area (Vermont/New Hampshire) about 50/50. And then there's the Internet where you can order just about any PC you want, including a Chromebook or a Linux laptop, but the world wide web is so esoteric. I mean, who's ever heard of the Internet?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Paqman
Compare this to phones, walk into a phone shop and you'll find phones running at least four different OSes in every single store.
Yes, but you won't see Firefox, Chrome or IE on any iPhones. That's called "not providing 'Browser Choice'".