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I thought Windows had a monopoly?

Interesting how you point out so many examples of the competition Windows faces from Linux.

But I remember reading the Findings of Fact (written in 1999) from the Microsoft antitrust trial. It was clearly stated that Windows has a monopoly and that Windows faced virtually zero competition. (Remember, a monopoly is not defined by marketshare, but by whether there are viable alternatives. The FoF said there were no viable alternatives to Windows.)

"Linux's open-source development model shows no signs of liberating that operating system from the cycle of consumer preferences and developer incentives that, when fueled by Windows' enormous reservoir of applications, prevents non-Microsoft operating systems from competing."

"That Microsoft's market share and the applications barrier to entry together endow the company with monopoly power in the market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems is directly evidenced by the sustained absence of realistic commercial alternatives to Microsoft's PC operating-system products."

"OEMs believe that the likelihood of a viable alternative to Windows emerging any time in the next few years is too low..."

"...the other vendors of Intel-compatible PC operating systems do not view their own offerings as viable alternatives to Windows."

http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f3800/msjudgex.htm

George, do you agree with these statements? Your posting (and the linked articles) regarding the competition Microsoft faces, tells me that you don't agree with them. If this competition is real (which it is), then I propose that Microsoft officially "loses" its monopoly status.

Yet, most of the "anti-Microsoft" Linux proponents at the same time feel Microsoft has a monopoly, without ever seeing that they are contradicting themselves.

Posted by: PB_z   Posted on: 03/07/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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