[Knitebane]

Also, FreeBSD and NetBSD are simply basic OS's, in that they do not pioneer multimedia applications. DirectX (8.1 or 9), OpenGL, plus the whole gauntlet of audio standards are included in MS. And MS must, repeat MUST support a plethora of games and applications; that are not available on FreeBSD or NetBSD.

Xmms and mplayer support more hardware and more multimedia codecs than MS or Real.

The GIMP is used to make Hollywood movies. OpenGL is supported by Linux and FreeBSD. Most Windows games run perfectly fine under Wine. I've been playing both StarCraft and Diablo II for months under Linux. Indeed, Diablo II runs better under Wine on Linux than on Windows.

Sorry, your assertations don't hold up to reality.

Microsoft operating systems work on a single platform and support a fraction of the hardware devices being sold. The vast majority of x86 compatible hardware is well-documented and is well supported on operating systems other than Windows.

The Windows API is not well documented. Therein lies the problem. Stealing customer data will not help Microsoft to better support users. It will let them target software companies for destruction and let them sell the lists to marketing companies.

[George W. Bush]

I suspect extracting info on installed programs is part of M$'s efforts to develop information on which segments of the software market to attack next. Like they are with Media Player and built-in CD burning and their MovieMaker util.

They can look at just the games you've installed and develop info on which games they should develop for particular market segments.

[ArrogantBustard]

Most Windows games run perfectly fine under Wine.

Will you please cite a few examples of games that you, personally, have run perfectly fine or seen running perfectly fine with Wine? Thanks.

[ArrogantBustard]

...Other than StarCraft and Diablo II...