A Microsoft-Red Hat warming trend?

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Acknowledging a point...

... that contradicts your argument doesn't mitigate the damage. My quip changed the priority of the fact that users benefit from better software made by proprietary companies. Made it primary rather than secondary.

Once that change is accepted, the distributor becomes a beneficiary rather than a victim. Better software means more sales, and more sales means more profits.

Admittedly, the benefit has the problem of dependency on the source. However, some leveraging, as in the use of Windows to control the actions of OEMs, is being attacked by the courts.

The threat, then, has to be withdrawing the product that is producing sales for the distributor and the benefit of good software for the public. Then the problem is, withdrawing the software reduces the profits of the source company. The gain from withdrawing the product would have to be substantial to compensate.

The vendor also has the ability to carry, even emphasize a different product. There are very few products like Office and Windows which are irreplaceably valuable to users. The noose can be removed if it gets too tight.


The Apple situation is not a good example for your case. Microsoft likes Apple. They concentrate on different markets, and Microsoft's is large enough that they are not looking for Apple's small piece very intensely.

Not surprisingly, Microsoft drops Apple's IE, which is free, but retains Apple's Office, which makes money. A friendship which profits both sides is likely to be lasting.

And Microsoft gets the priceless ability to know Apple thoroughly. We can think of Apple as a... uhm good example to Microsoft.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 05/11/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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