____/ The Ghost In The Machine on Saturday 15 December 2007 00:01 : \____
> In comp.os.linux.advocacy, Roy Schestowitz
> <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote
> on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:29:04 +0000
> <2755945.Vq37jkF0zt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
>> ____/ Linonut on Friday 14 December 2007 21:43 : \____
>>
>>> * The Ghost In The Machine fired off this tart reply:
>>>
>>>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7143912.stm
>>>>
>>>> Microsoft said putting its browser in its operating
>>>> system benefited users.
>>>>
>>>> (To a certain extent, it does -- it allows users to browse.
>>>> However, an alternative solution would be to present a
>>>> requester asking "Which browser do you want?" and hiding
>>>> IE as the sixth or seventh entry, after Mozilla Firefox,
>>>> Opera, Dillo, and others. Another possibility is randomly
>>>> shuffling the list.
>>>
>>> The best thing would be to have alternate commercial implementations of
>>> Windows, where each company could push their own set of branded add-ons.
>>>
>>> Instead, we have only one implementation, and a problematic one, at
>>> that.
>>>
>> Have you forgotten de Icaza, Mono, and Novell? They help Microsoft make a
>> second-class citizens (Windows catch-up) rather than a powerful UNIX
^ singular
>> environment.
>>
>
> I think Linux/Unix are the second-class citizens on the desktop here,
> with Microsoft in the proverbial catbird seat.
On the desktop, Microsoft maintains a majority market share, but not elsewhere.
The desktop is still perceived as the only visible thing to judge by because
it's branded and consistent (same apps), unlike our many types of phones, for
example.
> It's a pity. Of course, the EU is angling to at least
> give them a very hard nudge (the US DoJ being hopelessly
> crippled because of sociopolitical issues), so we'll see.
DoJ is deep in Microsoft pocket. It's also a joke when it comes to policing
Intel. References below (because I cannot resist sharing information about
such large-scale corruption):
Microsoft Finds Legal Defender in Justice Dept.
,----[ Quote ]
| Nearly a decade after the government began its landmark effort to break
| up Microsoft, the Bush administration has sharply changed course by
| repeatedly defending the company both in the United States and abroad
| against accusations of anticompetitive conduct, including the recent
| rejection of a complaint by Google.
|
| [...]
|
| In the most striking recent example of the policy shift, the top
| antitrust official at the Justice Department last month urged state
| prosecutors to reject a confidential antitrust complaint filed by
| Google that is tied to a consent decree that monitors Microsoft's
| behavior. Google has accused Microsoft of designing its latest
| operating system, Vista, to discourage the use of Google's desktop
| search program, lawyers involved in the case said.
`----
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/business/10microsoft.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Kroes slams US criticism of EU Microsoft ruling
,----[ Quote ]
| Kroes said that it was "unacceptable" that a representative of the US
| judiciary should criticise a court of law outside his jurisdiction.
|
| “It is absolutely not done,” she told journalists on Wednesday.
|
| “The European commission does not pass judgement on US rulings and we should
| expect the same from the US.”
`----
http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/News/200709/87884c7c-c721-49b1-b6f0-5ba4ece0897c.htm
Microsoft, The European Union, and the United States: A Statement by the AAI
,----[ Quote ]
| The AAI comments on the European Court of First Instance's upholding of the
| EC's Microsoft decision, taking the USDOJ to task for poor diplomacy and
| mistaken policy in its criticism of the EC.
`----
http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/Archives/miceu3.ashx
Microsoft sets spinners on court verdict
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft may have lost in court, but it quickly tried to win the war of
| media reaction via organisations like CompTIA, the Computing Technology
| Industry Association and ACT (the Association for Competitive Technology)
| which both intervened in court on its side.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/17/reaction_microsoft_verdict/
US politicians go to bat for Microsoft
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/26/microsoft_eu_political_lobbying/
Report Says Nonprofits Sold Influence to Abramoff
,----[ Quote ]
| E-mails released by the committee show that Abramoff, often
| with the knowledge of the groups' leaders, exploited the tax-exempt
| status and leveraged the stature of the organizations to build
| support among conservatives for legislation or government action
| sought by clients including Microsoft Corp., mutual fund company
| DH2 Inc., Primedia Inc.'s Channel One Network, and Brown-Forman,
| maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey.
