Microsoft

[mig]

Washington,Nov 1

Microsoft and the Justice Dept. reached a tentative settlement
Wednesday in the landmark antitrust trial.

The agreement would reportedly force the software company to
end restrictive deals with computer makers,release some of the software codes for Internet Explorer,and offer versions of
Windows with and without added features such as MNS Messenger.


So,what's in it for me?.

 

[miles]

What right do you have to get something out of it?

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Washington,Nov 1

Microsoft and the Justice Dept. reached a tentative settlement
Wednesday in the landmark antitrust trial.

The agreement would reportedly force the software company to
end restrictive deals with computer makers,release some of the software codes for Internet Explorer,and offer versions of
Windows with and without added features such as MNS Messenger.


So,what's in it for me?.

Increased competition and choice. I did not have a problem with MS bundling anything with their OS, but I do have a problem with their practices of bullying computer manufacturers/resellers, software resellers and software developers into either only offering or using their products.

 

[Laurel]

Shy Tall Guy, once again, said it best. I'm pro-business, which means I'm anti-monopoly. Anyone who claims to be pro-business yet supports corporate welfare and government-aided monopolies is full of shit, as both are not at all in the spirit of the free market.

 

[mig]

What right?

None at all.

Just another greedy bastard.

 

[miles]

mig

LMAO!!!!!!

 

[miles]

Laurel

Please define corporate welfare.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: Laurel

Please define corporate welfare.

I am too lazy right now to give a definition, but I will give an example; a subsidy.

 

[miles]

STG

what is a subsidy, Laurel, and when did the government give one to Microsoft?

 

[GuyJD]

This was the same matter with Cox Cable and many of your utility companies. I hate businesses that offer services but there is no competition to consider. Basically, if you want their services/products but you don't like their asking price, then that's just touch titty.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: STG

what is a subsidy?

a grant by a government to a private person or company to assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public

 

[Laurel]

I don't recall mentioning a Microsoft bailout, but maybe your much keener eyes saw I post I made that I missed.

The airline bailout is an example of corporate welfare. The airlines did not institute adequate safety precautions, hence 9/11, hence people stop flying, and the airlines lose money. Firestone tires knowingly sells a defective product, and people stop buying that product. In this way, market forces keep business honest and protect the consumer. Badly run or unethical companies fall; companies which serve the consumer do rise. Businesses are pressured to improve their safety standards or their product quality, to the consumer's advantage.

In corporate welfare, businesses who sell bad products or screw consumers don't feel the repercussions of their actions. The government writes them a big check which enables them to continue business as usual. It's odd to me that the same people who rail against welfare to citizens who mishandle their finances have no problem with giving money to big corporations who mishandle THEIR finances.

I don't happen to believe that private citizens are less important to the country's economic health than corporations. But Congress disagrees. Only 30% of the recently approved Tax Relief package went to private citizens. The rest went to big corporations who financed political campaigns on both sides of the aisle.

 

[Guest]

i hate iexplorer but netscape sux too.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

It's odd to me that the same people who rail against welfare to citizens who mishandle their finances have no problem with giving money to big corporations who mishandle THEIR finances.

Do not include me in that group; I object "welfare" of any kind for the very same reasons you quoted for "corporate welfare"; it interferes with the natural order of the marketplace and life. Substitute "private citizen" for "company" and "corporate" and you basically have my argument against "welfare" of any type.

Moreover, and more to the point, I also object to government sponsored "welfare" (subsidies) on the principle that wealth redistribution for whatever reason is not the job of a properly constituted government.

 

[miles]

Laurel

The airlines revenue didnt drop because they failed to take safety precautions. Business was already far below projections due to the economic slowdown. Sept. 11 hurt all businesses, including the airlines.

Bailing out the airlines has more to do with national security than "corporate welfare." If the airlines go under, the military couldn't possibly transport the numbers of troops needed in wartime. All of them don't fly airplanes, travel by boat, or use parachutes. Even without the war, if the airlines cease to exist the economy would nosedive even further.

In corporate welfare, businesses who sell bad products or screw consumers don't feel the repercussions of their actions. The government writes them a big check which enables them to continue business as usual

Like who?

