THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: Smooth Groove on February 27, 2008, 05:29:49 PM

Title: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Smooth Groove on February 27, 2008, 05:29:49 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23366103

Crazy.  What's the big deal about Microsoft including a media player in their operating systems?  Doesn't Apple do the same thing? 

Including a media player seems the right thing to do since most people are too dumb to download or install one themselves. 

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Tauntaun on February 27, 2008, 05:30:51 PM

 :gbcry

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Rman on February 27, 2008, 05:34:37 PM

The EU has had its sight on Microsoft for years.  They have been waiting for the perfect opportunity.  This would never happen if Microsoft was a European company.

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Tauntaun on February 27, 2008, 05:35:34 PM

Does this mean we can bomb the EU? :hyper  Let's just drop a bunch of daisy cutters!  :gun


PS - Cloud now might be a good time to leave. :shh

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Smooth Groove on February 27, 2008, 05:36:13 PM

Quote from: Tauntaun on February 27, 2008, 05:30:51 PM

:gbcry

Why would they be crying?  They're getting money. 

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: MCD on February 27, 2008, 05:36:28 PM

wut? i remember seeing different version of vista for Europe, one with no WMP.

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Smooth Groove on February 27, 2008, 05:42:24 PM

Why would any customer not want WMP?  It's distinguished mentally-challenged to expect the typical PC user to know how to install a media player.  I can't remember the number of times I've been asked stuff like "Can I get a virus if I install the WMP updates?"

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: MrAngryFace on February 27, 2008, 05:43:11 PM

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120389673069489349.html?mod=rss_Page_One

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: MrAngryFace on February 27, 2008, 05:44:09 PM

Quote from: McDragon on February 27, 2008, 05:36:28 PM

wut? i remember seeing different version of vista for Europe, one with no WMP.

This ruling wasnt about MP, but rather royalty fees for access to techKNOWLEDGY lol get it, but yeah, not about media player anymore.

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Tauntaun on February 27, 2008, 05:50:37 PM

Quote from: Smooth Groove on February 27, 2008, 05:36:13 PM

Quote from: Tauntaun on February 27, 2008, 05:30:51 PM

:gbcry

Why would they be crying?  They're getting money. 

They're tasting the happy.   ;)

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Smooth Groove on February 27, 2008, 05:53:49 PM

They just hired the antitrust chief 'cause she looked smart?

(http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/HC-GE829_Kroes_20051020155851.gif)


Mrs. Kroes at times lacks polish. Her English -- the international language of antitrust -- is rough, sometimes to the point of confusion. She has no formal antitrust training and isn't a lawyer. She dismisses such criticism, saying she sees herself as a "generalist" who uses input from her team of specialists to make "a balanced decision."

Seems like it. 

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Tauntaun on February 27, 2008, 06:00:44 PM

^ Are they taking lessons from Bush what's going on here?  :duh

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: Flannel Boy on February 27, 2008, 06:00:55 PM

Quote from: Smooth Groove on February 27, 2008, 05:53:49 PM

They just hired the antitrust chief 'cause she looked smart?

Is that what they call ugly women nowadays?

Title: Re: EU fines Microsoft a record $1.3 billion
Post by: MrAngryFace on February 28, 2008, 06:10:56 PM

"This is not news today," Ballmer said in an interview with CNET News.com. "We are in compliance, they agreed we are in compliance. This is a fine for activities that pre-date the compliance activities that Ms. Kroes talked about last fall. It says there was a past transgression and they assessed a fine for that past transgression."

http://www.news.com/8301-13860_3-9881205-56.html