ODF vs. OOXML: War of the Words Chapter 3: What a Difference a Decade Can Make
,----[ Quote ]
| The bundles grow: As Microsoft steadily increased its share of the office
| application market, it broadened and solidified its monopoly by bundling more
| and more desktop products and functionalities together into both Windows and
| Office. Once again, the value of the bundle increased, even if the price did
| not. But often, the small ISVs that had originally developed the duplicated
| products – together with all competition and innovation with respect to their
| product features - simply ceased to exist.
`----
http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20071210070513432
The Problem with Bundling
,----[ Quote ]
| So, an OEM could release a Tablet/DVR hybrid with Tablet PC, Windows Media
| Center and even Windows SideShow functions for one price from Microsoft, but
| pay something less for the core operating system without these functions. The
| idea is to spur innovation in design and functionality around the operating
| system while creating more differentiation among PCs.
`----
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/channel/the_problem_with_bundling.html?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535
http://tinyurl.com/2mjhop
He almost tried to justify leveraging monopoly power. From the investors of
terms like "naked PCs".
Related:
Linux PC vendor to track pirate Windows installations
,----[ Quote ]
| There, as part of a crackdown on infringing copies of Microsoft
| Windows, "regulatory agencies are checking to see that Linux actually works,"
| he said.
`----
http://www.computerworlduk.com/technology/operating-systems/nix/news/index.cfm?newsid=6001
Linux gains ground in China
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux has been riding on a wave in China, topping the growth of all operating
| systems in the first quarter of 2007, says an industry analyst.
`----
http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/specialreports/0,39044853,62028679,00.htm
Microsoft Vista Waster
,----[ Quote ]
| Computer and software manufacturers have turned computers from a convenient
| tool to a means of dictating to us what to buy next.
`----
http://flyingimam.blogspot.com/2007/09/microsoft-vista-waster.html
Why the Unbundling Windows Sceptics are Wrong
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft has introduced a number of measures in recent versions of Windows
| which are designed to stop piracy of Windows. In effect, they have provided
| their own answer to this question.
`----
http://www.cybersource.com.au/users/conz/why_the_unbundling_windows_sceptics_are_wrong.html
Users split over naked PCs
,----[ Quote ]
| The high cost to business of having Windows pre-installed on PCs was
| certainly an issue for ZDNet.co.uk's sister site silicon.com's CIO Jury.
| Three-quarters of the jury backed calls for naked PCs, not only to foster
| diversity in operating systems but also to bring down costs.
|
| On the business side, several reader comments point to the fact many
| companies do not use pre-installed operating systems but rather choose to
| install a "standard image" on each machine. By starting from a naked PC,
| businesses would at least save time (due to not having to delete the existing
| installation), if not cash too, they said.
`----
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39289744,00.htm?r=2
Are 'naked PCs' good for businesses?
,----[ Quote ]
| Three-quarters of silicon.com's 12-strong CIO Jury IT director panel have now
| backed that call for naked PCs, although the argument is far from
| straightforward.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2424-9595_22-167353.html
Unbundling Microsoft Windows
,----[ Quote ]
| Computers in the European Union should be sold without a bundled operating
| system, according to this submission to the European Commission. It says that
| the bundling of Microsoft Windows with computers is not in the public
| interest, and prevents meaningful competition in the operating system market.
`----
http://www.globalisation.eu/briefings/competition-policy/unbundling-microsoft-windows-200709231241/
Free-market think tank urges EU to unbundle Windows
,----[ Quote ]
| The Globalisation Institute, a European think-tank run by free market
| advocates, today went on the offensive against Microsoft, calling on the EU
| to require all PCs to be sold without operating systems.
`----
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/09/24/globalisation_institute_windows_bundling/
French consumer group attacks PC software bundling
,----[ Quote ]
| UFC-Que Choisir legal officer Sandra Wouhling said current
| practice effectively forced ordinary consumers to buy computers
| using Microsoft operating systems whereas companies anda
| dministrations were offered a real choice.
`----
http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20061214:MTFH94365_2006-12-14_14-49-22_L14537403&type=comktNews&rpc=44
http://tinyurl.com/yf7kfu
Jury Hears Microsoft Competition Suit
,----[ Quote ]
| A judge on Friday told jurors they must accept as fact that a
| federal court found in 1999 that Microsoft holds a monopoly over
| computer operating systems and that it restricted computer
| manufacturers' ability to use competing systems.
|
| [...]
|
| She said she'll show that the company used its monopoly power
| to exclude competition and control prices and that it conspired with
| other companies to restrain trade, maintaining what she called a
| chokehold on software competitors and computer manufacturers.
|
| "It isn't illegal to be successful," Conlin said in opening
| remarks. "We applaud that. ... But you can't freeze out competitors
| and punish and retaliate against people who cooperate with
| competitors. Microsoft did all that and more."
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061201/microsoft_trial.html?.v=1
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