Comments on: Microsoft vows to play fair

Self-regulation for Vista and all future Windows versions will bolster competition and customer choice, it says.

[Captain_Spock]

"Under the principles,....

... users and manufacturers will be free to change any default settings, to install any software, and to remove key Windows features as they please, Smith said. Developers will enjoy access to a broader range of application programming interfaces, or APIs, and anyone will be able to license Microsoft's communications protocol or patents, within certain parameters."; so, of what interest are these if an "OS/2 World" is all that matters! Also, how about Microsoft freeing up those OS/2 Source-Codes it most probably have in its possession. DUH!

[R Me]

IBM

has the latest source code, not M$. Better hurry, support dies 12/31/06

[Dalkorian]

Gee, thanks

Wow. Micro$loth now acknowledges my rights to my own
computer, my right to set it up as I see fit. How nice of them.

I assume that's as long as I allow WGD (Winblows Genuine
Disadvantage) to report my computer's setup and software back
to Redmond. Twice a month, in case my legal version suddenly
becomes illegal. Or in case M$ wants to deny me access to my
own machine.

You know, with Linux on my home machine these "rights" to set
up my own computer are never in question.

[60AmpRelay]

Microsoft vows to play fair

"Microsoft vows to play fair"

Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha! Heh heh heh. Ahhhhh.

Now you tell one.

[catch23]

I don't know

As I sit here using FireFox to surf the web, Picasa2 to organize my pictures, Copernic to index my files (Paint.Net for advanced editing), audacity to work with sound or music, PDFCreator, TMPGEnc, FontFrenzy, AVG, a dozen utilities from SysInternals, (you get the idea)
I wonder, how much more open the Windows platform can become?

[amigabill]

Anyone actually believe this?

MS has proven they don't want to obey antitrust laws, they don't want to comply nicely with imposed penalties required by the US judgement, and they want to find some alternative to paying EU's fines.

Sorry, but after MS has showed for so long how they intend to act, I don'e believe a word of this. I don't believe they are willing or even capable of self-regulating. They say they are willing to license protocols and patents "within certain parameters", which are surely intended to make it akward, difficult, or impossible to include in alternative platforms.

Sorry, Brad, but I don't trust you.

[Tanjore]

Well...better believe

Well they might have realized that it is cheaper to play along than costly litigations!!!

So far they have made more than $5 payments. If they had used the money they could have made better products!!

[qwerty75]

The lie is in the words of MS

"n the broadest sense, I am here to pledge Microsoft's continued commitment to vigorous competition and vital innovation in the software marketplace"

MS has had no commitment, thus contiuning nothing is meaningless.

They have yet to developed anything resembling innovation, much 'vital innovation'.

What a joke.

[Don_Dodge]

Microsoft has changed for the better

On one level this is earth shattering news given the Microsoft of the 80's and 90's. On another, it is just business as usual for the Microsoft of the new millennium. Microsoft has really changed in many ways. It is a better company today in every way.

Pundits will argue that Microsoft could have saved itself decades of lawsuits, antitrust actions, and billions of dollars in settlements if these principles were adopted 20 years ago. They may be right about that, but put in the same position they probably would have made the same decisons that Microsoft execs did years ago. Others will sneer that this is just a PR move and there is no real substance here. I disagree. Microsoft has changed dramatically. Microsoft is already living these principles today, and has committed to honoring them in the future.

I wrote a blog about this today http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/07/microsofts_12_p.html

[lesfilip]

Microsoft has not changed...

Don, wake up. Microsoft has not changed, except for getting
slower and slower in releasing their third rate copycat operating
systems. You remind me of someone whose wife has been
caught cheating numerous times, who forgives the past and
then swears to everyone she has changed for the better.

If Microsoft had adhered to these new principles of theirs 20
years ago, they would not have become the near-monopoly they
still are. They might not even be in business any more.

Have a nice day!

[McShaken]

Shuuuuure they'll play fair...

Oh... Pretty Pretty please buy our new OS... We PROMISE to be good this time... REALLY!!! We (snicker) promise! (snicker)

[Sumatra-Bosch]

Right, and Charles Manson Promises to be Nice, too!

Historicaly speaking, this commitment is a joke, like making Charles Manson promise to abide by all the Emily Post verities. Functionally speaking, it's all beside the point. The real power of the MS monopoly is in its contracts with the PC manufacturers giving them boot loader priority. Smith knows this. The Mansons know this. Everyone knows this. MS could give massages and Windows source code to everyone at all of its competitors and with the boot loader locked up, it wouldn't make a bit of difference. Justice knows this - but no one there has the gonads to go after MS to win. They chose a case form that would end in a stupid and worthless draw because they didn't have the guts to stick the blade where they could draw blood.

[imacpwr]

Playing fair by Microsofts rules..

Suuuuurrrrrre Microsoft will play fair..
but only by THEIR rules..!!

[imacpwr]

Changed for the better..?!?!

My God, has Microsoft got it's propaganda sack pulled tightly over
your head..!!

[Sumatra-Bosch]

Right, and Charles Manson Promises to be Nice, too!

