Microsoft behind $12 million payment to Opera

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Who decided how long a thread could last?

Thanks a lot, ZDNet.

Anyway, you wrote:
You state that you won't defend "some sharp business tactics", yet you defend predatory bundling as benefiting the users and developers. Further, your phrase "sharp business tactics" is hardly an adequate verbal handle for MS behavior, and your use of that phrase sounds like an attempt at deflection and misdirection rather than straightforwardness.

You also obfuscate the lack of recent IE development, suggesting that MS might have allowed it to lapse to "allow greater freedom to users...". Nonsense! I'm guessing you can offer a better theory than that one.


I implied, but didn't say as I should, that some of your criticisms are valid attacks on Microsoft's business practices.
However, you've also included some strategic decisions that can be justified on the basis of a legitimate concern for selling upgrades of the operating system.

What you're calling "predatory bundling" is actually the integration of new capabilities into the operating system to improve the user experience. That it also does damage to pre-existing providers of these capabilities is less significant. I think the courts have the issue phrased correctly: is there enough gain for the consumer/developer to justify Microsoft's actions?
In the case of browser and media playing capabilities, I believe there is enough justification.

When you include the context, Microsoft's lack of interest in upgrading the browser as a separate application makes eminent business sense. When Longhorn is issued, there will not be a browser. Therefore, IE is obsolete and not worth the expenditure of a great deal of time or money.
Users of IE are not actually at a great disadvantage at this time. To the extent additional capabilities are needed, other software, much of it free, can be added.

So, because my attitude is not unrelenting hostility to Microsoft, I see the situation as a bit more complex, requiring discernment. That doesn't mean Microsoft is above criticism, only that the criticism should have good reason.
Some of your accusations are entirely valid.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 05/25/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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