articles

[Marcel Kunath]

I have written about 5 letters to the editor so far. One got printed the
others did not. Some were clearly too long.

I do not want to write another because on this subject I clearly would lose my
temper again. I would though suggest that if ten people send letters to the
editor about this subject then most likely one or two will make it in.

I myself found that there was 'air' in the opinions. There was no evidence
supporting their claims or false evidence. Netscape got bought by AOL and the
guy states that as healthy picture. Any economist would tell you that when a
company gets bought it is most likely because of failure in their business
scheme.
Mergers can be acceptions to this. He also stated reliability as good point for
Windows. I am not sure what reliability he meant. Being sure sooner or later it
will crash?

Ok to go through the article by Ballor.

He says: Windows is a superior operating system. He never reasons his claims.
He just states something but mentions no proof. reliability, functional use,
overall cost etc.

Netscape has thrived? It has lost market share from 90% down to less than 40%
ever since IE got bundled. I don't call that thriving.

You can install programs like Netscape easily? Yeah but does he think of all
the programs that do not exist because of the way Microsoft handles business
and forces others out or buys them up?

He uses the innovation leads to success rule. If we remember then we know
Microsoft started by buying others and reselling it. And it has been done and
redone. See Java.

How can he know Microsoft has done best for consumers if he doesn't put himself
in the position of what other products may there be without MS?

The antitrust actions have been brought up by other companies? Nobody but the
Dept of Justice or the states is suing. This is ludicrious.

AOL vs MS? I don't see where AOL comes into this?

He says others like Apple and Sun have done well. He always forgets to ask how
they would have done without MS fussing in others business and calling
everything its own.

His statistics. Where are the stats about 90% desktop ownership? Where are the
facts that with owning the desktop OS they also own the office suites?

Windows is user-friendly? Is every user the same? I love the command line. I
think its powerful if you learned how to use it.

MS Office allows easier use and integration of programs? Has this guy ever used
other software? I doubt it. I couldn't name a separate program besides
WordPerfect. How can he state such thing when there is nothing to compare it
with.

And for one not the interest of the consumer should rule. It's the law that
matters. If they don't like it they should change the Sherman Act.

The other article:

....the size don't make it a monopoly.....

C'mon who said that the size would. Have they read Judge Jacksons findings????

.....there are others who sell hardware and related programming....

Yeah well 4 years ago there was almost nobody who gave you an option.

Now they say that they illegally bought out others. But still its no monopoly
but it is on its way there????

....Consumers are extremely dependent on MS.....

I guess they don't see that that basically might be because of its illegal
tactics.

........it might disattract others to purchase computers.....

I wish there was less people on the net. Let's give everybody a gun just
because they have enough money to buy one.

......there are other programs and operating systems as option......

Yeah but before all of this uproar you didn't see them around.

mk




 > > "Marcel Kunath" <kunathma@pilot.msu.edu> writes: >
> > I am sorry but I thought I can't keep this bad journalism for myself and hav
e
> > to share the articles with you.
> >
> > statenews from today:
> >
> > http://www.statenews.com/editions/040600/op_col1.html
> >
> > http://www.statenews.com/editions/040600/op_edit.html
> >
> > They got so many flaws it would take a book to analyze these. I mean did the
y
> > do any research before they wrote it? I doubt they have read a single line o
f
> > what Judge Jackson cited as evidence.
>
> I'm thinking about preparing a rebuttal and sending it in as a
> letter to the editor.  Anyone out there want to contribute
> suggestions?
>
> Ben
>
> _______________________________________________
> linux-user mailing list
> linux-user@egr.msu.edu
> http://www.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user
>


--
Marcel Kunath

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 Montie House Network            Greater Lansing Linux Users Group
  http://www.montiehouse.com      http://www.gllug.org

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