Re: product promoters versus consumer advocates

["pap" <pap@tiac.net>]

From: Lewis A. Mettler <lmettler@lamlaw.com>

> Pap,
>
> pap wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > It appears that you totally missed the point. I LOOK for sole source bundles of
> > value, both in money, time and safety. I most certainly do not want anyone
> > interfering with their availability on the basis that it precludes another
vendor
> > from having a shot at my sale.
> >
>
> If you want to buy the suite I support that option.  I always have.
>
> But, there is no reason to force the bundle or suite upon everyone just
> so you can have the combination of products you might want, right?
> Besides, just like Bill Gates, you may already have one or more of the
> bundled products and should not have buy them again and again.
>
> I support all possible combinations of any products you want.
>
> I support Windows coming with Navigator.
>
> I support Windows coming with IE.
>
> And, I support Windows coming just by itself.
>
> I support Windows coming with Lantastic.
>
> I support Windows coming with the Microsoft brand of networking.
>
> And, I support Windows coming without any networking at all.
>
> You can name any combination you want and I support your right to buy
> it.  And, I support the right of any and all OEMs to package in any way
> they might want just like they do with hardware.
>
> What I do  not support is the forced sale of any product simply because
> it is bundled or tied to other products which the consumer may very well
> want.
>

Fine, fine. No objections to the abstract concept. But as a practical matter it will
continue to be the case. You cannot force programmers to capitulate voluntarily, any
programmers. They took the ground, they built the fortresses and short of total
destruction there will be no material change, no tendency toward a' la carte until
you dry up the well from which it all is drawn. Secret Code.

There are issues that flow from this condition that impact the computing community
in a far graver manner than whether or not you can use Lantastic without paying for
networking twice. This concern of yours would disappear as a byproduct of change if
there was some success in fixing the real problem. I do not think it will be
successful until it is a global requirement.

> Only those who are promoting the sale of particular products or brands
> should object to that.  And, they do.
>

In the mean time, you should not dun those in the industry that have to work with
the given  for not being able to come up with any practical, appropriate and stable
alternatives for certain circumstances so that you might find it acceptable. It is
beyond their control. I am mostly referring to OEMs and their vendors here as that
is where the bulk of the commerce is that you are so concerned about.

Or should they just all go out of business for this principle?