XPost: comp.os.linux.advocacy, comp.os.os2.advocacy   
   From: ajbrehm@gmail.com   
      
   Shmuel (Seymour J.) Metz  wrote:   
      
   > begin  In <1h20mei.kluboo16303qsN%ajbrehm@gmail.com>, on 08/28/2005   
   >    at 05:46 PM, ajbrehm@gmail.com (Andrew J. Brehm) said:   
   >   
   > >If there is demand for non-Windows computer, there will be a supply   
   > >of such.   
   >   
   > Not when m$ has contracts in place illegally impeding it.   
      
   MS have no power to impede independent vendors.   
      
   I am sure you believe that if a vendor agrees to not supply   
   non-Microsoft software, it is perfectly ok for the vendor to go back on   
   his word.   
      
   But none of this anything to do with the fact that vendors who did not   
   sign with Microsoft did supply non-Windows computers.   
      
   I bought several in the 90s.   
      
   > >The customers have forced all other OS vendors into the niche   
   > >market.   
   >   
   > No; conduct in restraint of trade did that; they customers had no say   
   > in the matter.   
      
   Perhaps you didn't. Most customers make their own decisions and are not   
   forced to buy a specific type of computer.   
      
   > >Most customers do not want a non-standard PC.   
   >   
   > Most customers don't know what the relevant standards are and will   
   > cheerfully buy all sorts of nonstandard stuff without realizing it.   
      
   No, they won't. Not since Microsoft established an effective standard.   
      
   > That includes the bundled m$ malware, which is often different from   
   > the shrinkwrap versions in harmful and undisclosed ways.   
      
   Very good.   
      
   > >The ideal solution would be commodity operating systems, with   
   > >several vedors implementing the same compatibility standard. Unix   
   > >and Linux do that, but customers rejected the standard   
   >   
   > Not so; in fact, they seem to be gradually adopting it, despite the   
   > illegal barriers m$ is erecting.   
      
   Some customers prefer non-Microsoft solutions.   
      
   > >And I suppose that is wrong because you disagree with the decision?   
   >   
   > Yeah, a silly prejudice in  favor of equal protection of the law.   
      
   I do believe that the law should apply to everybody equally, regardless   
   of market share even.   
      
   If it is illegal for company X to make certain deals, so it should be   
   for company Y.   
      
   I assume you mean something else by "equal protection of the law"?   
      
   --   
   Andrew J. Brehm   
   Marx Brothers Fan   
   PowerPC/Macintosh User   
   Supporter of Chicken Sandwiches   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)