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1. Comment - Editorial: It's Been Real: Goodbye RealNetworks

   (May 25, 2000 - 3:46 PM)

   The reason Real may lose its influence is that Microsoft is yet again using it's OS monopoly illegally. Using Windows Update, a feature supposedly for updating the OPERATING SYSTEM, to install products not at all related to the OS (such as Windows Media Player), again is using the monopoly illegally. If I remember correctly, iQfx has for years been an add-on that you had to PAY for. Now Microsoft bundles the previously money-making technology in with their player for free? Now Real is forced to bundle it in for free (or actually, at a large licensing cost). Sounds like the browser wars again.
   
   Yes, it's true that RealPlayer is bloatware, but the crashing, behemoth called Windows Media Player 7 is even more so (and don't claim I don't know what I'm talking about, I've used 'em both!) I understand that eFront (not the original BetaNews) has always been an MS cheerleader, but c'mon... bashing other companies when Microsoft's own technology is still behind is ridiculous!

2. Comment - ICQ 2000a Reaches Beta

   (Apr 25, 2000 - 2:58 AM)

   So if you already made a choice not to use it, why complain any more?

3. Comment - Message Firms Threaten DoJ Action In AOL-IM Debate

   (Apr 22, 2000 - 2:31 PM)

   There IS no viable alternative (yet) for the consumer level OS. Linux is not yet up to the task there, with many usability issues as they try to convert what has traditionally been a server OS to a consumer OS. Given time, Linux will work those problems out, but until then, MS has a monopoly. There are alternatives in the server and business OS market (of which Linux is one of them), but none in the consumer.

4. Comment - Message Firms Threaten DoJ Action In AOL-IM Debate

   (Apr 22, 2000 - 2:27 PM)

   I still think AOL has a right to block outside companies from using their servers if they're not compensated. It's not just using the protocol, it's using the AOL owned and maintained (and AOL paid for) servers to relay the messages back and forth and to keep track of who's online. Running AOL IM isn't without some cost to AOL, which is paid for by advertisers. Remember, the AOL IM protocol doesn't use direct connections between users to send messages, but instead send the message to the AOL owned server, which in turn sends it to the recipient. Theoretically, outside companies come in, users leave AOL controlled software, and advertisers leave, leaving AOL with a big red mark on their accounting papers.
   
   There is nothing stopping another company from setting up their own TOC server (although without the AOL IM userbase). There is also nothing to stop another company from offering compensation to AOL for the use of their servers (through the direct connection by users to the AOL server using outside sofware, or through each company's servers communicating with one another). Another thought is for outside companies to still show the AOL ads if they use the AOL servers. If AOL refused after being offered compensation, only then will I say there's a good case against them.

5. Comment - Message Firms Threaten DoJ Action In AOL-IM Debate

   (Apr 22, 2000 - 1:20 AM)

   Here's the difference: Microsoft bundled their apps with Windows to use their Windows MONOPOLY to create another monopoly in another market. AOL does not (yet) have this MONOPOLY on ISPs or on browsers, so bundling AOL IM with AOL and Netscape isn't.
   
   Also, is AOL forcing Lycos, Mindspring, et. al. to bundle AIM? Would these ISPs have their costs to connect to the Internet increased by AOL if they bundled something else? I don't think so. So the arguments used in the Microsoft case don't really hold in the case against AOL.
   
   I think it's more applicable that Microsoft is again using their existing Windows monopoly to try to shove MSN Messenger onto users, as is done with Win2000 and the upcoming WinME.
   
   However, it is pretty damning that AOL took their source code back after Microsoft tried to enter the market.