>Most people (techies excepted) want bundled software, "Plug and Play", it's easy
>and cost less.
Even if DOJ gets everyting it wants, most people will still get their bundled software -- whatever software the resellers bundle with their "boxes." Furthermore, if there is a genuine market demand for Internnet Explorer, people will continue to get that bundled in there as well, since it would be economically suicidal for resellers not to give their customers what they want.
The issue here is whether Microsoft can tell the reseller, "if you want Windows, you also must take IE," which, if the two are separate products, looks an awfully lot like a tying arrangement. In other words, does the reseller, or Microsoft, have the right to decide what Microsoft products the reseller can and cannot sell with its computers?
The consent decree appears to give that choice to the reseller. |