If you're going to talk about corporate welfare, where is the outcry over the U.S. Postal Service? They are a guaranteed monopoly which is still in business despite lousy service. No other entity is allowed to deliver first class mail. Unlike private industry, they don't reduce their workforce when revenues drop. I don't know the exact numbers, but no one sends letters anymore, and with people paying bills and getting magazines on line, and companies like UPS delivering packages, they won't be needed. Do you think for a minute the government won't prop them up?

 

[modest mouse]

Microsoft?

Oh shit....a business thread, I though you were talking about my Penis!




(Sorry, bad joke, but someone had to say it.)

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Microsoft and what is it good for?

Do you know Georgia pacific has a monopoly on all products made from trees Paper, Toilet paper, stationary, plywood, drywall and no one wines about them as much.

I admit I don't have a clue what IM talking about.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: Microsoft and what is it good for?

Do you know Georgia pacific has a monopoly on all products made from trees Paper, Toilet paper, stationary, plywood, drywall and no one wines about them as much.

I admit I don't have a clue what IM talking about.

It is a good thing you admitted that - as I was going to point out that there are a few other companies that compete in that arena rather well; like Weyerhauser, Boise Cascade, Pope & Talbot, and a number of others.

 

[modest mouse]

Georgia Pacific

I think the difference is that Georgia Pacific isnt quite so diligent/militant about actively keeping out others. Whereas Microsoft doesnt seem to so much maintain a monopoly by domination, but by the secondary effect of simply shutting out other software companies by essentially determining the make up of PCs.

Of course, all this from someone who doesnt read the Wall Street Journal other than when it is used to pack boxes.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

Re: Georgia Pacific

I think the difference is that Georgia Pacific isnt quite so diligent/militant about actively keeping out others. Whereas Microsoft doesnt seem to so much maintain a monopoly by domination, but by the secondary effect of simply shutting out other software companies by essentially determining the make up of PCs.

Of course, all this from someone who doesnt read the Wall Street Journal other than when it is used to pack boxes.

Don't worry; you got it basically right - take it from someone who knows MS rather well (you can't turn around here without bumping into someone who works at MS).

 

[WriterDom]

Re: Laurel

If you're going to talk about corporate welfare, where is the outcry over the U.S. Postal Service? They are a guaranteed monopoly which is still in business despite lousy service. No other entity is allowed to deliver first class mail. Unlike private industry, they don't reduce their workforce when revenues drop. I don't know the exact numbers, but no one sends letters anymore, and with people paying bills and getting magazines on line, and companies like UPS delivering packages, they won't be needed. Do you think for a minute the government won't prop them up?

If the government isn't propping them up who is? They lost 199 million in 2000. I don't know that they have ever turned a profit.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Learn something new every day

Shy Tall Guy thank you for going easy on me for that post it wasn't thought out to well

What and Who are Microsoft's competitors if I may ask?

 

[Spinaroonie]

i hate iexplorer but netscape sux too.

Then use opera or the iCab.

 

[Spinaroonie]

Re: Learn something new every day

Shy Tall Guy thank you for going easy on me for that post it wasn't thought out to well

What and Who are Microsoft's competitors if I may ask?

Every software publisher in existance. MS has a bad little habit of seeing when a new company announces a groundbreaking technology or something innovative, they will announce that they have been working on the exact same thing for months! (Just don't ask them how it works or what it does) Then the new company's capital dries up cos' most VC's don't like to compete against MS and the company dies.

If MS did not have such practices we'd be ten years ahead, technologically than we are now. They have been holding us back.

Ever hear of bluetooth? Wireless technology. It cans the air for other devices you own and interacts with them automatically. The laptop in your trunk of your car can connect with the cellphone in your pocket and send email you have qued to send, if you want to send while you drive. MS is working very hard to just make bluetooth disappear? Why? Nobody has the slightest, except for the sole reason is that it does not belong to them and thus they can't control it.

 

[miles]

WriterDom

I'm pretty sure they've been profitable for several years - don't have any facts to support that, just my decaying brain. Either way, I'm sure the productivity of the Postal Workers was a major factor.