`----
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/12/AR2006101200889.html
http://tinyurl.com/y2rbpu
Politicians in Microsoft's Pocket
,----[ Quote ]
| Continuing on the theme of which politicians are receiving money from
| who. Here is a list of candidates who took money from MSFT.
`----
http://www.fonz.net/blog/archives/2007/06/04/politicians-in-microsofts-pocket/
Politics and tech companies: follow the money
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft took first place with $651,100 given out, while
| Hewlett-Packard gave only $185,550, and Gateway gave a paltry
| $2,000. Microsoft's donations certainly illustrate well the true
| size of the company and the extent of its political concerns.
`----
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061110-8194.html
Microsoft Paid Lobbyist $160,000
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Paid Paid Bingham McCutchen $160,000 to Lobby Federal Gov't in
| First Half of 2007
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070905/microsoft_lobbying.html?.v=1
Microsoft's 'Men in Black' kill Florida open standards legislation
,----[ Quote
| It was just a bit of text advocating open data formats that was slipped into
| a Florida State Senate bill at the last minute with no fanfare, but within
| 24 hours three Microsoft-paid lobbyists, all wearing black suits, were
| pressuring members of the Senate Committee on Governmental Operations
| (COGO) to remove the words they didn't like from Senate bill 1974.
`----
http://enterprise.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/04/16/2019244&from=rss
Microsoft Looks for the Big Guns in OOXML In-Fighting
,----[ Quote ]
| Bill Gates has reportedly been making phone calls to the Secretary of Defense
| and the Secretary of Commerce to push the American National Standards
| Institute to ignore the votes of its advisory committees and vote "yes" on
| ISO standardizing Microsoft's Open Office XML (OOXML) format, the one in
| competition with the OpenDocument Format (ODF) pushed by IBM and Sun.
|
| Gates reportedly picked up the phone when the last INCITS ballot failed by
| one vote to support Microsoft.
`----
http://xml.sys-con.com/read/419573_p.htm
FTC is a joke as well, and fingers should be pointed at Deborah Majoras.
FTC Chair Asked to Step Down From DoubleClick Review
,----[ Quote ]
| U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras is consulting
| with the agency's ethics officer to see if she should recuse herself from a
| review of Google's planned acquisition of online ad network DoubleClick.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20071213/tc_pcworld/140517
Sources: FTC extends Google-DoubleClick review
,----[ Quote ]
| Antitrust regulators with the Federal Trade Commission have received an
| extension to review the controversial $3.1 billion Google-DoubleClick
| megamerger, according to sources.
`----
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9833124-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Intel's Otellini accuses the EU of being anti-American
,----[ Quote ]
| Still, he sighed, the worst case scenario is that he might have to write a
| cheque, even if fines in the current case could be as high as $3.2 billion
`----.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/10/24/eu-getting-anti-american
Intel dodges formal U.S. antitrust probe - report
,----[ Quote ]
| Head of F.T.C. nixes Intel probe, despite investigations in Europe and South
| Korea.
`----
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/22/technology/intel_ftc/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote
Regulators Avoiding Intel Investigation?
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071022/intel_ftc.html?.v=1
US FTC staff not held back on Intel-commissioner
,----[ Quote
| FTC Chairman Deborah Majoras, a Republican, has rejected requests by
| lawmakers, other commissioners and Advanced Micro Devices Inc to open a
| formal antitrust investigation into its much larger rival Intel, the New York
| Times reported on Monday.
`----
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN2245923020071022?rpc=44
Report: FTC rejects calls for antitrust probe of Intel
,----[ Quote ]
| The New York Times reported on Monday that FTC Chairman Deborah Majoras has
| rejected requests to escalate at informal review into a formal investigation,
| citing unnamed government officials and lawyers involved in the matter.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/071022/1538729.html?.v=1
Business Group Spent $140,000 Lobbying
,----[ Quote ]
| The group's members include Intel Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp. and Bristol-Myers
| Squibb Co.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070821/intel_lobbying.html?.v=1
FTC won't step up Intel antitrust probe
,----[ Quote ]
| Intel, the world's biggest maker of computer chips, has been cited for
| anti-competitive behavior for allegedly offering large discounts to computer
| makers in exchange for their not using products from AMD, the paper said.
|
| Those faulting Intel include regulators with the European Commission and
| Korea, the Times said. Japanese officials also made similar accusations in
| 2005, it said. Intel controls some 80 percent to 90 percent of the microchip
| market, it said.
