Microsoft Web plan takes aim at Google

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Most people don't have a problem with Microsoft making money, what galls them is that MS used illegal tactics to kill-off competition and gain a monopoly that they then proceeded to abuse.

Some competitors had a hand in their own demise, but that's beside the point.

Browsers are a classic example - Netscape had the better product, but MS gave away their browser and web server to cut off Netscape's revenue. Netscape died, MS promptly forgot about browsers (it's been nearly 5 year since the release of IE 6).

MS were convicted of anti-competitive behaviour but didn't suffer any kind of significant penalty.

Fortunately, competition has re-emerged in the browser/webserver space and suddenly MS is interested again. People are smart, they can remember back a few years. They don't want to see MS in such a dominant position again because they know that MS will abuse their power.

MS make nearly all of their vast profits from Office and Windows, nearly all their other businesses make a loss. Users are sick of paying a premium to MS for Windows and Office only to see MS use the profits to fund loss-leaders in other markets - e.g. games consoles, phones, webTV - rather than reducing prices or delivering useful enhancements - why is Windows still full of security holes? Why are lists and numbering still so crap in Word?

I don't really care about the personality of the senior execs - Gates strikes me as an OK guy, if a bit geeky, but clearly has business ethics issues if Microsoft's business behaviour is an indication. Balmer comes across as a complete (though seriously rich) idiot who is out of touch with reality.

I don't know any of the others at all.

Posted by: Fred Fredrickson   Posted on: 09/08/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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