[Am-info] Microsoft's Power Play

[Fred A. Miller]

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Very good from another elist.

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__________________

Saw this comment on the following article:
  Microsoft's Power Play
 http://linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/2003041600226NWSWLL
 which points to
 http://www.linux-mag.com/2003-01/palladium_01.html
 which is an excellent discussion of the TCPA, the DMC and Palladium.

 "Microsoft's attempt to become the water company

 What this all boils down to is that Microsoft is in a tight position. They
 want to do software as a service but that levels the playing field. A no-go
 for Microsoft.

 On the other hand, if they don't do "software as a service" then the
 commoditization of hardware/software/in frastructure oriented apps. (Such
 as web servers etc.) will eat their proprietary lunch.

 The solution? Microsoft DRM. Give us (Microsoft) your data, let us
 (Microsoft) design a PC spec. and oh by the way, if you don't pay your
 monthly Microsoft Data bill, your data access gets turned off.

 Microsoft envisions itself to be a data utility. You pay your power bill,
 your water bill etc. and soon.... you'll pay your monthly Microsoft bill.

 What this all boils down to is that bill & ballmer have no real business
 model other than trying to become a utility. They don't want to just become
 a utility, they want to design the spec. for the hardware ergo insuring
 that they have a lock-in for the service industry. Ahhh.... the revenue ad
 perpetuam. No more innovation needed. Just lock the usefull idiots in and
 watch them sweat.

 Are there ways to defeat this? You bet. Advance platform commoditization to
 the Nth degree. Force Open Standards on Hardware and network access points
 and insist on non-proprietary data structures/types. If Intel won't play
 ball, talk with AMD. AMD would love to take market share from Intel. Seeing
 and much of the enteprise infrastructure will be Linux withing the next 5
 years anyway, it only makes sense.

 Above all, vote with your wallet. IBM, Oracle etc. realize that customers
 are telling Microsoft to go to the hot place below with their BSA license
 thugs and their proprietary tweaking/watering down of readily available
 technologies.
 Microsoft DRM should die on the vine. It's not innovation, it's technical
 slavery.

 Cheers,

 Nick

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If you listen on a quiet nite you, can hear
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