OSNews

OSX runs on x86, so how does Microsoft have a monopoly in the "x86" OS market? Note that in the DOJ/MS case, Macs still ran on PPCs, so the judge was able to rule out Macs from the "x86" market, but today Macs run on x86. The "monopoly" that the judge declared back then isn't in effect today. Also note that the MS/DOJ settlment expired, so MS is no longer under any anti-trust monopoly regulations, not in the US anyway.

If someone is going to bring some "anti-trust" law suit, they are going to have to prove, all over again, that Windows is a monoply OS TODAY, not yesterday, but TODAY. That means that they're going to have to deal with the fact that OSX runs on x86, and LOTS of people use it (on TV, all you see are Mac Books anymore). The idea that Microsoft has monopoly control on x86 OSes today is laughable. "

I tried to mod you up, but OSNews claims I have already modded you o_o Someone seems to have modded you down just because they don't like you or your message, behaviour that I do not condone of.

Anyways, you are indeed correct: the verdict about Microsoft's monopoly status has expired and therefore going through antitrust lawsuits would require enormours amounts of effort. Microsoft would probably still fulfill the requirements for it to be re-declared a monopoly even with Apple around -- after all, Apple only sells their OS for their OWN hardware, not for general consumption, and their market share is still barely a blip in the radar -- and would possibly face some sanctions, but it doesn't look like there is enough incentive for anyone to sue them on antitrust-grounds. Also, even in theory if Microsoft were re-declared a monopoly and faced some sanctions I doubt they would be sanctioned for what Intel did here: the CPU can and does run Linux just fine, Intel is only saying they do not provide official support for it nor do they plan to add support for the advanced features to the Linux-kernel, and as it is not against the law not to support every possible OS out there... well, you get the drift.

Dont worry. Being modded down makes you stand out of the crowd. Infact it prompts me to actually read the posts in question.

MollyC
Microsoft has over 80% of the desktop market. Microsoft recently forced OEMs to add secure boot to their motherboards to support what is currently only a Windows technology by threatening them with the loss of their advertising budgets. With 80% market share, Microsoft is still able to sway the industry to its benefit. Depending on market conditions, these current actions could be considered anti competitive. If this new Atom processor will only run Windows, it is effective locking Linux out of this portion of the market. Intel is also constantly under scrutiny by the DOJ due to its market share. So maybe it will be Intel that gets investigated, instead of Microsoft.

I wish I hadn't already commented or I would have modded you up as well. As I posted above, this really isn't a big deal. Those of us who actually care enough to get offended should just buy AMD or some ARM based tablet and get their Android/Linux jones that way. At some point Intel will get the message and will play ball again, or else they will continue to appease Microsoft and turn the FOSS world towards AMD. I don't see a world-ending catastrophe either way.