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Subject: Re: What are you talking about?

Author: Adam Oellermann

Date: 22:57:32 08/08/01

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On August 08, 2001 at 15:36:42, Miguel A. Ballicora wrote:

>On August 08, 2001 at 14:33:45, Scott Gasch wrote:
>
>>On August 08, 2001 at 04:52:12, Ricardo Gibert wrote:
>>
>>>It makes a difference if they are a monopoly.
>>
>>Why?  First, how can you call MS a monopoly?  In my opinion, that's crap.  The
>>court has ruled they are a monopoly in the "desktop operating system market".
>>What the hell is that?  There are plenty of other OSes out there and the
>>division between "desktop" and "server" is blurred: Linux, FreeBSD, BeOs,
>>Solaris, NetBSD, SCO, OSX, etc...
>>
>>But let's assume you're right.  MS is a monopoly.  And let's ignore the question
>>of why they are a monopoly (which, in my opinion, is because they have built a
>>product that people like and buy).  There are plenty of other monopolies: the
>>post office, the phone/power/water company, the cable company, whatever.  There
>
>The post office is a state monopoly which is very different because you
>are represented in it, when you vote. That makes a huge difference!. Anyway,
>state monopolies are not good either, that's the reason why UPS, Fedex and the
>like are encouraged to cover some of areas where they can improve.
>The phone companies are not a monopoly anymore, it was long time ago with AT&T
>and it was a huge problem until the goverment decide it to divide it. In fact,
>that is what they want with microsoft. Locally, the phone, water and cable
>companies are small monopolies but they have to renegotite the contracts, so
>they are being examined all the time. If they do not fullfill the requirements
>the contract could be void. Still, cable companies now they have to compete with
>dishes and that it good.
>
>>are also a lot of other large companies that control commanding shares of their
>>market.  By your logic it is ok to rip these guys off because they are
>>successful.
>
>A monopoly is never good, is against the basis of the free market. If a company
>reached the status of a monopoly, the government (i.e. us) should take care that
>it is not being done with dirty tactics. For instance, in many places you cannot
>sell products cheaper than their cost to destroy the competition.
>
>>If you dislike a company or their product, why are you using it?  Windows 9x
>>crashes every 20 minutes?  Here's a clue: use something else.  In the case of
>                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>It does not work when you have a monopoly, the rules of the free market do not
>work anymore! choice is not a real option!
>Try to buy a computer and say that you wanted without the OS and you want the
>price of the OS discounted.
>
>>MS, you do have a choice.  Several, in fact.  Every user who doesn't send their
>>$100 to Redmond helps erode the so-called "monopoly".  Speak with your
>>pocketbook.  But don't rob a company whose empire *you helped build* and then
>>justify it by saying they are a monopoly.
>
>Robbing is not good, but the whole thread started with a complaint, which
>I believe is healtful.
>
>Regards,
>Miguel

Hi Miguel,

I usually buy computers without an OS, and without the price of an OS included.
Of course, I don't by from Dell or Compaq, but this idea that you can't get a PC
without a license for Windows is just nonsense. At worst, buy the parts and
assemble it yourself.

- Adam



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