To: Charles Hughes who wrote (14035 ) 11/11/1997 4:09:00 AM From: Daniel Schuh Read Replies (3) | Respond to
Gates: unbundling Explorer would "Balkanize" Windows infoworld.com "PC manufacturers are free to differentiate their products from one another in many ways, including by adding their choice of software products -- but modifying Windows is not one of them," Gates wrote. "Without a uniform Windows installation, end users could not be sure of the performance of the integrated operating system, and Microsoft could not stand behind its product. Furthermore, Windows would become Balkanized, like the many incompatible versions of Unix." Supporting browsing capabilities in Windows is a logical and incremental step in the evolution of the operating system, Gates also wrote. He added that Microsoft competitors are busy adding operating system-type features, such as printing documents and running applications, into their Web browsers. "In this instance, the interests of the consumer seem to be less important than the complaints of a handful of our competitors who want the government to help them compete -- by preventing Microsoft from enhancing its products. The Justice Department's position is akin to the government telling personal computer manufacturers that they can't include word processing, spreadsheet or e-mail capability in PCs because it would be unfair to typewriter, calculator and courier companies." Gates' World Wide Web site can be found at microsoft.com .
