bundling thoughts

[Marcel Kunath]

Woah,

I don't think so. All I did was analyze what the situation is and say I think
the bundling the way it is done is unfair and IF we bundle THEN bundle fairly.
I can't change the law and the courts said bundling is legal. So then lets use
the laws to our advantage and bundle as well.

I didn't say Microsoft acts badly but let's extend this so we are on common
ground. I said I had thoughts and ideas and this needs fixing.

I don't think this is a terrible idea. I hadn't even talked about the cost.
Bundling costs money. The computer builder has to do it or Microsoft or
somebody has to do the work. So AOL pays some builder 35 dollars for each
gained customer. I suspect that these 35 dollars are a share of the profits AOL
expects from this future customer. So I like to ask if free software is free
and we make no profit do we have the right to ask builders to include our free
software for 0 dollars since its a fair share of our profits?

And I am asking and not saying I am right. Hmmm maybe I should create a
standard disclaimer to my emails that all of my words are ideas and I want them
to be questioned...

I think if some software is included for free then other software should be
included for free. Otherwise a general fee may be useful. I mean Microsoft
includes IE for free. There is no doubt that there is a _sub group of IE users_
which lets itself define as follows:

Windows users
   become IE users
      become msn.com users
         become hotmail users
            become passport users
               become .net CUSTOMERS

So who does Microsoft pay for gaining these customers? Nobody.

 mk

> > I would call
you a hypocrit, you bitch about how bad
M$'s business > practices are then in the next breath proclaim supporting their
> business practices by wanting to bundle software for it.
>
> It boils down to economics, this isnt very hard economics.  If you _use_
> (yes this includes warez) anything that only works on Windows, then in
> fact you are supporting M$ in their endeavers, If you cannot find what you
> _need_ on another platform then you aren't looking hard enough.
>
> This includes helping people install Windows, fixing their machine,
> proclaiming a M$ only game is the greatest, etc. You basically are giving
> the green light to M$.
>
> It really isnt that hard to live without M$. It really isnt hard to say no
> i can't fix your machine, or no I haven't played quake22 for windows, or
> no I don't have a copy of Window XP you can borrow to install on your
> machine. And it really isnt hard to find the software you need to be a
> productive.
>
> Sean
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 14 Aug 2001, Marcel Kunath wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I was just reading this:
> >
> > http://www.thestreet.com/tech/software/1517338.html
> >
> > and I am having thoughts.
> >
> > First of all I agree that Microsoft is violating laws by bundling its softwa
re
> > products with its operating system. It builds an anti-competitive advantage
for
> > them. The only way this should be allowed is if competitors are as well allo
wed
> > to deliver their products pre-installed or even pre-delivered (on the MS
> > install CD).
> >
> > Overall I think this is not manageable and MS should not be allowed to bundl
e
> > anything but just sell their cut down OS and deliver any additional software
 on
> > extra CD to be installed by the user.
> >
> > Here is why. Now Kodak is powerful and has the ability to force Microsoft to

> > the above concession. And now AOL and Real want in on the deal. Then it is
> > Norton and then McAfee and then god knows whatever company. And who do you s
ee
> > left out? FSF.
> >
> > I don't know if this becomes general practice I would hope the FSF files a
> > lawsuit and demands free software developers are as well given a piece of th
e
> > pie and be allowed to put their programs on a users desktop. I could think o
f
> > programs like NTEmacs and isn't there a vi for Windows? And this would prove

> > how stupid the bundling argument really is.
> >
> > Case in point.....non-OS software may be bundled but only by delivery on CD.
 I
> > figure all free software developers could organize and put together a CD whi
ch
> > the user then uses to install free software and this CD is bundled with ever
y
> > PC sold which comes with Windows.
> >
> > I am curious to see what would happen if Jabber or so would ask for its IM
> > client to be bundled with XP. I am sure Microsoft would get a laugh out of i
t.
> >
> > Hmmmm this makes me wonder if I should write this whole idea up and post it
on
> > linuxtoday.com and raise some awareness to the ludicriousness of this whole
> > ordeal and see if maybe free software can get in on the deal....
> >
> > I know people hate my crazy ideas but heck you live only once. What do you
> > think?
> >
> >  -- Marcel
> > _______________________________________________
> > linux-user mailing list
> > linux-user@egr.msu.edu
> > http://www.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
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> 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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