Mo,
<Look at all of the major boxmakers, Microsoft is forcing them to sell IE with windows, this would encompass ALL (thats 100%) new machines with Windows. Get that, NO CHOICE . As a consumer, I would have to go through extra effort to get netscape, thats an added cost for the consumer. So in my opinion, the consumer IS getting ripped off.>
BULL-oney -- NO one FORCES the OEM to buy. What compels the OEM to accept MSFT's terms is that it is market suicide to not have a Windows offering -- i.e. the OEM's customer wants it, that's why they carry it -- pure and simple. The OEM can choose not to carry Windows. The consumer can choose not to buy Windows. Last time I went shopping, there were no guns held to my head. If the consumers really weren't getting massive productivity, weren't enjoying using Windows, they wouldn't buy it. It's that simple. The browser argument is pure red herring. You want Netscape, you can get it for FREE. You want to know WHY it's now free as opposed to 12 months ago -- BENEFITTING CONSUMERS? Take a guess!
Hey, MSFT won -- a dirty, nasty battle. The losers are just whining. Just like with IBM 20 years ago, no one figured they could beat em. But innovation (hello, Mr. Gates) DID... |
