__/ [ nessuno@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ] on Tuesday 09 May 2006 16:04 \__
> " BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Microsoft's new Vista operating system has put
> the European Commission in a quandary on whether to open a new front
> against the software giant before a court clarifies the EU antitrust
> watchdog's authority.
>
> <snippage />
>
> "Then there is Internet search engine firm Google. The new version of
> Microsoft's Internet Explorer has a built-in Window to take computer
> buyers to a search engine.
>
> "Microsoft says it is up to computer makers, which distribute nine out
> of every 10 copies of Windows sold, to decide whether that Window
> should take users to Microsoft's MSN search engine, or some other.
>
>
http://today.reuters.com/business/newsArticle.aspx?type=ousiv&storyID=2006-05-09T134758Z_01_L09632320_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESSPRO-MICROSOFT-EU-DC.XML
On the latter paragraph:
I can recall stories about how Microsoft threatened** Compaq when they
decided to bundle Netscape with their Windows-based workstations. Besides,
why should anyone be forced to /download/*** Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox,
Opera, Netscape or one of the other Web browsers while one is already
planted in the distribution? Worst of all, it is highly insecure for its
very existence and cannot be uninstalled. Even Dell in the UK**** cannot
get rid of that grabage, which Microsoft recently admitted could be
separated and dropped. This in itself was evidence that they lied in
court. Outrageous.
This all turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg. The big wave that
Microsoft failed to foresee (Web services and applications), as well as
static media, can be won by pre-bundling, which is just a variant of the
'embrace, extend, and extinguish' strategy. Before you know it, Internet
Explorer will incorporate search features that are only workable with MSN
search. Just wait. You'll see......
Best wishes,
Roy
** Broken deals, no kickbacks and other under-the-table executive politics.
*** Most probably, but not necessarily, using a Web browser
**** They sell all their computers with Firefox bundled (possibly required
the Mozilla Foundation to pay)
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | GPL'd Reversi: http://othellomaster.com
http://Schestowitz.com | GNU is Not UNIX ¦ PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
4:50pm up 11 days 23:47, 7 users, load average: 0.33, 0.56, 0.62
http://iuron.com - proposing a non-profit search engine
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