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Microsoft: Browser Can't Be Removed
AP | 3/05/02 | D. IAN HOPPER

Posted on 03/04/2002 11:14:46 PM PST by kattracks

WASHINGTON, Mar 05, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Microsoft Corp.'s chief executive and the top executive involved with its Windows operating system are sticking with a position the company has held since the outset of the four-year antitrust case: They cannot pull the Internet Explorer Web browser out of Windows.

Nine states suing Microsoft for antitrust violations want to force the company to offer a version of Windows without the browser and other added features.

That would allow computer makers to install competitors' products, if they chose, without taking on the added cost of supporting both products. Currently, Microsoft's ubiquitous Windows has a leg up on competitors vying for the hearts of consumers and software designers.

In a videotaped deposition released Monday, Microsoft vice president and Windows chief Jim Allchin said Microsoft has "no way" to remove the browser from the company's flagship operating system.

"I couldn't do what you've got here," said Allchin, suffering from a severe cold. "Forget about any business thing. Technically I just couldn't do it."

Allchin said the company has done no studies to see if it could be done.

He referred to an especially embarrassing part of Microsoft's case, in which the company showed a videotape to make the argument that Windows would be damaged if a user attempted to remove the Internet Explorer Web browser. Microsoft later admitted the demonstration computer was rigged.

"Do you have any expectation as to whether or not you will be putting together a similar demonstration for this part of the case?" state lawyers asked.

"Not exactly like that one," Allchin said.

Steve Ballmer, a college friend of company founder Bill Gates and current chief executive officer, said Microsoft would be forced to offer an infinite number of Windows versions under the states' demands, all with or without extra features.

Ballmer said if the states should prevail with their demands, the decision would serve the interests of neither computer manufacturers nor users.

Instead, Ballmer said companies like Sun Microsystems, whose relationship with Microsoft is notoriously prickly, would dedicate themselves to frustrating Microsoft engineers.

"Sun Microsystems (can) go buy 10,000 copies, and they can have people just sit there and generate work requests to us every minute of every day," Ballmer said. "Somebody could say, 'Look, I want to make Microsoft's life miserable; so I'll tell you what, I'll pay you $10 million a year to torture Microsoft."'

The nine states revised their proposed penalties Monday. The new version reflects many complaints leveled by Ballmer and other executives.

For example, Microsoft would have to offer only one stripped-down version of Windows instead of many different ones.

Ballmer complained that it would be too expensive to build a version of the Java programming language to package with Windows, as requested by the states. The states clarified that Microsoft wouldn't have to bear those costs.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the modifications "clarify and sharpen our proposed remedies, without weakening them."

"The modified measures should deflate Microsoft's overblown rhetoric and apocalyptic predictions about the proposed remedies," Blumenthal said.

Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, would not comment on the changes.

"It appears to be a number of changes made very late," Smith said. The company is still reviewing the document, he said.

Allchin admitted to lawyers for the states that Microsoft violated the law but refused to specify the violations.

"I don't think that I can summarize those," Allchin said. "I'm not an attorney."

The company faces several allegations of violations that involve infringing on consumer choice and unfairly hurting competitors.

The states' lawyers, Stephen Houck and Mark Breckler, asked if it would be important for the head Windows executive to know what the violations were, so they wouldn't be repeated.

"Well, it's a very complicated area," Allchin said. "Very complicated,"

---

On the Net: Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com

Connecticut Attorney General: http://www.cslib.org/attygenl/

By D. IAN HOPPER AP Technology Writer

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: microsoft; techindex
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1 posted on 03/04/2002 11:14:46 PM PST by kattracks
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To: kattracks
LOL!!!
2 posted on 03/04/2002 11:16:11 PM PST by KantianBurke
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To: kattracks
Jim Allchin's not even a good liar. It can be done on any pre-Windows XP Operating System with Win98lite software.
3 posted on 03/04/2002 11:16:19 PM PST by goldstategop
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To: kattracks
Bump for later reading.
4 posted on 03/04/2002 11:16:46 PM PST by rdb3
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The Operating System-maker is assuming control over which applications are bundled with the OS and which and whether other Apps can run.

"We'll sell you the gas, as long as we get to say which car you use it in, such as our car and those cars that we allow..

