Exactly. It's easy money for the EU as Microsoft are an easy target.
Various other companies don't have to open up their hardware or software so the competition can write better products, why is it any different for Microsoft?
Microsoft must pay $1.4bn to EU
- Thread starter Frapple
- Start date
Various other companies don't have to open up their hardware or software so the competition can write better products, why is it any different for Microsoft?
Yep we do and the money will go into the EC coffers. Well actually the EC doesn't have any funds at all but each month they are given a transfer of funds from the member states so the EC doesn't have a bank and isn't paid once a year.
If they were to get 844 million they would simply ask the member states for less money. So the 844 million would be divided up between the member states and given to you the taxpayer.
The Ipod has approx 85% of the portable music player market, and Apple only lets Itunes and the products sold on itunes work with the Ipod and vice versa. (you can get applications other than itunes to load music onto an ipod, but Apple tends to deliberately break them every firmware update)
If I was MS I would just tell the EU to **** off and stop trading in the EU...see how the EU likes it when they have to buy macs or run *nix...How can microsoft be anti-competition when there are great *nix OS's out there FOR FREE!!!
How much did they get fined? fiver and a free itunes voucher?
Nothing, per sé. IIRC, anyway. But, they will be reducing the cost of songs and albums, so they get less profit.
I'm sorry, did I miss the fact that the iPod is software now?
Also, to correct you. Products sold on iTunes only? What are you smoking? You can use a file from anyway as long as it's a supported file type.
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Nothing to do with that why don't you read up on the reasons?
The bundled no OS programmes with their OS thus giving other companies no chance to properly market their software.
Example Windows Media Player, if you have it you are not going to look for a third party one, especially one that costs money.
Giving away software = ok
bundling it with an OS = not ok
How is basic file interpretation and organisation not an OS function?
Things like a media player and a web browser are so basic these days they have to be considered basic OS functionality.
What benefit does removing basic functionality from an operating system have for the consumer?
Tell me why Microsoft felt the need to integrate IE into Windows so much then? To provide a better web browser?
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Do you not understand what a vertical monopoly is?
And can I use Itunes purchased songs on my creative Zen?
Does apple allow me to use software other than Itunes to load information onto my Ipod?
[TW]Fox;11186934 said:
Correct not allowing other people the necessary access to the OS means they cannot build their software to work correctly with the OS.
Since MS have a dominant market share not allowing access to their OS means they can control the software market through their control of the OS market.
I know the reasons thanks.
I'm as much a fan of open source software as the next average linux joe. But why people think its ok to give away software is beyond me. Why is it not ok to bundle your software with your operating system.
If you want the caveat that you must open your operating system code so that people can write better applications for it, fair enough, which is why I'm a big fan of open source. But free software?
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No, excuse me for not being an economist.
Not in m4p format no. I would go into more detail, but alas, I like my account.
Yes...? Winamp for one. RealPlayer also provided this, not sure if it still does or not.
You do not have to buy an ipod!
There is no market for alternatives to XP/VISTA thus you have to design your software for these two OSes.
It's not the same competition.
Sort of - it's because Explorer also uses a lot of the same DLLs IE does, so when IE starts most of the stuff it needs is already in memory and it doesn't have to be fetched off disk. Firefox is never likely to benefit from that - even if Microsoft were to go as far as going open source - and honestly I wouldn't want it to.
As it happens, Vista's Superfetch gives other apps (inc. Firefox) similar fast loading benefits. For example, the speed PSP (a notoriously slow app to start) loads on my Vista laptop compared to my XP desktop needs to be seen to be believed.
Because, when they first did it, IE and file exploration was integrated, in a move designed for reduced bloat and a more consistant user experience. Also having IE as a basic OS function allows other programs to use web functionality more easily, ditto media player functionality.
This is now being moved away from in Vista, with IE protected mode and so on, but that was the rationale behind it originally, to make it more user friendly and familiar.
Media files aren't basic files. Neither is web browsing a basic file interpretation.
I really don't get it. The bundled software with the operating system makes it that much better and easier to use (i.e. for novice users). Microsoft have invested billions into there operating system developing every part of it so why should they give away the keys to the door so to speak. It's not stopped people developing on there operating system at all.
I personally believe this is just to make money. If I were Microsoft I'd move to my own island and sell the software via import only and if anyone doesn't like it they don't buy it - the EU can try and find another company to wangle cash out of.
Apple with there Macs and iPods are much more anti-competitive than any other company and they'll probably get a slap on the wrists.
M.
I personally believe this is just to make money. If I were Microsoft I'd move to my own island and sell the software via import only and if anyone doesn't like it they don't buy it - the EU can try and find another company to wangle cash out of.
Apple with there Macs and iPods are much more anti-competitive than any other company and they'll probably get a slap on the wrists.
M.
Fair enough.