Historicaly speaking, this commitment is a joke, like making Charles Manson promise to abide by all the Emily Post verities. Functionally speaking, it's all beside the point. The real power of the MS monopoly is in its contracts with the PC manufacturers giving them boot loader priority. Smith knows this. The Mansons know this. Everyone knows this. MS could give massages and Windows source code to everyone at all of its competitors and with the boot loader locked up, it wouldn't make a bit of difference. Justice knows this - but no one there has the gonads to go after MS to win. They chose a case form that would end in a stupid and worthless draw because they didn't have the guts to stick the blade where they could draw blood.

[herkamur]

make me happy, I dare you

OK, I would be a MUCH happier Windows user if I could easily remove some of the useless (to me) software that gets installed with the OS. I'd like to be rid of:

- Media Player
- Internet Explorer
- Instant Messenger
- .NET
- Movie Maker

...and a variety of other items that I consider a waste of my hard drive space without some obfuscated process. If I could install Windows like I can install GNU/Linux I would actually consider using it more. I want the ability to pick and choose everything that is installed on my system.

For the record I have 4 GNU/Linux machines, 2 Macs, and 1 Windows machine.

[technewsjunkie]

They're not doing it now. This is absurd.

I've got a bridge in Brooklyn.

[curtegg]

lol, money isn't the problem

If what I read quoted from Gates is true that they spent 8-9 billion
developing Vista, then I don't thing you will be getting your
money's worth

[Thomas, David]

Is it April?

Or is this just indicitive of Microsofts' timing? ... eom

[revstar]

I don't see what the problem is....

I have all major media players; a selection of search engines; and a bunch of competing software products on my machine and they all work just fine.

Maybe the Euro-nutbaskets and the Feds are working from the unfortunate truism that "No one ever lost money underestimating the general public" (E.L. Menken, American).

The charge seems to be lead by the fanatic fringe of Linux Desktop geeks. Yes, Linux is a good server product but its' desktop products - and I have tried ALL of them - suck when compared to MS Office. Their saving grace, of course, is that they are for free.

Another example of you get what you pay for.

Bottom line, the Euro-trash decision was bought and paid for by a consortium of OSS money making companies, IBM, Real Software (now a global double-dipper), and other companies who sensed that they could stab at Microsofts bottom line by pocketing a few bureaucrats - and they succeeded.

Take their argument to it's logical conclusion and MS opens their OS to every company who claims to have a compatible product. Bye bye OS security. Just like FireFox and their endless list of extensions, some of which are known and notorious spyware generators.

Mozilla's response to inclusion of these spyware companies in their list of software suppliers said, "We are aware of this problem.", thanks and goodbye.

Goodbye is right. FireFox in all its' versions, is now gonzo from my system. It was hard enough to get their extension junk off my system without risking yet more by trying any others.

As an informed user, I have also tried most competing OS's while they were still alive. I have avoided Linux because I see no benefit to me in it - a steep learning curve and the lackadaisical attitude towards security of the entire Linux group of products.

It takes an entirely 'new' version of FireFox to alleviate a few security problems? And new versions take MONTHS to appear? Thanks but no thanks.

[R Me]

How much...

...did M$ pay you for the swill you just spilled?

1. M$ Office is NOT the desktop, it is an application.

2. Windows, Gnome, KDE - These are desktops. That many mistakenly think "windows" is an OS is due to your type of thinking born out of inept cluelesness and lack of understanding.

3. The eu is driven by its own need for money, thats why the large fine. Open Source had nothing to do with it.

4. As to the FF extensions, just who installed them on you system?

5. Be more careful next time you go porn happy and warez hunting and you wont get loaded up with malware.

6. How long between updates? Look at the gaps in IE updates. How long does it take M$ to come out with a new browser. Heck, my three year old kid hit puberty while I waited.

7. Please continue to stay away from Linux as it obvious to me it is way over your intelligence threshold.

8. If Linux's learning curve is over your head no wonder any OS you try is beyond you ability to fathom.

[mooneyna]

MS should be applauded for a step in right direction.

They should be encouraged, rather than criticized.

[tjlaw08]

Big Step

Agreed. 95% of ordinary users have little problem with Microsoft's business/competition strategy in the past. Yes they are a big company, yes they promote themselves via their own software, but most consumers don't have complaints. I also feel their E-Magna Carta is the sign of a better company with a better future. Forgive me for being practical.

[ekstromv]

Macs should follow MS's lead

I think it's great that MS has developed a system so that all programs will conform. It seems these days both the company and its owner (Gates and his fundraising) are setting an example for us all. If only Macs would conform as well. Macs are becoming more and more popular every day because of the security they offer. But when it comes to programs conforming, Macs seem to be impossible to use. Congrats to MS for leading the way into the future!

[TechApprentice]

Great News for Consumers

This is great news from Microsoft for consumers. This will mean more competition and that will give techies like me more choices and better products. I say keep up the good work Microsoft!

[rozencrantz]

This is a big deal

Users and manufacturers will have more freedom in dealing with Windows, and that's never a bad thing. Bravo to Microsoft for the shift.

[LydDowg]

Who thought Microsoft Could Get Even Better

Kudos to Microsoft! Not only do they continue to improve their products for consumers - but they are doing it in a way that encourages competition.

[qwerty75]

re

When you are at the bottom of the quality pile, there is nowhere to go but up.

They are still decades behind though.