Ed, I think you're a. . . Never mind.
So, is this Bill's DNS we're talking about?
IE is integrated with Windows pretty much the way Word is. This was more or less admitted in the consent decree hearings.
I'll repeat what I wrote to Dwight:
Now, if Microsoft really wanted to "integrate" Windows with the Web, it would be more consistent with what the web is and how distributed programs work to integrate on the server side instead of the client side. That is, the "web view" of Windows would be a service offered by Windows, and any browser anywhere could access that view, modulo appropriate security. Maybe that even crossed somebody's mind at Microsoft, but was shot down because it didn't fit into the business plan, cutting off the air supply and all that. Instead, you got the same Windows as before, accessible from exactly one seat, but you have the pleasure of a browser window for every folder you open. Very innovative.
I don't prejudge the outcome of any of this, I'm just not impressed by the whole "We are the world / Microsoft must innovate" PR defense strategy. Other big companies have dealt with this stuff, but none of them have resorted to this "beyond the comprehension of mere mortals" line. It's such an arcane area of the law anyway, nobody would follow it if Bill wasn't always saying something transparent for certain wags to make fun of.
Cheers, Dan. |
