Microsoft to Appeal Ruling on Browser, Citing 'Error' by Judge nytimes.com
"Microsoft is doing what in the army is called 'dumb obedience,"' said Andrew Schulman, author of "Unauthorized Windows 95," a guide to the programming features of Windows. "Microsoft's alternative is to roll back the calendar on everything in the operating system, whether it's Internet-related or not."
Critics of Microsoft said the company's move was a characteristically aggressive bid to challenge the federal judge. "Every time Microsoft is confronted by government authority, it reacts like a surly child," said Gary Reback, a lawyer who represents the Netscape Communications Corp., Microsoft's main rival in the browser market. "Microsoft throws a tantrum, says any challenge to it is a challenge to the high-tech economy, and sees if the government will back off."
Of course, Gary Reback is hardly an objective source, but Microsoft must think everybody is pretty stupid here. I run OSR2, and somehow it seems that the full Roach Motel California mentality hadn't quite set in when it shipped, IE3 could be installed or uninstalled. On the other hand, of course, maybe I'm the stupid one, since OSR2 has been not exactly a pleasant experience for me. On the other other hand, it wasn't any better before I pulled the plug on IE3, it actually worked better afterward, for a while.
Regardless, purposely goading a federal judge, and being patronizing and arrogant about who determines the proper role of the judiciary in this particular matter, seems a somewhat dubious strategy. The actual legal arguments may have merit, it's up to the next judge to decide, but on the hearts and minds front, I wonder.
Cheers, Dan. |
