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Monopoly Point
Microsoft became a monopoly around the point when they began to collect license fees on all PCs (even those without some form of MS product) due to the possibility the PCs *might* run a MS product some time in the future.

Monopolies are more than just market share. They encompass things like the above-mentioned licensing schemes, hostile buy-outs of smaller companies that *could* threaten down the road, licensing tactics that force payments that amount to a rental contract that never gives the user control over their own computer's usage, and using tactics that bully the general public into submission.

Personally, I am required to use a flavor of Office at my workplace, but thankfully, we are still on 2000. It does what 95% of our users require to get their jobs done and the rest can upgrade if they need it-so far no takers...

At home, I use Open Office and save materials I need to carry into work as MS *.docs. No compatibility issues thus far.

It seems a bit extreme to write bloatware that doesn't address the needs of the vast majority and then force those people to use it. This is what happens with the Enterprise licensing scheme-a monopolistic system that forces purchasing of things that people don't need in order to get what they DO need.
Posted by: AbsolutelyNot   Posted on: 12/01/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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They may have been dragged kicking and screaming, but...  Michael Kelly | 12/01/03
Yes, 3rd party apps are good, but you can also replace MS Office  DonnieBoy | 12/01/03
A rock and a hard place  DonnieBoy | 12/01/03
Another PR piece  NoB$ | 12/01/03
We will see, any royalties would kill this.  DonnieBoy | 12/01/03
More MS T&A  Len Rooney | 12/01/03
There won't be a big uptake for Office 2003  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/01/03
You are right, do NOT use the add-on crap.  DonnieBoy | 12/01/03
Message has been deleted.  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/01/03
You don't know what you're talking about  info@... | 12/02/03
No WinXPPro registration? You're kidding, right?  Donald B. Stinnette | 12/02/03
He has to be kidding!  rmkjr@... | 12/02/03
MS formats  nite_w0lf | 12/01/03
In a word -- HUGE  Mike Cox | 12/01/03
Nursey says...  AbsolutelyNot | 12/01/03
"My MCSE's will back me up" !?! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA  dicktaurus@... | 12/01/03
he might be right if...  in-DUH-vidual | 12/02/03
Wow  info@... | 12/02/03
Double WOW!  in-DUH-vidual | 12/02/03
XML and 'Competitive Disadvantage'  michael-t | 12/01/03
Too true Mikey  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/01/03
Punishment for MS  michael-t | 12/01/03
Punishment for WHAT?  info@... | 12/02/03
How about for breaking the law?  WhoIsDaMan | 12/02/03
Short history lesson  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/02/03
Scared of Competition ...  michael-t | 12/01/03
But it means nothing unless...  KeithRisler | 12/01/03
I don't think it's an issue.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
NOT an issue?? History means nothing????  DonnieBoy | 12/01/03
interoperability  voska | 12/01/03
Water is wet; the Pope is Catholic; _Ax the M$hill is lying...  dicktaurus@... | 12/01/03
Competition as it should be.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
What exactly is the definition of Monopoly?  voska | 12/01/03
Who knows???  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
Monopoly Point  AbsolutelyNot | 12/01/03
So the very first contract...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
Not only that  voska | 12/01/03
I'm confused...  MalumRegnat | 12/01/03
at what point did MS become a monopoly?  WhoIsDaMan | 12/02/03
Of course competition is good...  John Le'Brecage | 12/01/03
So you are saying that...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
No son..that's NOT what he was saying..and you know it  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/01/03
I'm still confused...  MalumRegnat | 12/01/03
That's too far in the opposite direction...  John Le'Brecage | 12/01/03
Good points, but is it true?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
my thoughts  voska | 12/01/03
As much as I expected...  John Le'Brecage | 12/01/03
I'll take exception  IT_User | 12/01/03
A few comments...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/02/03
Definition of "monopoly"  Spoon Jabber | 12/01/03
Don't know what you're referring to..  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/01/03
I've been trying to decide whether...  John Le'Brecage | 12/01/03
John, you know better.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
Yes he does...perhaps he MEANT what he said  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/01/03
Hmmm, curious how you answer for him.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
Exactly? Do you really mean exactly???  John Le'Brecage | 12/01/03
Then why...  zkiwi | 12/01/03
Everyone has an opinion...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
Wrong (yet again!)  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/01/03
Whatever you say...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
Looking does not equal being able to change  zkiwi | 12/01/03
Yes, competition is good.  DonnieBoy | 12/01/03
Nice Information  michael-t | 12/01/03
I'm glad you agree with me. Thanks...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/01/03
And here I was thinking that...  zkiwi | 12/01/03
I think you should read the article  zkiwi | 12/01/03
Remaining confused...  MalumRegnat | 12/01/03
Think of the time it's taken to get "there", ok?  zkiwi | 12/01/03
You're so full of it that it spews out your mouth, Axis...  dicktaurus@... | 12/01/03
What's behind Microsoft's Office moves? The same movers  michael-t | 12/01/03
Microsoft's biggest competitor is Microsoft  Anton Philidor | 12/01/03
You've defined the challenge  IT_User | 12/01/03
Not a new challenge  Anton Philidor | 12/02/03
Yep, a new challenge  IT_User | 12/02/03
Good points  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/02/03
Microsoft encourages complementary success.  Anton Philidor | 12/02/03
... and I WAS RIGHT. MONTHS ago ALL the M$hills pooh-poohed the idea ...  dicktaurus@... | 12/01/03

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