>From e077245@narwhal.cc.metu.edu.tr Sun Oct 26 11:05:40 1997
Received: from orca.cc.metu.edu.tr (orca.cc.metu.edu.tr [144.122.1.104])
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 1997 10:53:09 +0300 (MEST)
From: Gorkem Cetin <e077245@narwhal.cc.metu.edu.tr>
Subject: Microsoft's latest unfair trade practices
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: Ethical Issues in Software Engineering <ETHCSE-L@UTKVM1.UTK.EDU>
Poster: Don Gotterbarn <gotterba@ACCESS.ETSU-TN.EDU>
Subject: Microsoft's latest unfair trade practices
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As responsible computing professionals we need to be concerned about and
address those issues which can alter the progress of computing. With the
author's permission I forward to you this eloquently expressed sentiment
which was sent to our state representatives.
=================================================================
>
>While I'm in favor of smaller government, I am also in favor of fair trade
>practices. As a software engineer, who understands the PC software
>industry quite well, I must admit that Microsoft's practices are not good
>for the industry, nor the economy as a whole.
>
>As a developer, I must accept what Microsoft does with their operating
>system. Since that is a very popular platform, targetting it is good for
>business. This is my choice, and it is a business decision. However, the
>Internet, Java, and Web Browsing are all new technologies that have nothing
>to do with Microsoft Windows as an operating system or a product.
>Microsoft, however, claims that they are "extending their operating
>system". Yes they are trying to extend it, such that the Internet, Java,
>and Web browsing are also controlled by Microsoft.
>
>Please do not fall prey to the techno-babble that Microsoft talks. This
>problem is just like the Carnegies selling steel at a loss or the Getty's
>selling oil at a loss to eliminate their competition. The government put
>an end to that type of business practice back at the turn of the century.
>This is not a "new problem", but just an old problem with techno-babble to
>confuse the issue.
>
>Internet browsers are a very viable product. Netscape's browser,
>Navigator, charges for their product, and have over 60% market share.
>Microsoft GIVES THEIRS AWAY FOR FREE, WHETHER YOU WANT IT OR NOT, but they
>do not have nearly the market share of Netscape's product. Now, why is
>this any different than the situations above where companies were selling
>their products for a loss to get rid of their competition? None. The
>government stopped those practices then, and they need to do it now.
>
>Microsoft's Internet browser can be "an extension to their operating
>system" just as much as Microsoft Office. So why doesn't Microsoft bundle
>MS-Office with their operating system? Or their development tools? Or all
>of their software? Because they know that these other products are good,
>competitive products, and can make $$$. The Internet and Java is the
>biggest threat to their monopoly. Hence, they are willing to give away
>their browser, Internet Explorer, so that they control the access to the
>Internet, so they maintain that monopoly.
>
>As far as I'm concerned, Microsoft has violated their FTC pact from 1995 as
>soon as they release Internet Explorer 3.0 back over a year ago and were
>giving it away for free. Now that they are forcing PC vendors to have the
>new Internet Explorer 4.0 installed on all new computers is definitely a
>violation of fair trade practices.
>
>The best solution is to split Microsoft's operating systems division as a
>separate company from their applications development. Windows98,
>WindowsNT, and MS-DOS would be owned & extended by the Operating System
>company. Internet Explorer, MS-Word, Excel, MS-Office, Visual Basic, et.
>al., would be developed by the Applications company, call one Microsoft,
>the other Macrohard ;-). This would force the Operating System company to
>meet the needs of ALL software application development companies, including
>the one I work at, and not just the Applications company. And it would
>force the Application company to target other operating systems, like
>Apple's Macintosh OS, or the open Java OS. THIS SCENARIO WOULD BROADEN
>BOTH MARKETS! BOTH COMPANIES WOULD SERVE A LARGER CLIENT BASE. AIN'T
>COMPETITION GREAT!!!!
>
>Bill Gates would make TRILLIONS from this setup. But he does not want to
>broaden the market, he just wants to control it.
>
>Please support the FTC and help stop this from happening.
----- End of forwarded message from Gorkem Cetin -----