Windows release sparks complaints

FT ^ | 05/06/09 | Richard Waters and Nikki Tait

[TigerLikesRooster]

Windows release sparks complaints

By Richard Waters in San Francisco and Nikki Tait in Brussels

Published: May 6 2009 19:49 | Last updated: May 6 2009 23:29

Microsoft has stirred up fresh complaints of anti-competitive behaviour with its release this week of a late-stage trial version of the next Windows PC operating system.

The complaints, from some of the leading makers of web browsers, look set to intensify the software company’s regulatory headaches just as it is seeking to head off swingeing anti-trust action from the European Commission over a related issue.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[pnh102]

Microsoft has stirred up fresh complaints of anti-competitive behaviour with its release this week of a late-stage trial version of the next Windows PC operating system.

This crap again? Who in their right mind still thinks that Windows has no competition? If you don't like Windows, go buy a Mac or use Linux. Problem solved.

And besides, isn't every business by definition anti-competitive? Most businesses would love to be the sole supplier of product/service in their given industry and engage in all sorts of vendor lockin practices to advance this position.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Which basically means that pro-business does not necessarily mean pro-market economy, a point frequently lost in debates.

Market economy benefits from competition. If a business have its dream come true, having total monopoly of a market, it is no longer the free market economy, especially since it would be able to set huge barrier to any entry by a new business.

[Right Wing Assault]

Ah. Swingeing.

[djf]

Well, after you go through a complete reinstall of Windows AND every other third party product you have AND migrate whatever personal data you have (spreadsheets, JPG;s, whatever) to the new system, THEN next March they start hitting you with a “Ya now got two weeks to cough up XXXXXXX??????? dollars to go on or you can go back to XP (no longer supported, so don’t even bother calling us).

Lotsa happy campers out there!

MS has almost outlived it’s usefullness.
A computer is like a screwdriver. I need email, a few of the Office type functions, HTML, and SECURITY.

99% of computer users in this country don’t know what an interrupt is or have ever coded a single line of assembler (which, I admit is a dumb statement, because s single line of assembler will not really do anything).

MS is losing because Apple knows that the end result will be a handheld unit.

A handheld unit that is a phone. A handheld unit that can access the web. A hand held unit that can output wirelessly to your HD TV or stereo at the same time. A handled unit that operates (independently of the web) as an email client.
A hendheld unit that is COMPLETELY programmable in terms of upgrades that NEVER, EVER loses or obsoletes the formats of your own personal data contained.

That’s what it takes. Not another stupid Icon in MS-Office.

[Straight Vermonter]

I need email, a few of the Office type functions, HTML, and SECURITY.

I hear ya. Anyone with a device that will browse the web can use web mail and the Google "office" products online. Who needs MS?

I don't know if a handheld will be the eventual winner. I think you are correct though that more and more people will stop buying powerful computers that "do it all" and go to simpler devices. All I need is access the web pages that will do the things I need.

[djf]

Handheld gives you portability.

Soccer moms want portability so they can watch their soccer spawn.

[southlake_hoosier]

More socialist propaganda. There are choices. MS just happens to be the biggest and everyone wants a part of it.

Not much different than our own govt taking over GM. MS bad, our rules, good.

[FreePaul]

...reinstall of Windows AND every other third party product you have...

Will "every other third party product" work with a new version of Windows? Maybe, maybe not. Will there be drivers available for hardware attached to your computer? A new version of the operating system can cost many times more than initial cost if you have to buy new software and hardware.

[dennisw]

I have Windows 7 on a laptop and it works great. Just downloaded the latest beta and will slap that on today-tomorrow.

Win7 will demolish Apple
Get ready to short it

[Glenn]

or have ever coded a single line of assembler

nop;

That's a single line that does nothing.

[Fresh Wind]

Aw, Jeez...

[djf]

Cost-Benefit.

What will a new version of Windows do that XP or Pro 2000 won’t?

They are probably even more tighter wrapped up with DRM. And there are probably as many, if not more, security holes.

And what would I get additional out of the whole damn mess?

Unless it does my laundry or scrubs my toilet when I’m sleepin, I don’t need it.

When hardware meets content providers, then you have the solution.

That leaves MS up the creek without a paddle.

[Hardastarboard]

I like the way MSFT chose to change the interfaces on so many of their Vista programs so that everything you previously knew is obsolete and you have to learn a new interface. Who’s going to compensate all the businesses that use MSFT programs for the lost productivity due to the learning curve? But, hey - at least MSFT’s marketing department can hand out the “all new” BS for their programs.

[djf]

Lol!

Good un!

I’ve zapped a few nop’s in my life, so can hard;y say that is does nothing!!

[djf]

Big Blue learned that one a long time ago.

NEVER, EVER obsolete something.
NEVER make a user interface fail due to an upgrade.
ALWAYS maintain backwards compatibility.

That’s why generations of businesses/computer users have relied on them.

But some companies want to go with the latest flash-in-the-pan Tweeter hot-stuff-for-a-minute thing.

Think generations ahead, not weeks or months.

[Airwinger]

Where is the “O Jezz, not this shit again!” guy when ya need him.
Converted to a “mac” about a year ago, and will NEVER return to MS as a primary OS again. BTW, Windows XP runs better on my Macbook than it ever did before. And don’t give me that, they are just too expensive garbage either, got a 2.4g with 2megs, free bag, free fusion (to run windows), and IWork 09 for 930.00

flame away......

[WVKayaker]

...Win7 will demolish Apple Get ready to short it

Maybe you didn't get the news. MS doesn't make computers. As for Sys7 from MS, I have an 8 yr old Mac, running OSX3.9, and some 8 yr old software. They are linked in a home network, and can easily use data from programs in both computers, with different OS versions.

At least we know you are tenacious, DW. You never fail to show up to support the unsupportable. Where you went wrong is anybody's guess...

[hoosier hick]

I like the way MSFT chose to change the interfaces on so many of their Vista programs so that everything you previously knew is obsolete and you have to learn a new interface.

This is just an extension of the "planned obsolescence" concept that began (to my knowledge) in business schools in the 80's. This is one of my pet peeves. New buzz words are created by academics and treated as "new concepts" when they are re-packaged, old ideas. Anyone remember "paradigm shift?" I struggled to find someone who could explain to me what it meant (looking at something from a different perspective), but there was no shortage of people using the phrase.

Microsoft seems to view itself as an industry leader in dumb ideas. I recently took a course on software development where they glorified a concept called "perpetual beta" - meaning that a product is never really finished, just always a work-in-progress. Reminded me a lot of the whole Vista fiasco. Likely the Microsoft people don't see a problem with Vista because us Neanderthals out here don't understand "modern software development"......

hh