Re: Windows 2000 Banned in Germany

[Mitch Stone <mstone@vc.net>]

--- From a message sent by Doug Masson on 12/4/99 3:55 PM ---

>> They've already got one: Microsoft is a monopolist in the opinion of an 
>> esteemed member of the federal bench. And no, I don't expect that to 
>> change anything.
>> 
>
>I think someone has already suggested this in one context or another, but
>the federal government could go a long way toward dismantling the Windows
>monopoly if it would simply refuse to use machines with Windows in federal
>operations.

I wouldn't even ask for it to go that far -- I'm not sure banning Windows 
in federal agencies is appropriate, necessary or called for. Other 
policies need to change, though. We're presently witnessing a veritable 
mania for "standardizing" on Windows within a variety of federal 
agencies. Departments are prohibited by their directors from acquiring 
anything but, and existing non-Windows machines are being replaced. This 
is plainly anticompetitive and quite probably a huge waste of the 
taxpayer's money. 

Some federal agencies provide government documents only in Word or other 
proprietary Microsoft file formats. Others require contractors to submit 
reports in Word format. 

I'd be satisfied with the promulgation of federal rules that reflect a 
competitive reality rather than bolstering of an existing monopoly. The 
government should not knowingly restrict competition or require its 
citizens to buy a single, specific commercial product in order to conduct 
business with their elected officials and government. That's what is 
happening today, and we need to start talking about it.

Mitch Stone
mstone@vc.net