Success builds hubris. Will the market say enough - yet?

5 posted on 03/04/2002 11:27:53 PM PST by D-fendr
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To: kattracks
Nine states suing Microsoft for antitrust violations want to force the company to offer a version of Windows without the browser and other added features.

They're also suing GM and want to force the company to offer vehicles without tires, seat covers and paint

6 posted on 03/04/2002 11:32:37 PM PST by GeronL
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To: KantianBurke
computer hardware sellers would not be allowed to offer keyboards and mouses (mice?) with the computer
7 posted on 03/04/2002 11:33:17 PM PST by GeronL
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To: D-fendr
You can buy your gas elsewhere

but you'll be forced to sell other peoples gas

8 posted on 03/04/2002 11:34:19 PM PST by GeronL
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To: kattracks
They cannot pull the Internet Explorer Web browser out of Windows.

They merged the "my computer" and "internet explorer" programs to get the "windows explorer," which is now standard on all Windows computers. All they would have to do is disable "windows explorer" from being able to access the internet, and the browser would be gone.

9 posted on 03/04/2002 11:47:37 PM PST by xm177e2
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To: kattracks
The only legitimate function of government is to protect individual rights and private property rights.
10 posted on 03/05/2002 12:03:17 AM PST by Zon
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To: D-fendr
I have a windows machine running windows 2k. I am posting this using netcape. Tell the author of this piece he is an obvious moron.
11 posted on 03/05/2002 12:06:45 AM PST by Demidog
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To: xm177e2
private business is no place for government

jusges that don't know a mouse from a floppy drive should not be telling a private company what it can and cannot offer in its own product.

Judge rules Yahoo illegally provides links to personal websites

12 posted on 03/05/2002 12:07:23 AM PST by GeronL
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To: Demidog
good for you

did you need a judge or big government to do that? How many years were you involved in court action for this outcome?

13 posted on 03/05/2002 12:08:30 AM PST by GeronL
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To: GeronL
This whole thing reminds me of the recent Supreme Court ruling where the Supreme court decided that it was more qualified to determine the rules of golf than was the PGA.

Quite disgusting in my opinion.

14 posted on 03/05/2002 12:15:03 AM PST by Demidog
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To: Demidog
I'm with you there
15 posted on 03/05/2002 12:16:57 AM PST by GeronL
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To: GeronL
Good one! LOL!
16 posted on 03/05/2002 12:19:34 AM PST by jwh_Denver
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To: goldstategop
Jim Allchin's not even a good liar. It can be done on any pre-Windows XP Operating System with Win98lite software.

I have 2 Win98 boxes with NO IE on them!!!

For those of you that can't seem to remember WIN95, The A version DID NOT have IE it was in the Plus Pack, it had to installed from the Plus Pack. The B version IE could be removed. It was not until the C version that MS bound IE to the OS.

Don't give me any crap about IE being a part of the OS. It was became a part of the OS BECAUSE of the Anti-Trust trial.

MS thumbed there nose at the court and bundled it with the OS.

With each and every version of Windows that comes out MS just bundles more and more MS crap with it.

17 posted on 03/05/2002 5:15:19 AM PST by amigatec
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To: xm177e2
"All they would have to do is disable "windows explorer" from being able to access the internet…"

But isn't the plan to have XP phone home on IE regularly in order to know if MS still lets your operating system operate?

18 posted on 03/05/2002 6:39:21 AM PST by D-fendr
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To: kattracks
He referred to an especially embarrassing part of Microsoft's case, in which the company showed a videotape to make the argument that Windows would be damaged if a user attempted to remove the Internet Explorer Web browser. Microsoft later admitted the demonstration computer was rigged.
"Do you have any expectation as to whether or not you will be putting together a similar demonstration for this part of the case?" state lawyers asked.
"Not exactly like that one," Allchin said.

Does that mean you will rig it some other way this time?

19 posted on 03/05/2002 6:41:53 AM PST by steve-b
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To: GeronL
computer hardware sellers would not be allowed to offer keyboards and mouses (mice?) with the computer

The key word here is "offer". Microsoft doesn't "offer" a browser. You can't by Windows without a browser. I can buy all the computers I want without a keyboard and/or mouse.

20 posted on 03/05/2002 6:42:52 AM PST by FreePaul
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