`----
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN2138149820071022?rpc=44
Intel Gets FTC's OK on Flash Chip Merger
,----[ Quote ]
| Intel Corp. has received antitrust clearance to form a new flash memory firm
| with STMicroelectronics NV.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071018/intel_stmicroelectronics.html?.v=1
Top sales official at AMD steps down
,----[ Quote ]
| Richard, known for his sharp suits and frank comments about AMD's much-larger
| rival Intel Corp., oversaw AMD's international sales force and corporate
| marketing initiatives.
`----
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/top-salesman-amd-step-down/story.aspx?guid=%7B571023D1-6225-4DA9-BF2B-4B05F6D0599C%7D&siteid=yhoof
Why Brussels is Abuzz with Lobbyists
,----[ Quote
| As the EU sets more rules, corporations are building their presence and
| paying for clout
`----
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2007/gb20071018_193716.htm?campaign_id=yhoo
Intel Hires Lobbying Firm
,----[ Quote ]
| Computer chip maker Intel Corp. has hired FBA Inc. to lobby the federal
| government, according to a federal disclosure form.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070821/intel_lobbying.html?.v=1
Intel Joins Bill Clinton's Global Initiative
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070927/20070927005350.html?.v=1
Micron Opening Lobbying Office in DC
,----[ Quote ]
| Micron Technology Inc., on Thursday said it has opened a government
| affairs office in Washington to lead the computer memory maker's
| lobbying efforts on patent reform, international trade, research
| funding and other issues.
|
| [...]
|
| Carroll, 33, worked for the last six years as trade policy
| director for semiconductor maker Intel Corp., which she joined
| in 1998 as European government affairs policy manager based in
| Brussels, Belgium.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070301/micron_expansion.html?.v=1
Marketing Group Spent $350,000 Lobbying
,----[ Quote ]
| The Direct Marketing Association spent $350,000 in the first half of 2007 to
| lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070821/marketing_industry_lobbying.html?.v=1
S. Korea sends Intel antitrust statement-company
,----[ Quote ]
| South Korea began investigating Intel's marketing and rebate practices for
| computer processors two years ago after similar probes by Japan and the
| European Union.
`----
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN1337305020070913?rpc=44
Korean antitrust probe of Intel ends, penalties to be decided soon
,----[ Quote ]
| Although neither Intel nor the KFTC provided details on the findings, sources
| told the Korea Times said that the antitrust regulators did plan to impose
| penalties on the chipmaker. "The FTC gained some evidence backing up
| suspicions that Intel has offered discounts to computer makers in exchange
| for sealing exclusive deals, and coerced dealers not to buy products from
| rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)," said one source.
`----
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070911-intel-could-face-sanctions-as-a-result-of-korean-antitrust-probe.html
Intel: South Korean Antitrust Probe Over
,----[ Quote ]
| South Korean media have reported the inquiry has centered on allegations
| Intel abused its market dominance by pressuring computer makers to avoid
| using chips made by Intel's rivals.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070911/skorea_intel.html?.v=2
Intel to Reply Soon to Antitrust Queries
,----[ Quote ]
| It is not common for the Federal Trade Commission, which issued a second
| request for information to Intel last week, to ask for more information on
| such mergers.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070905/as_tec_india_intel_stmicroelectronics.html?.v=1
US antitrust group urges Intel investigation
,----[ Quote ]
| The American Antitrust Institute (AAI), a Washington DC lobby group, has
| written an open letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging an
| investigation of Intel's allegedly monopolistic business practices.
|
| [...]
|
| AAI say its insistence of an investigation is based on allegations by AMD in
| a private case and information obtained by the EC's complaint, which have not
| been made public
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/30/aai_wants_intel_probe_expansion/
Intel urged to give more data on flash unit deal
,----[ Quote ]
| ...U.S. Federal Trade Commission has requested additional information on the
| company's deal with STMicroelectronics...
