Every Computer I have bought and/or set up for a friend this year, about 20 by now, had several options. #1 I could get them without an operating system. Then If I wanted I could throw linux on it.
One of them decided to do just that.
They also came with that MSN logo you mentioned that prevented people from choosing another ISP (your words). They also came with an AOL icon, a Prodigy ICON, and a Compuserve Icon...and AOL owns compuserve...
As for the IE Being Rammed down customers throats..
Well, when you click on Setup it asks you if you want a typical , Custom or Minimal Win 98 setup...
Click on Custom, and you choose what goes on..
I know this, because I always choose custom, and one of the items, I don't choose is Internet explorer.
I lik eMSFT, but I have never liked using Internet explorer.
I always choose Netscape.
Now...some programs out there require IE to be on the machine..these are OEM programs. Medved Quotetracker comes to mind.
Why Medved needed IE as opposed to Netscape is beyond me...but, if You use MEdved, you don't have to have the IE running, you can still use Netscape...
One thing about IE as opposed to Netscape is that IE is a smaller program. Netscape is a big program.
I also didn't hear the judge complaining that when you download Netscape, they also slip Real Networks, and net to phone programs in there (unless you choose custom install again)
In short...I doubt any knowledgeable person thinks that internet explorer has hurt Netscape/AOL...
There is Opera from Norway too...seems to be picking up popularity...
And, If you want to celebrate the breakup of MSFT, what will happen when they start to look at Cisco, or AOL...maybe they'll start hastling Disney...
What about GE...
I also have never felt that MSFT was asking horrendous prices for it's software, as compared to other competitors...
What about APPLE...they were very selfish with their code for the longest time....
Long term, they may just be successful spliting the company up...It sure won't hurt the shareholders long term...not to many T holders upset about the lucent spinoff I am sure...
But...If they do split it up, won't that do just what they are trying to prevent...cause MSFT to raise it's prices...
You may not like MSFT....but, if you have ever built anything, does it not make you cringe that your government feels it can step in and tell you to break what you made..
Now, before you start insulting me, remmeber there are two camps in this MSFT issue, many think / feel like I do, and many think / feel like you do....
Personaly I don't care if they split up MSFT..
Short term it made me some nice money...long term, I believe it will too...
I just shudder to think what this case will open up.
What's next 3M has an unfair advantage of Post-It notes.. |
