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Two sides to the story...
>Microsoft beat Netscape...

MS cut off Netscape's revenue streams. MS offered not only free IE, but also free IIS. Yes, Netscape didn't help their own cause, but there is no doubt IE would never have achieved the market penetration it did without MS leveraging its monopoly. Whether that was bad or not was never finally decided (the DoJ failed to show sufficient harm to consumers, it was the only count sent back by the court of appeals and was not subsequently followed up by the DoJ since the other 7 items were upheld).

>OS2 was expensive...

OS/2 was never a direct competitor after IBM caved in to MS's "ship every PC with Windows or pay extra" condition with Win 95. Up to a day or so before the release of Win 95, IBM still didn't know if MS would let them ship Win 95. Ultimately, OS/2 was priced well beyond Windows and so was not even considered a true competitor by Jackson. Note MS's licence also precluded dual-boot OS/2 and Windows boxes

>BEOS just didn't do the marketing properly

Come on! They gave away their OS for free!! But MS licencing stopped OEMs from shipping dual-boot PCs, and since they'd already agreed to ship every PC with Windows, Be was out in the cold. They literally couldn't even give their OS away. How were they going to afford "marketing"? Sheesh.

>Word Perfect goofed in releasing a Windows version so late in the game

They also complained bitterly that MS was withholding information on APIs so that they couldn't write a decent Windows version of WordPerfect. Don't know if their charge stood up, but others (including Borland) made similar claims. Also, many, many users were very happy with WordPerfect on DOS so didn't upgrade when Windows arrived. By the time these users upgraded, MS had ensured nearly all Windows PCs had Word. Note that market share usually concentrates on new sales, not installed base so Word appeared to be more ubiquitous than it really was. Hmmm, that dang monopoly again.

>In the Database game ... [no one] offered database software for the small to mid size business

Yes, they did and still do. FoxPro was THE database for small business. MS bought them out, put the good bits into Access and promptly sent the re-badged Visual FoxPro into oblivion (meanwhile dropping cross-platform compatibility with Mac OS...).

FileMaker is easily as good as Access, more scalable and cross-platform (Win/Mac), but what chance it will depose an Office-bundled Access?