`----
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKWNAS317820070830?rpc=44
The Fight for Fair and Open Competition
,----[ Quote ]
| AMD is an undisputed technology and innovation leader.
|
| However, Intel's abusive, illegal monopolistic behavior is preventing
| businesses and consumers alike from choosing freely between AMD and Intel
| products.
`----
http://breakfree.amd.com/en-us/antitrust.aspx
EC says Intel influenced bids for computer projects
,----[ Quote ]
| The third type of allegation, however, was new, and sounded like a variety of
| predatory pricing. “In the context of bids against AMD-based products for
| strategic customers in the server segment of the market,” the commission
| press release said, “Intel has offered CPUs on average below cost.”
`----
http://legalpad.blogs.fortune.com/2007/08/03/ec-says-intel-influenced-bids-for-computer-projects/
Negroponte says Intel should be "ashamed of itself"
,----[ Quote ]
| He is furious that Intel's CEO Craig Barrett called the One Laptop a
| gadget. The Negroponte initiative is caught in the middle of a vicious
| fight between AMD and Intel, he said.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39733
AMD chief condemns Intel 'abuses'
,----[ Quote ]
| In 2005, after the Japan Fair Trade Commission found Intel guilty of
| offering illegal rebates to Japanese PC makers, AMD filed an anti-trust
| suit against its competitor in the U.S. District Court in Delaware. The
| case has not been decided.
`----
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/06/21/amd_ceo_condemns_intel_abuses/
AMD: Intel Destroyed Evidence in Antitrust Case
,----[ Quote ]
| In an unpublished statement to the U.S. District Court of Delaware,
| AMD alleges Intel allowed the destruction of evidence in pending
| antitrust litigation.
`----
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=6352
Video: Henri Richard comes out swinging at Intel during AMD press conference
,----[ Quote ]
| [AMD's Henri Richard:] "I am sick and tired of being pushed around
| by a competitor that doesn't respect the rules of fair and open
| competition."
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Berlind/?p=363
Investors sue Dell on payments from Intel: WSJ
,----[ Quote ]
| An investor lawsuit seeking class-action status accuses Dell Inc. of
| improper accounting in its relationship with chip giant Intel,
| according to a media report published Thursday evening.
|
| [...]
|
| The suit alleges that Dell received at times as much as $1 billion
| a year in "secret and likely illegal" kickbacks in the form of
| "e-Cap" or "exception to corporate average pricing" payments"
| from Intel to ensure that Dell used no other chip supplier,
| according to The Journal.
`----
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/investors-sue-dell-payments-intel/story.aspx?guid=%7B400315B0%2DE375%2D4920%2DB300%2D784220BEFE35%7D&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo
Lenovo got financial help from Intel, claim
,----[ Quote ]
| Journalists on the title said Lenovo is being paid a "pretty
| penny" from Intel to use its chips.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37670
,----[ Quote ]
| In 2005, a unit of Shenzhen Donjin countersued, saying Intel engaged
| in monopolistic practices.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070514/china_intel_settlement.html?.v=7
Intel's anti-trust memos started vanishing from the top
,----[ Quote ]
| Chairman Craig Barrett, CEO Paul Otellini and sales chief Sean Maloney
| have appeared on a list of Intel employees thought to have deleted
| e-mails possibly relevant to AMD's anti-trust lawsuit against its
| larger rival. The missing e-mails have thrust a livid state of mind
| onto AMD's lawyers who have very serious problems with Intel's
| rather lax document retention policy.
|
| [...]
|
| CEO Otellini appears to have been one of these troublesome employees.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/11/intel_tortellini_episode/
--
~~ Best of wishes
Roy S. Schestowitz | Useless fact: ~70% of organisms are bacteria
http://Schestowitz.com | Free as in Free Beer | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
Cpu(s): 25.7%us, 4.3%sy, 1.0%ni, 65.5%id, 3.1%wa, 0.3%hi, 0.1%si, 0.0%st
http://iuron.com - semantic engine to gather information
|
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