Thu Feb 7 23:05:40 2002

Please take the time to contact the Department of Justice concerning the actions of MSFT, and the preposed settlement.

The email address is:

microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov

I suspect that the expertise here could make a serious contribution to their decision.

Only 3000 emails have been serious, or less, concerning the subject, so your input would be valuable, and your insites as well.

Thank you all,

Socrates

Thu Feb 7 23:08:47 2002

What was your LSAT score again?

M.

Fri Feb 8 00:02:59 2002

My LSAT scores sucked.  

150.

About 50-55% of the people taking it.

gs

Fri Feb 8 00:06:21 2002

Fri Feb 8 00:10:47 2002

My concern is the anti-competitive business practices that are rampant in the computer industry, from the companies in power, and this means MSFT, Apple, etc.

I don't like large companies trying to leverage their position to extract bribe money to stay in business from smaller companies, or, making it so difficult for them to develop for their os, that the cost of development puts the small company out of business, leaving the larger one with a limited number of companies, they can control, and price fix with, and for.

PeterB can I'm sure, come up with a wonderful argument for why MSFT is the best thing since sliced bread.

I think all views should be presented to the DOJ, so they get a rounded view of the publics perception, and the experts information, that actually work within the industry.

gs

Fri Feb 8 00:31:21 2002

Seriously. It has *nothing* to do with Apple.

MS biting it wouldn't give Apple a better chance at *anything*. Only Apple can help Apple.

And I have a *lot* at stake if MS disappears. I'd lose 1000s of $s in software.

Moreso, my web platform of choice(thusfar) is CFML/ASP.

BOTH, are MS-centric.

But that doesn't change the fact that MS uses its power to assimilate, water-down, quash or erase new technologies and ideas that could be *good* for the industry.

Period.

M.

(Edited by Madan at 4:32 pm on Feb. 7, 2002)

Fri Feb 8 19:14:48 2002

But that doesn't change the fact that MS uses its power to assimilate, water-down, quash or erase new technologies and ideas that could be *good* for the industry.

Like what? And if they "Assimilate", doesn't that give the new good technology more of a chance than left on it's own to rot?

Sat Feb 9 10:35:53 2002

gs

Sat Feb 9 11:29:32 2002

I think, instead of punishing Microsoft, the DoJ might want to hand out your tax money to Apple and Netscape - y'know, subsidise a bit of competition.  Nobody's suggesting this though, because they know Microsoft's competitors would just waste it.  After all, what did Apple do with the $150 million from Bill? Buy Power Computing and murder it? S'right.

Sat Feb 9 14:14:31 2002

I think, instead of punishing Microsoft, the DoJ might want to hand out your tax money to Apple and Netscape

AYB says,

[color=red][size=24]Hell No![/size][/color]

I would rather not pay for companies who have been bested in the marketplace to continue their existance for the sheer sake of competition.  Regulation makes much more sense but not that kind of corporate welfare.

Some of us in this country are tired of tax money going to companies in a well meaning attempt to make the company financially solid, therefore saving many jobs, only to have the company go under anyway and the corporate fatcats make off with millions while working people wonder where they'll get the money for their next house payment from.

If France thinks so lowly of MS perhaps it should finance Apple's and Netscape's existance.

Tue Feb 12 01:49:41 2002

There are limits to corporate actions, and MSFT has gone well beyond those limits, making inovation my smaller companies difficult, and, as I am sure you are aware, the hassle, and expense for example, of rewriting current drivers for XP is a big deal, for a small company.

Limiting business practices for computer companies is something that is going to have to occur, if we don't want one, big brother company, running the nation.

The alternatives aren't good, because of MSFT's actions.

The sad part is I don't think the DOJ realizes there is a giant iceberg below the little bit of stuff they got down on record.

Greed is the worst, I think, of all sins.  It becomes so obsessive, that it destroys both the poor, and the rich, eventually, if it goes unchecked.

We have had that occur here, when the Robber Barons ruled, destabilizing the nation, by creating a giant poor population, and, no middle class, with a small rich class.

This is how revolutions occur.

While I firmly believe in free enterprise, there will always be a need for government intervention, to stop
companies with tremendous averice from destroying the goose that lays their golden egg.

gs

Tue Feb 12 08:12:57 2002

There are limits to corporate actions, and MSFT has gone well beyond those limits, making inovation my smaller companies difficult, and, as I am sure you are aware, the hassle, and expense for example, of rewriting current drivers for XP is a big deal, for a small company.

Excuse me?

a) The DDK (free download) makes driver writing pretty simple

b) If the driver was WDM (used since 1998) it'd probably work anyway

c) Consumers benefit from a signed driver system by having a more stable, better managed PC

d) If there wasn't a massive percentage of Windows machines out there, driver manufacturers would have to write their drivers for dozens of operating systems to acheive decent market penetration, which would be far more expensive than a quickie rewrite and a ship to WHQL.

And complaining about "greed" in a capitalist society is crackers.  Microsoft are duty bound - by law to maximise their shareholder's value.  This means they compete as hard as they can.

While I firmly believe in free enterprise, there will always be a need for government intervention, to stop
companies with tremendous averice from destroying the goose that lays their golden egg.

But that ISN'T HAPPENING!  Windows XP - an operating system shipped without government intervention, under these "monopoly" conditions, is the greatest operating system Microsoft have ever shipped.  If Microsoft were are "true" monopoly, we'd get a WinME tweak and that'd be it.

Why did they have to spend so much dosh releasing a fantastic, quantum leap upgrade over WinME if they're a safe, cosy monopoly?

Hmmm?