<OT>
Here's a great site to take a good look into the Caldera vs Microsoft case....now remember, DR-DOS once belonged to Novell and it's still shipped with each version of NetWare. There could be something in it for Novell if Caldera not only dents MSFT's armour but actually wins.
ddj.com
The one and only rememdy the DOJ should seek when they do "win" the antitrust case against MSFT should be to open their findings to the public. Disclose everything for the consumers to know what they have uncovered about MSFT. This alone would cause more good than any other "remedy" currently being talked over.
There's no need to split MSFT - this would actually hurt the computer industry in my opinion. In one perspective, Windows was a great thing - it focused computer development and design onto one platform. It lowered the barrier for many innovations. Great! Applause please...but can we allow them to control this important gateway any longer?
Shouldn't Windows now become "free" [or nearly free] since it's the de facto standard on PCs? I mean think about it - there's software hardcoded into many appliances and devices that's standardized for component compatibility, why shouldn't a desktop OS be the same? Future PCs will no longer need a bloated OS feature packed with enough code to choke Godzilla :)
With the DOJ opening their evidence to public scrutiny, it will also open the door for other suits against MSFT by consumers as well as other companies. In the end, Windows source code should be opened to all developers with the same level of access MSFT's applications division has. This will level the playing field. In this scenario, MSFT could still maintain a licensing fee for Windows.
What it would surrender is it's intimate knowledge of undocumented source code which aids it's products performance and compatibility. It will also surrender it's efforts to add product features into the OS instead of their products thus cutting off any competitor's research and development. Let's remember, MSFT beat IBM not because of a better product but by fooling them into thinking they were working together on the next generation OS when in reality, MSFT was working on Windows and leaving IBM at the altar.
So, there's no need for regulations. No need for new laws or an over-sight agency. The software industry will be free to "govern" itself without fear of the government.
MSFT didn't create a better mousetrap, it bullied its way into that perception and role. If you don't believe that, you haven't spent enough time reading the evidence (not only from this case but from other cases) or I must be from another planet :)
Let them compete fairly in the marketplace and see what happens. The last 5 years, they've had the luxury of little if any competition. The next 5 years will really tell the tale of how good Mr. Gates and his army really are. So let's not jump and say they've already proven this for they really haven't.
IMHO MSFT faces some fairly interesting competition from SUN/AOL, 3COMS PalmPilot, Novell's NDS, IBM WebSphere, Oracle's DB, RealNetworks, and a few others who aren't so mainstream. This will make for an interesting next 5 years.... :)
Peter J Strifas |
