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Fair Play
No offense, but Microsoft is basically a monopoly with a proprietary interface. It's not right for them to make something a part of their core software as a means to shut out the competition. Operating systems are meant to have software written for them, and Microsoft is saying "we'll write the OS, but you can't write software for it". Fair? No way. The overhead of entering the operating system market is prohibitively large, which means that a company can't just bang one out in a pinch to make their software work.

Imagine if Intel tried to release a new CPU, but refused to divulge its instruction set. A logic probe would eventually give you your answers, and reverse-engineering is always an answer, but either would take years of work, and you haven't even produced "Hello World". It would almost be faster to design and build your own processor, but you can't just "bang out" an Intel-like processor, either.

Just as Intel releases full instruction sets of its CPUs so that friends like Microsoft can take full advantage of its features, Microsoft should also release the full API of its OS so that "friends" like those represented by the EU can take full advantage of the operating system's features.

...and if Microsoft wants to make their own media player, server, browser, etc, then wonderful! Good for them for being able to horizontally expand their business! But they should be doing so in fair competition, not by hiding parts of their API.
Posted by: IndigoDarkwolf   Posted on: 12/22/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Well, the EU has been quite generous  Boot_Agnostic | 12/22/05
No, they have the info, they refuse to review it.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/22/05
Review of info  Yagotta B. Kidding | 12/22/05
Another case of selective reading.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/22/05
Yes, you do that.  Fred Fredrickson | 12/22/05
Yes, you do that.  Fred Fredrickson | 12/22/05
This is not about the EU...  Anton Philidor | 12/23/05
$ 1,702,000,000  nomorems | 03/28/06
I guess flaunting the law pays in some cases.  DonnieBoy | 12/22/05
Europe threatens Microsoft with daily fines  Loverock Davidson | 12/22/05
Fair Play  IndigoDarkwolf | 12/22/05
Questions  linusconcepcion@... | 12/22/05
Not API's in question.  JeremyAllison | 12/22/05
Missing the point of an API  Spacely Spacerockets | 12/22/05
This is about interoperability information, not API's  JeremyAllison | 12/22/05
Have the EC instructions been clear?  Anton Philidor | 12/23/05
Fair Play  Loverock Davidson | 12/22/05
Hmmm, case law or your opinion...  jasonp@... | 12/27/05
To the EU I say, "Hey, I'm ready. Bring it on!"  ProfessorJim | 12/22/05
Should MS (or even Apple, FTM)  John Zern | 12/22/05
And if Microsoft does not like the laws, they can withdraw the product.  DonnieBoy | 12/22/05
I wish they would  Loverock Davidson | 12/22/05
The Europeans are pretty smart, it would not take them long to switch  DonnieBoy | 12/22/05
They aren't that smart..  John Zern | 12/22/05
No, MS could withdraw the procuct at any time. They would still be  DonnieBoy | 12/23/05
In your dreams  Loverock Davidson | 12/22/05
Yes, Apple is a much better OS, MS withdrawing would help Europe.  DonnieBoy | 12/23/05
You are dreaming. NT  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/22/05
No, Microsoft has every ritght to withdraw, this is not a dream.  DonnieBoy | 12/23/05
Microsoft is not really the issue here...  ProfessorJim | 12/22/05
I fear you are right, look at Boeing.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/22/05
Boeing  jorwell | 12/23/05
Leave the drugs alone. It's the EU whining.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/23/05
Boeing didn't sue, they aren't the ones WHINING.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/23/05
Boeing started it  jorwell | 12/27/05
The EU is more socialistic. Europe invented the concept.  osreinstall | 12/27/05
MS leaving europe would hardly send thier economy into hell  balsover | 12/23/05
Take The HInt  node357 | 12/22/05
The same to you!  european | 12/23/05
Neelie Kroes  techboy_z | 12/22/05
Anyone remember  Yagotta B. Kidding | 12/22/05
Would a new appointee...  Anton Philidor | 12/23/05
This is an outrage...  Mike Cox | 12/22/05
Charitable Wrong Doing  mighetto | 12/22/05
Facinating  maldain | 12/23/05
Facinating  maldain | 12/23/05
Here is why.  osreinstall | 12/24/05
ROFL @ Mike Cox  Maverick Hunter | 12/22/05
HAHAHA  Codedigital | 12/22/05
Neil Barrett is right on about API documentation  PB_z | 12/22/05
Devilish Chat. Barrett is a God!  mighetto | 12/22/05
Corrections  java.user | 12/22/05
Wait a minuter MS gave it to them. Why the whining?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/22/05
I Know What They're Up To  node357 | 12/22/05
Explain what is "just" in compling and still being fined.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/22/05
Compliance?  node357 | 12/22/05
Remember, please  JDThompson | 12/22/05
Then why start the fine now?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/22/05
They haven't  Richard Flude | 12/22/05
Ah, just saber rattling of fools huh.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/23/05
Breathtaking  Yagotta B. Kidding | 12/22/05
Ummm, did you read the entire article?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/22/05
"It"  Yagotta B. Kidding | 12/23/05
Glad to see you finally admit I am right.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/23/05
Because they are late  balsover | 12/23/05
Ta, Ta EU  escapepod | 12/22/05
SO it is ok to develop software in the EU but not sell?  B.O.F.H. | 12/22/05
Great idea!  JDThompson | 12/22/05
Master Microsoft  ocima@... | 12/22/05
Minor correction  java.user | 12/22/05
Major correction  whisperycat | 12/23/05
A few corrections  java.user | 12/23/05
Major correction  whisperycat | 12/23/05
As further proof that you are wrong =P  java.user | 12/23/05
Pocket lint  Yagotta B. Kidding | 12/22/05
then EU should hit M$ even more then  toxicfreak | 12/22/05
The International Herald Sums It Up Nicely  Edward Meyers | 12/22/05
MS is not a EU company  balsover | 12/23/05
What the EU can do  Yagotta B. Kidding | 12/26/05
USA /M$ VS the world  toxicfreak | 12/23/05
Govt and biz aren't the countries people  Boot_Agnostic | 12/23/05
WHy the EU commision is so scared...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/23/05
Well, MS has better get used to the REAL procedures in Europe.  DonnieBoy | 12/23/05
Real law, WTF are you talking about  toxicfreak | 12/23/05
HUH??  kjgslg@... | 12/27/05
Axe, get more information before you post please  nizuse | 12/25/05
Axe, a general response to your postings  nizuse | 12/25/05
Twilight Zone  kjgslg@... | 12/27/05
Big rush?  zkiwi | 12/26/05
Justice is Blind,, Deaf and Dumb  kjgslg@... | 12/27/05
Blame Canada  Boot_Agnostic | 12/27/05
tks boot I needed that  kjgslg@... | 12/27/05
How will M$ pay up???  Bill_Jackson | 12/23/05
Have em give them copies of Redhat  Boot_Agnostic | 12/25/05
Intelectual Property  kjgslg@... | 12/27/05
Shake the Money Tree  kjgslg@... | 12/27/05

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