Re: Fear of Life (was Microsoft, Automation)

ChuckKuecker (ckuecker@mcs.net)
Thu, 21 May 1998 20:18:36 -0500

At 07:04 PM 5/21/98 -0400, you wrote:
>
>If inventions were monopolies, you might be right. However as any engineer
>can tell you, there are always many ways to solve a problem. Only problems
>are unique. Therefore, any one invention is not in a monopoly position in a
>market. (contrary to popular beleif, Windows is not a monopoly, no matter
>what the government says. As there are many other operating systems out there
>that can be used, that anyone can choose from freely, Microsoft forces no one
>to buy their product.)
>
>--
>TANSTAAFL!!!
> Michael Lorrey
>

I thought the Microsoft problem came from their strongarm tactics of
telling PC vendors they could not offer competing software on PCs with
Microsoft OS installed, thus preventing other software makers from
contracting with these same vendors to include THEIR code..

Something akin to the way car Chevy dealers used to be prohibited from
selling other brands in the same showroom with Chevys - I believe something
legal was done about that a few years ago.. Coke and Pepsi at the same
fountain - etc. etc. etc. All these are 'monopolies' of a sort, aren't they?

Chuck Kuecker