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Microsoft will switch name on Windows 'lite' | |
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| Time: 00:00 EST/05:00 GMT | News Source: Seattle PI | Posted By: Chris Hedlund | ||
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Bowing to objections from European antitrust officials, Microsoft Corp. yesterday scrapped plans to use the name "Windows XP Reduced Media Edition" for the stripped-down version of the operating system that it was ordered to sell in Europe. The name had raised eyebrows among industry analysts who predicted that it would discourage sales of the alternate Windows version. But the company said the name was merely designed to distinguish clearly between the full-fledged operating system and the additional version that the European antitrust ruling requires it to offer. The alternate version comes without Windows Media Player and related functions. The European Commission asked the company to change the name, Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake said yesterday. The company agreed to the request, even though it | ||
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| #1 By 19992 (164.214.4.31) at 1/31/2005 9:49:16 AM |
| This is ridiculous, not only are they forced to offer an alternate version of Windows but they aren't even allowed to name it themselves? Go to love it when gov'ts get overly involved in the corporate sector.... |
| #2 By 6859 (206.156.242.39) at 1/31/2005 9:52:47 AM |
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I know how to fix this whole issue. Seriously...
The EU want's a stripped down Widnows with no bundled IE, WMP, or any of that stuff, right? That, to me, sounds like Windows NT4. So, give NT4 a new XP-like shell, DX5 support and ship it to Europe. Call it "Windows European Edition." They want a sub-standard Windows, they got it. Voila! MS makes more money off of obsolete OS. Everyone wins. |
| #3 By 9589 (66.57.197.131) at 1/31/2005 10:14:40 AM |
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The European "Commission" is hopeless. Do they really think that this is going to stop Europeans using Microsoft media programs? Does anyone believe that this is nothing more than a money grab?
People in Europe are going to buy XP in overwhelming numbers as they have in the past and then just download WMP rather then put up with a product like that obnoxious alternative "Real" Player. If there ever was a pain in the butt software written Real Player takes it. By the way, on the servre side, Microsoft's Media Server is still a fraction of the cost of Real Player's server. |
| #4 By 7797 (63.76.44.6) at 1/31/2005 10:55:28 AM |
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" This is ridiculous, not only are they forced to offer an alternate version of Windows but they aren't even allowed to name it themselves? Go to love it when gov'ts get overly involved in the corporate sector...."
How is it ridiculous? They broke the law. They illegally abused their monopoly power. This is the punishment. If you can't do the time, dont do the crime. |
| #5 By 2201 (194.205.219.2) at 1/31/2005 11:00:26 AM |
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#4 I suspect that people in Europe are just not going to bother buy this new edition and just get the regular one with WMP, especially as the price is the exact same. There is really no point in this edition for a customer standpoint, other than for the EU to show Microsoft that they can make anyone comply with their daft regulations.
#5 Yeah they may have broke the law, but some other punishment that really is good for consumers would have been better. In this case, comsumers now have a choice of having WMP and... not having WMP. In both cases you can download or use other competitor's media players so what's the real difference? |
| #6 By 7711 (12.107.81.66) at 1/31/2005 11:57:59 AM |
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#2 you beat me to the comment....
#6 will they still be allowed to offer the full version? #5 in the opinion of the EU. The line for monopoly is only apparent after you cross it. Actions which are OK before you are a monopoly are now illegal after you cross the line, and the line gets defined after you're beyond it. Many of Apple's proprietary actions would be considered illegal if they had 90% market share. They're not because they don't have the monopoly power. However, if they are bad for consumers, they are bad if you are a monopoly or not. it makes no sense to punish a company for actions which made them a successful company. It is capitalism, isn't it? Make a better mouse trap (or media player) and people will use it. Make crap (Real), and people won't. #3...great idea!!! |
| #7 By 15406 (216.191.227.90) at 1/31/2005 1:35:18 PM |
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#2: as usual, MS was trying to avoid the spirit of the law by giving it an unattractive name. Very immature and petulant, if you ask me.
#4: the EU doesn't want people to stop using MS apps, they just want competition tyo be more fair. And how is this a money-grab? #6: I doubt that Windows with Media Player will be available in Europe for anyone to buy. What would be the point of making them offer a stripped version if the full one was right there at the same price? And the punishment is apt. They tied their media player to the platform, so the remedy is to untie it. At least MS didn't try that lame "It's a core part of the OS!" bullshit they used before. #7: it makes no sense to punish a company that's broken the law, you say? Interesting take you have. The EU and the US have antitrust laws for a reason. Consumer choice leads to better products at better prices. MS has repeatedly broken the law while trying to illegally crush rivals, all the while spouting lip service about how they support consumer choice. |
| #8 By 15406 (216.191.227.90) at 1/31/2005 4:48:23 PM |
| #9: oh, you're a lawyer now, with vast knowledge of EU antitrade law. Do you actually believe the stuff you post? |
| #9 By 7797 (63.76.44.6) at 1/31/2005 5:54:22 PM |
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LinuxIsTheft why don't you hold yourself to the same standard that you apply on others? Go ahead quote the Judge or the court papers on some of the stuff you've said on the SCO suit instead of quoting from some internet article that was written by a known pro-SCO biased wannabe-journalist.
In any case i don't believe anyone said the pure bundling of the media player with the OS was illegal. The issue is far more complex. If youre such an expert on the EU law etc why are you sitting here trolling on this message board instead of applying your knowlege where it would actually do Microsoft some good? |
| #10 By 7797 (63.76.44.6) at 1/31/2005 5:56:29 PM |
| I'm going to ignore that troll LinuxIsTheft from now on and I really urge everyone to do the same. I will repost this in future threads where people reply to the troll. |
| #11 By 12071 (203.185.215.149) at 1/31/2005 10:34:48 PM |
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#7 "#5 in the opinion of the EU. "
And in the mind of the US. "They're not because they don't have the monopoly power." Congratulations! Finally someone on Microsoft's side that actually understands why Microsoft's actions were illegal! Now if you could try explaining it to the rest of them, because we've all tried, that would be greatly appreciated! "it makes no sense to punish a company for actions which made them a successful company." The end justifies the means hey... #10 The sad truth is that he does!!! |
| #12 By 143 (64.108.88.203) at 2/1/2005 12:47:39 AM |
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I thought the EU wanted it called "XP Raped Edition"
I guess I stumbled upon some bad info. |
| #13 By 19992 (164.214.4.31) at 2/1/2005 10:39:41 AM |
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#5 Fine, having MS remove Media Player from Windows is the right thing to do (according to the Commision). However, I think that MS should have the right to name it whatever they want. They could call it Windows Xp Crippled Edition for all I care. This strikes me as a case of the "state" overly exerting it's influence into the private sector.
#8 They attempted to break the spirit of the law? What spirit. They were told to offer a version of Windows without Media Player, they have. #14 How is Windows XP reduced Media Edition derogatory? There are no racial slurs or anti-EU messages in there, it seems a fairly apt description of the product to me. This post was edited by happyguy on Tuesday, February 01, 2005 at 10:42. |
| #14 By 19992 (164.214.4.31) at 2/1/2005 10:51:27 AM |
| Oh I'd also like to see MS begin charging for Windows Media Player in the EU. |
| #15 By 3653 (63.162.177.143) at 2/1/2005 5:39:22 PM |
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tgnb, you're wasting your time with the troll comments. I tried that years ago with sodajerk, and he's as ignorant as ever.
Can't we all just agree that none of this would have happened if Clinton had valued American commerce as much as he enjoyed his adultry. This post was edited by mooresa56 on Tuesday, February 01, 2005 at 17:40. |
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