Very Computer

"The Economist,"  (until now one of Mr. Bill's favorite reads) is laying a
little more on M$ at:
http://www.economist.com/editorial/freeforall/microsoft_case/ld5082.html

The article makes a good point, one that shouldn't be lost on anyone
wanting to participate in a free software/haredare marketplace:

"Has the appeal courts ruling made the DoJs job harder?  Possibly, but
even if it has, the case is still worth pursuing. There are plenty of signs
that Microsoft is behaving more cautiously and less aggressively. It has
torn up exclusionary contracts with ISPs and is now negotiating
constructively with PC makers who want to customize the first screen of
their computers and add features of their ownsomething which
Microsoft would have abhorred in the past. An antitrust investigation is
like being followed by a police car.  The driver obeys the speed limits,
signals punctiliously, treats other road users courteously. Although the
antitrust action against IBM in the 1970s was ultimately aborted, it
treated a politer Big Blueto the advantage of both computing and
consumers."
Tim Hanson

: The article makes a good point, one that shouldn't be lost on anyone
: wanting to participate in a free software/haredare marketplace:

: "Has the appeal courts ruling made the DoJs job harder?  Possibly, but
: even if it has, the case is still worth pursuing. There are plenty of signs
: that Microsoft is behaving more cautiously and less aggressively. It has
: torn up exclusionary contracts with ISPs and is now negotiating
: constructively with PC makers who want to customize the first screen of
: their computers and add features of their ownsomething which
: Microsoft would have abhorred in the past. An antitrust investigation is
: like being followed by a police car.  The driver obeys the speed limits,
: signals punctiliously, treats other road users courteously. Although the
: antitrust action against IBM in the 1970s was ultimately aborted, it
: treated a politer Big Blueto the advantage of both computing and
: consumers."

Now that the Win95 DOJ case was thrown out, MS is back to their old
exclusionary licensing...  This according to a Bill G interview I
read, coincidentally, I believe, on the "Economist"...