Welcome to Really Stupid Marketing Strategies 101. Our first lesson will be:

BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. said it would be forced to offer European consumers a substandard version of Windows if the European Union (news - web sites) makes it rewrite its operating system, sources close to the case said Thursday.

Microsoft issued the warning to EU regulators, they said, during a three-day closed-door hearing to consider charges the software giant abused the power that Windows gives it over the personal computer market.

Both the manner and substance of Microsoft's warning made an out-of-court settlement seem more distant, a Microsoft critic following the case said.

(snip)

The Commission calls it a product but Microsoft considers it one function of Windows -- reenacting an argument in the software titan's battle with the U.S. Department of Justice (news - web sites) in the late 1990s over its Web browser, Internet Explorer.

Yahoo News

Substandard Windows? What could they possibly do it to make it worse?

:shrug:

If Windows operating systems aren't substandard already, then what are they going to give the EU - something that riddles users with shrapnel???

Speaking of which, how many candidates for public office are going to make Bill Gates and Microsoft a campaign issue?

What is 'standard'? (and please don't say 'bug-free'...that is neither standard nor a reality)

I am no fan of MS, and I am capable of using a number of other OS's... and do. However, without MS the majority of people here at DU would not be able to get here.
Obviously, MS is NOT what makes the net possible, but there isn't really another OS that is brain-dead enough to allow your average user to get online.

Mac is probably the only one.... but Apple is arguably more cut throat than MS, just not as successful at it. Look at Apple's early history, where they mercilessly bled competitors in court until they folded.

Mandrake and RedHat Linux installs have finally got to the point where they can be _somewhat_ successful on non-standard hardware, but not completely. I have yet to see any flavor of linux detect my scsi, wireless, and 10/100 pcmcia cards without problems.

Solaris, BSD, etc. can be FAR better systems than anything MS puts out, but few of us can actually use them in a productive manner.

The point is, if there _is_ a standard for winblows to be compared to, it's winblows itself.

Microsoft tells the consumer what they can buy!!!

What a failure that business strategy will be!!!!

Their PR is looking real bad!!!

That should take care of it.

Japan, China, Korea to junk Windows for Linux - Sept. 05, 2003

... The governments of Japan, China and South Korea have reached basic ... Junichi Saeki,
vice president of research at IDC Japan. ... it could be based on Linux with some ...
www.itworld.com/AppDev/344/030904japan/

peace

playing the 'race card'? Whether or not Americans want to believe it or not it's up to you. But we're not so well thought of anymore since the Bush Junta's policies. People overseas used to like America. I can guarantee you that's no longer the case. People are still buying our goods because there is no other choice. As soon as there is a choice, in my opinion, our exports will take a big tumble. Before foreigners bought our stuff because they liked us, respected us, admired our law/morals/honesty but it seems foreigners aren't as clueless as the Sheeple.

So why would Microsoft taunt its customers, which Mircosoft truely knows doesn't like Microsoft and what it stands for, to find another product? Believe me, Microsoft isn't a FOX/GOP Party pretending the world is something it isn't and everyone loves Bush and America. Microsoft knows it could/will lose everything as soon as there is a Nuetral competitive alternative.

Therefore, my conclusion is Microsoft knows the situation is hopeless and could do close to nothing to stop the exodus so it's choosing the GOP strategy: 'hit them with fear'.

They can make it even worse!?

I think all Linux needs now is a major video game company to make games for Linux and that's probably the end of Microsoft.

The one game I like would have to be Micro$haft (Links 2003).

8^)

I have to use a substandard Windows for more than a decade now, while I'm working for some stupid corporations. You can't shook me anymore. What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger.
If only you could cope with a substandard dollar as well...
In solidarity with the european Bougeoisie for one second of my live,
Hello from Germany,
Dirk

heesh

Even as Microsoft Corp defended itself against charges that it is trying to corner the media player and server markets, new trouble was brewing for its Windows XP.

In a potential new front in Microsoft's long-running battle with regulators, EU antitrust officials are pursuing charges from rivals that the latest desktop operating system is designed to help extend Microsoft's dominance into new markets such as instant messaging, e-mail and hand-held devices like mobile phones.

Following up a complaint filed in February, the European Commission has sent fact-finding letters to "market participants" about the allegations, sources close to the situation said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The move indicates the complaint is being taken seriously.



http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2003/11/14/2003075832