Linked by David Adams on Tue 23rd Aug 2005 16:37 UTC, submitted by kellym
The antitrust regulator in South Korea will begin a crucial hearing on Tuesday (Monday evening US time) to determine whether Microsoft violated the country's fair trade rules by bundling its instant messenger and Media Player programs into its Windows XP platform. Officials have been reticent about whether the regulator, the Fair Trade Commission, will rule on the case after a closed hearing of two days. The commission held a closed hearing in July to listen to arguments from Microsoft and its local competitors, but it has not clarified how many more hearings it will need before ruling.
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Member since:
2005-07-06
You have all hit the nail on the head.
The are bundling their own software with the OS. Now they do not make it easy to remove their software.
This is a problem in itself.
Now, say I install Windows, and I want to chat online... Oh look, I got an instant messenger here, I will use that....
I need to write a letter, Oh look, I got an Office suite here, I will use that.
I want to watch a film, OK I will use this Media Player that is installed.
Now.
I could download ICQ, but why bother ?
I could download Zoomplayer, but why bother ?
I could download OpenOffice, but why bother ?
User apathy is one reason that Microsoft is so dominant.
Another is vendor lock-in.... Not just actual lock-in, but perceived lock-in.
Let me give an example of what I mean.
You create a vbs program, you need vbs to run that program.
you create an access database, you need access to work with it.
Those are two actual vendor lock-ins. They are fair enough
However, perceived vendor lock-in is something completely different.
I need to buy Microsoft Office so I can write documents that my work collegues need to see. It has to be Microsoft Office because thats what we use at work.
If I download OpenOffice, no-one will be able to read my documents, they all use Microsoft Office.
I can't use Firefox because my Bank/Building Society/ Wargame club do not let any browser accept IE connect, "for security reason"...
All my friends chat on Windows Messenger... "What do you mean there is more IM programs" ?
I could go on, but I think you get my point.