Yes, MS had a dream run with incredible good fortune from bad decisions by others in the industry (Apple certainly rue loosing Steve Jobs I'll bet) but there's no doubt MS has played well beyond the rules many times.
Posted by: Fred Fredrickson   Posted on: 12/18/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Proprietary software is useless! Trash it all!  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/16/03
Once again Linux community opens their  memuser | 12/16/03
how is this article about m$?  stephen732@... | 12/16/03
Nonsense  chrichton99 | 12/16/03
your argument does nohing  ryusen | 12/16/03
a contention  ryusen | 12/16/03
Microsoft is the one that would lose here if they go Open Source  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
A question  voska | 12/16/03
A very good question.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
OSS can also be used as a platform for proprietary software  Taz_z | 12/16/03
Huh? Check your logic  quietLee | 12/18/03
Get a sense of humor  voska | 12/16/03
Exactly Dude  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/16/03
heard this before  voska | 12/16/03
You're right, but...  maestronn | 12/19/03
A surprising article....  mlindl | 12/16/03
Don't know if you noticed...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
I agree  voska | 12/16/03
BEOS:  ryusen | 12/16/03
Uh ... no ... not really.  coffeenite | 12/17/03
Two sides to the story...  Fred Fredrickson | 12/18/03
by ethics,  ryusen | 12/16/03
As opposed to your contrived articles? (NT)  dscherf | 12/16/03
Just what is Microsoft so good...  mlindl | 12/18/03
Coupla things...  dscherf | 12/18/03
But attacking the messenger....  mlindl | 12/19/03
John, I almost totally agree with you?!  jim_oflaherty_jr | 12/18/03
No preference, they just decided the open source will work best for them.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Well Said Donnie!  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/16/03
Polar Thinking  civikminded | 12/16/03
Here is why open source is so atractive in developing countries.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
No...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Yes. . . . .  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
What are you talking about  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Every business and every government has a ritght to decide.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Governments and costs  Update victim | 12/17/03
RE: Governments and costs  nrlz | 12/22/03
RE: Yes. . . . .  nrlz | 12/22/03
Obvious point if I may..  GRindinAxTaRupy | 12/16/03
John, Al Capone was good at making money, too  mlindl | 12/19/03
Ah, but then you'd have to include...  Mark Miller | 12/20/03
doomed?  ryusen | 12/16/03
Carroll is dead on once again  Mike Cox | 12/16/03
No both of you are wrong...  serpentmage | 12/16/03
And where is Mr. Carroll, why does he have nothing to say.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Well, finally, here he is, he must have heard me!  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
You seem to forget or ignore that  Taz_z | 12/16/03
IBM is a SERVICE oriented company  Robert Crocker | 12/16/03
Re-read your EULA  techboy_z | 12/16/03
Don't feel like thinking of a title  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Profit doesn't come from thin air...  Robert Crocker | 12/16/03
More Stuff  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
insert subject here  ryusen | 12/17/03
It OS does the job...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
You must enter a title for your message  ryusen | 12/17/03
it also put billions in the bank  JWatson77 | 12/16/03
Yes, very true, John wants you to think that every penny goes into R&D  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Yep...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
So are you arguing that Microsoft does not have good margins??  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Margins Do Not Matter ...  coffeenite | 12/17/03
Feature, Function, Benefit  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
What exactly are 'standards of comparison'?  Taz_z | 12/16/03
What the customer uses to decide  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
Software and widgets are a tough comparison  Taz_z | 12/16/03
Doesn't "prove" anything  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
MS Blaster  voska | 12/16/03
How many machines?  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
We had 1000+ Machines  voska | 12/16/03
It proves everything  Taz_z | 12/16/03
Linux / OSS are here to stay.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Where is linux/OSS going next?  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
That's why...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Linux can eat Unix without killing the Unix vendors.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Don't bet on it...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Yes, proprietary Unix will go away, but that is not bad for SUN, HP, or IBM  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Don't bet on that either, DonnieBoy  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Yes, they would have to compete on the merits, good for customers  DonnieBoy | 12/17/03
The merits of the same Intel hardware??  Mark Miller | 12/20/03
Linux can go where it needs to go.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Are you kidding?  Taz_z | 12/16/03
didn't ms say  JWatson77 | 12/16/03
GPL does NOT exclude patents  Robert Crocker | 12/16/03
Come on...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Completely wrong  Robert Crocker | 12/16/03
Good Point...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
but...  ryusen | 12/16/03
Yes, but...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
you are reversing the issue  ryusen | 12/17/03
GPL and Patent Trading  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
Stuff  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
No, it doesn't  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
