Mandriva Free RC2 Spring 2008 64 bit version .
I fully realise what the MEP was saying . Microsoft as I said are keen for everyone in the world to toe the line and be punished if they break the rules , trouble is they do not do so themselves .
I am not against free competition in any way and I am not against Microsoft products just because they are Microsoft products or any other suppliers products just because of who made them . I am against bully boy tactics and companies that think that they are above the law , or companies that feel that they are so powerful that they can do as they please with no regard for democracy and the law .
Your statement ,
" Mind you, imagine if her case/aim/wish succeeded and MS OS's became Black market products in Europe."
Does not reflect what was said in the article . No mention is made of forcing Microsoft from the european marketplace or banning its products . The article solely concentrates upon Microsofts illegal buisness practices in europe and the action taken by european courts in fining Microsoft . Along with pointing out that the law states that Microsoft should not be allowed to tender for contracts .
As to your claim that ,
"This would not stop MS OS's being used in Germany or Europe, it would just stop MS applying to lay the Foundations for a new University in Munich."
I would like to point out that if Microsoft had not tried by any means possible to stifle and stop all competing products . Then it is quite possible that open source or free programs might have reached a higher stage of development than they have at present . This would in turn would have meant that schools , universities and governments and companies could have chosen from a range of suppliers and possibly even had free products . In a free market with healthy competition prices are usually lower than in a market dominated by one player. This would free up funds which in turn would enabled them to build their own institutions . This would benefit all europeans who are quite capable of funding and building their own institutions , they have been doing it for centuries after all .
As to wishing ,
" You know what they say, don't wish too hard for what you want, it may just come true"
I'll carry on wishing that companies would act in a decent fashion . That they would produce products that work and are for sale at a price that ordinary folk can afford . When I was in business I told folk what I was selling and how much it would cost . If folk bought my product or my services then I tried my very best to deliver what I had promised .
That may seem a simple way to live but it suits me .
