Why criticize Microsoft for giving away free software? It's the trend nowadays!

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Erroneous history

Sorry, but you are wrong with regard to "revisionist history".

The reason it is bad for Microsoft to give away free software is the very reason why it was wrong of them to give away Internet Explorer, and the US federal legal system concurs that what they did was illegal (even if the punishment under law was really a kiss of the bishop's ring). At issue is the use of monopoly power (Microsoft was found to be a monopoly under legal statute, regardless of your personal opinion on the issue) to fund expansion into other areas and thereby eliminate competition. I don't know the current standing of things, but as of a few years ago, Microsoft made a profit on two things: its operating systems and its Office platform. *ALL* other products are/were given away or sold at a lower cost in order to garner further market in areas where Microsoft does not yet have a monopoly, undercutting the competition and driving them out of the market. Bill Gates was caught stating in an interview years ago that the goal of Microsoft was to have a controlling interest in every aspect of computing and the corporation has continued relentlessly in that direction. Microsoft should be prohibited from giving away free software/services or selling such for less than cost so long as they remain a monopoly according to legal statute. This is the only way to ensure a healthy market and allow for competition.

Posted by: abuse.this2@...   Posted on: 02/22/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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