IBM sells Linux SOFTWARE TOO!  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
You're still missing it, Rob  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Regarding IBM's Linux Software (to Rob)  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Still missing the crucial points (to John)  Robert Crocker | 12/18/03
Why so?  dscherf | 12/16/03
Dont you think....  memuser | 12/16/03
Who's bashing who ?  NT Admin | 12/16/03
I wouldn't want to see that world either  voska | 12/16/03
the best?  ryusen | 12/16/03
memuser, your abject DENIAL of M$ MONOPOLY renders your whole argument moot  dicktaurus@... | 12/16/03
Antitrust violations led to monopoly  Update victim | 12/17/03
Actually, the reverse  rapson | 12/18/03
Interesting Argument, but misguided...  serpentmage | 12/16/03
Misapplie logic  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
It's the old 60s logic  rapson | 12/16/03
You're right, to a certain extent  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Yes, but you seem to think that Governments don't have a right to decide.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
My argument is utilitarian  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
it's still their choice  ryusen | 12/16/03
But John, this is not preference, you are telling them how to run IT  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
Utilitarian?  Jose Jimenez | 12/17/03
(to ZZ) John is a citizen too. He has a right...  Mark Miller | 12/21/03
Good luck (really!)  rapson | 12/16/03
that's logic?  voska | 12/16/03
People buy things to benefit from them  Bill Weisgerber | 12/16/03
I disagree here.  voska | 12/16/03
Not always true...  Patrick Jones | 12/16/03
Flawed logic  techboy_z | 12/16/03
OS COSTS  Joe Blow_z | 12/16/03
Just Priced out PC  voska | 12/16/03
Burlington Industries are wrong ???  Update victim | 12/16/03
Great...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Gov Over Reacting again  voska | 12/16/03
But if Burlington has a right to roll it out company wide, why not govs  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
That's true  voska | 12/16/03
Burlington isn't 30% of the economy  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Well, yes, government contracts can be huge.  DonnieBoy | 12/16/03
I'm not emperor of the world  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Again John, you are arguing that are making the wrong IT decision.  DonnieBoy | 12/17/03
30%  Update victim | 12/17/03
It's about policy, DonnieBoy  Mark Miller | 12/21/03
Why not...  Patrick Jones | 12/16/03
See my Not 30% post to DonnieBoy  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
Saw the post and you are wrong....  Patrick Jones | 12/17/03
So...  azurensis | 12/17/03
Yes, I would  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
B.S. John  Rick_K | 12/16/03
Who makes the policy?  John L. Ries | 01/01/04
JC's Paradox:Everybody is wrong but JC and MS  David Mohring | 12/16/03
John CArrolll and Microsoft propaganda have become synonymous  jellyclock | 12/16/03
Selfishness, egoism and greed....  Mikael_z | 12/17/03
Free software, MORE JOBS, no monopolies, no piracy ?  Vily Clay | 12/16/03
Funny thing is...  ryusen | 12/16/03
ok, real reply:  ryusen | 12/16/03
I agree with...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/16/03
but...  ryusen | 12/16/03
No, I don't...  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
And there's your conclusion. Good.  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
Regarding government policy  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Adequate for the purpose (Replying - stupid tbk)  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
No, we're not disagreeing  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Now there's a loaded question.  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
stupid reply  ryusen | 12/17/03
in addtion  ryusen | 12/16/03
I disagree  John L. Ries | 01/01/04
Numerous flaws  mrroach | 12/16/03
John continues to show a complete lack of understanding of os  Richard Flude | 12/16/03
A response  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
This isn't just about free versus bought  NemesisNL | 12/17/03
The future, Conan?  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
A response to your response  Richard Flude | 12/17/03
Who is going to make money????  stmueller | 12/18/03
John, you left your argument unfinished...  Anton Philidor | 12/16/03
you are missing a point  ryusen | 12/16/03
You're agreeing with me (and John)  Anton Philidor | 12/16/03
not really.  ryusen | 12/17/03
Is the arguement you're talking about the one with all the holes in it?  Richard Flude | 12/16/03
No, the flawed argument's an invention  Anton Philidor | 12/16/03
Specious assertions  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
If they're specious, don't use them; use mine instead  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
They WERE your assertions  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
I think I see the tangle  Anton Philidor | 12/17/03
Bizarre definition of proprietary  Robert Crocker | 12/17/03
On 'proprietary'  Anton Philidor | 12/18/03
I simply dont agree  ParadigmOdyssey | 12/16/03
Apple  Harry Bardal | 12/16/03
I like the hybrid model  John Carroll ZDNet Moderator | 12/17/03
Apple excluded from open source?  mlindl | 12/18/03
Linux this, Linux that  mikeeemike | 12/17/03
John, I almost totally agree with you?!  jim_oflaherty_jr | 12/18/03
John, I almost totally agree with you?!  jim_oflaherty_jr | 12/18/03
For once I'd like to agree, but...  Doug K | 12/18/03
Long Winded, even for John  Fred Fredrickson | 12/19/03
I think ZDNet should hire Fred...  mlindl | 12/19/03
The reality is......  maestronn | 12/19/03
proprietary software doesn't even need a business reason  JWatson77 | 12/21/03
The beginning of the end of .NET?  JWatson77 | 12/26/03
only a issue to john because pref is not ms  JWatson77 | 12/31/03
Re: In defense of proprietory software  John L. Ries | 01/01/04
in defense of no red cross  JWatson77 | 01/07/04
"Judicious use of patents"  meadi8r@... | 11/05/04

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