[Am-info] "Stop procrastinating or MS buys this one"

[mike stephen]

Here is what I sent....  As per the request for
responces... please do so......



Please I beg of you to consider the separation of
hardware and software from all sales of computer
systems.  This will put competition back in the
operating system arena.  Right now when you go to a
store to buy a computer it already has windows
preinstalled.  The customer has not any choice but to
buy it with windows preinstalled.  Even if he/she
wants to run OS/2, or Linux, he/she must pay for a
copy of Windows then delete it and install their
preferred operating system.  This is double paying for
two operating systems when only one is needed.  

Separating the two purchases (the computer hardware as
one,, and the operating system as the other) will help
to level the field from pricing fluctuations that
Microsoft currently uses to maintain the position in
the marketplace.  A company like Compaq can be forced
to "get into line" with what Microsoft wants them to
do and as a result can enjoy a significant discount on
purchases on Microsoft product.  Separating the costs
would put an end to this.  If computer users want to
have windows on the machines they bought, then they
can purchase a copy at the time of purchasing the
hardware (or later if they choose) and install it when
they take the purchase home.

When we buy a car today we all realise it needs
gasoline to run.  We all know we are going to buy
gasoline.  However we buy a car from a car dealer,
then we choose to buy gasoline from any number of
vendors.  In the computer world, it is like buying a
car and buying prepaid gasoline to run the car.  We
might want to buy gasoline from our chosen vendor, but
we already have paid for gasoline at the time we
purchased the car.  This method makes no sense and
microsoft has screwed the marketplace with poor
quality software that is both poorly designed and
poorly written.

Please put a modicum of competition back into the
marketplace.

Separate the hardware and software sales.


Mike Stephen
mikestp@telus.net


On Wed, 23 Jan 2002 11:53:12 -0600, John Bryan wrote:

>Don't know how relevant this is but here goes:
>
> From Slashdot:
>Jeremy White writes "Two nights ago, I was discussing the Microsoft 
>Antitrust trial, and the comment period required by the Tunney Act, with 
>someone who cares as deeply about this case as I do. The person I was 
>talking to had an inside connection that knew the tally and basic shape 
>of the comments actually being sent in about this case. I learned that  
>it's time to stop procrastinating , or Microsoft buys this one."
>
>Go to:  <http://www.codeweavers.com/~jwhite/tunney.html>
>
> From the page:
>
>The easy way to do the 'right' thing
>
>1.  Open an email window to microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov (with a subject of 
>'Microsoft Settlement').
>2.  Read through some of the many comprehensive resources on this case 
>and the Tunney Act proceedings:
>-  Dan Kegel's excellent collection of resources : 
>http://www.kegel.com/remedy/
>    (mirror is here 
>http://crossover.codeweavers.com/mirror/www.kegel.com/remedy/).
>3.  Pick your favorite problem with the proposed judgement. One is fine; 
>hopefully a lot of people will be doing this.
>4.  Compose a simple, polite, email describing the problem and how you 
>feel about it.
>5.  Send the email.
>6.  [Optional, but nice] Print your letter out (maybe reformat it a 
>little), and mail it to:
>
>Renata B. Hesse
>Antitrust Division
>U.S. Department of Justice
>601 D Street NW
>Suite 1200
>Washington, DC 20530-0001
>
>The truly easy way to at least add your voice
>
>1.  Send email to microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov (with a subject of 'Microsoft 
>Settlement') saying that you think the proposed settlement is bad idea 
>(type only 3 words, if you must). What counts is the number of 
>complaints.
>2.  Send email to petition@kegel.com indicating that you will stand as a 
>co signer of Dan Kegel's comments. Please give your city, state, title, 
>and affiliation.
>
>Send it now.
>The comment period closes Monday morning (the 28th).
>By the time you think to come back to this page, it will be too late.
>
>John B
>--
>johnb@austin.rr.com                 johnbryan@mac.com
>http://home.austin.rr.com/johnb     http://homepage.mac.com/johnbryan
>
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