Exclusive: Get your own programs

This article had some very interesting points.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23350-2004Mar25.html

But let me hit the highlights.
Yet it comes as other forces are also weakening Microsoft's grip on desktop computers" -- such as Linux.

America's problem.

It expands the technical information Microsoft is forced to disclose so that rivals such as Sun Microsystems, Novell and makers of the Linux operating system can make their products work with Window
Eu deciding what one American company shows other American companies.

, many Microsoft "competitors said they were happy to see the European Commission go further than the U.S. antitrust enforcers in addressing Microsoft's anti-competitive conduct."

What competitors? EU companies?

Rob Glaser, chief of longtime Microsoft foe RealNetworks. Glaser told the New York Times: "This would be a step in the right direction, helping to open up the industry further for competition and innovation." However, the Times noted that "even Mr. Glaser has modest expectations for the immediate impact of the European ruling."

Ahh American companies.

Another piece in The New York Times quoted Matthew Szlulik, chief executive of the Linux software firm Red Hat. "This sends a clear message to the international and European marketplaces that innovation and choice really matter. As the E.U. looks forward, they are going to create an environment that inspires competition and leads to better products and lower prices," Szlulik said.


An American company commenting on the EU ruling.

: "If upheld in the European courts, the commission's decision sets a precedent with implications for other companies, including Silicon Valley firms such as Google Inc., Network Associates Inc. and Symantec Corp., that might compete with new add-ons to the Windows operating system. RealNetworks Inc., based in Seattle, is waging its own lawsuit against Microsoft in the United States over the bundling of Windows Media Player with the operating system, the same practice that the EC deemed anti-competitive

And once again, they are hoping that America pays attention to what Europe is doing.


There are no European companies I know of which even compete against Microsoft. In any of it's markets: Development tools (The things the other companies products are programmed in), web technology (browsers and other web tools),database management Systems (DBMS:Main competitor is Oracle), server software (Sun is a main competitor along with IBM), media players (Main competitor is Real player), and last of all the casual OS for home or professional use (Linus and Macs here are the competitors).

These are American companies competing against each other. If you EU wants something to say about the software market, they need first get software into the market. Then they can make judgments. Right now they are sticking their nose in Americas kitchen.

the cube has spoken