> > What do you believe are the *minimum* concessions
> ...These are what I see as the initial *minimum*
> concessions:
>
> (1) Unbundle the browser *user interface* immediately and forever.
Welcome to the X/Open UI -rentals- page!?
> (2) Require Microsoft to *facilitate* OEM customization such as boot
> and desktop screens.
> (3) Require Microsoft to allow OEM customers to *suppress* all MS
> branding if desired.
> (4) Define "operating system" and prohibit mandatory bundling of MS
> non-OS and OS products.
Yes, no, why?
> (5) Require Microsoft to immediately halt its tying and exclusionary
> licensing practices.
Are these what's wrong? I look back on most licenses I've seen andit's a
wonder MS even paid a lawyer to cobble them out; but then
I haven't licensed SQL anything.
> (6) Separate Microsoft into 3 companies: OS, applications, and content
> / services.
Which one handles joysticks and which funds civic services?
(7) Enforce strict "Chinese Wall" between MS operating companies thus
created.
How're they gonna develop anything?
> .....This whole thing pains me greatly, as I'm essentially a free
> marketer/libertarian at heart.
_Free_ libertarians are consultants who have princedoms in Syria?
> The crux of the problem is that free market
> requires just that --- a free market --- and a market dominated by a
> single player is not free.
It's true that the Ayn Rand Bootstrap theorem just doesn't work well.I.e.,
technologies have a rep and science little; one property is an
island (an undersea mountain of strength?); a product isn't real
until it outperforms similar compounding properties.
Is that the sort of exclusionary licensing you saw?
> Nonetheless, natural monopoly isn't
> necessarily a bad thing --- and make no mistake, Microsoft is
> *essentially* a monopoly --- but I do *not* believe that Microsoft is a
> natural monopoly.
What, with the BEST damn asexual force-feedback devices?(also: You'd think
they could give away USB more successfully
than they seem to have. http://www.usbstuff.com/ has solar
panels to supplement your smart keyboards and smart mice,
plus very expensive ways to add serial ports. Wait, there's
a monitor (?!) and a chance to buy Phillips speakers. No NICs
at all.)
> ...anticompetitive through leveraging parts of the
> Microsoft business to support other parts.
Lawyers on the bus
> ...where products compete on technical merit --- i.e., a free market.
...full of Digital Ego buyers. May as well integrate with pooltablesand
silk rugs; or, if you like that and want your own Architectural
Digest, I could feed you a "0 power" solution integrated with paint
and ceiling treatments....
http://www.radiancecomfort.com/radiance/product/
http://www.ceilings.com/commercial/americas/news/weidt.html