The Microsoft doubters are at it again. Skeptics are questioning Microsoft's ability to deliver on the "Windows Live" strategy outlined recently by Bill Gates and Microsoft CTO Ray Ozzie. If history is a lesson, however, it's a mistake to underestimate Microsoft, a company that has repeatedly shown an ability to catch up to competitors when it falls behind, as it often does.
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Member since:Please explain how a market that is regulated by a monopoly participant is free?
A free market is one in which competition is the primary determinant of the price and availability of goods.
When competition, and/or the capacity to introduce competition disappears, the notion that the market is free also disappears.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:*sigh*. Why do people keep making up their own definition of free market? Is it really that hard to look up? Competition has nothing to do with it; as long as transactions aren't regulated by the government it's a free market.
free market
n.
An economic market in which supply and demand are not regulated or are regulated with only minor restrictions.
Member since:2005-07-10
Microsoft is what is now becoming a "natural monopoly" see here http://www.investorwords.com/3209/natural_monopoly.html .
Your Electric and Natural Gas companies are "natural monopolies". Sometimes having an industry with efficient service models in place REQUIRES a monopoly. 95% or so of the lay people don't want anything else but proven and reliable services. Before you jump on the proven and reliable part of this think for a second that Windows is only 20 years old in the grand scheme of things and Microsoft and the whole software "industry" (I mean Industry) are only a few years older on top of that. This is an evolving process and right now Microsoft seems to be the consumer's industry leader and will probably stay there. You have to realize their place in the industry and the utmost responsibility they have on their shoulders. This isn't business 101 btw.
Member since:2005-07-09
That is a contradiction.
Not really. MS is (or at least should be) getting the treatment that any company in their situation would get. Which means that MS is no exception.
The definition of free is highly individual. One persons freedom might be another persons prision.
A true free market in an idealistic sense does not exist today and will probably never exist, just as true democracy doesn't exist. But the "free market" is generally the term used to describe western economy.
Member since:The term 'free market' is not meant to apply to the sellers, it's supposed to apply to the buyer. The regulations are supposed to protect the buyer's rights to shop freely. So, in turn, heavy regulation does equal free market when the government enforces the regulations.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:
2005-07-06
No those rules will apply to anyone in their situation, it's not a special treatment.
That is a contradiction.
What you're talking about isn't a free market. It is heavily regulated. While I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it is not what a free market is. And by "free", I mean the well accepted definition of free market, not the definition which someone may wish to skew to their liking.