Month: June 2000

Ethical issues: What’s in our society’s background that relates to this case?

Tips for effective email
[via CamWorld]

Photoshop mockup of the “iNokia” what an Apple/Nokia Internet-connected cell phone might look like is purely speculative….
Kinda cool looking, and I am in the market for a new cell phone.
[via MacOSRumors]

Mondo Mini Show, too funny take a gander
[via CamWorld]

Justice is Blind:
Why Microsoft Might Actually Be Relieved (Even Thrilled) With Judge Jackson’s Order to Split the Company in Two

“According to hardware developers who want to keep their jobs and businesses, and who therefore choose to keep their names the heck out of this column, Microsoft uses hardware certification as a part of their marketing strategy. Redmond deliberately sets unreasonable standards for new hardware that has the result of requiring customers to purchase new Windows operating system versions where they might otherwise not have had to.”

Nice theory. It also sticks some with those damm WinModems.

What the Web Wants

“… to explain what (I think) the Web wants to happen here. It isn’twhat the court wants, and it isn’t what Microsoft wants.

…

The court has said that it does not trust Microsoft, neither does the Web.”

Intresting Dave. My solution, split it up with an Operating System Company, Offic Company, GPL InternetExplorer and require the public publication of all APIs the moment a Microsoft coder looks at them. Third parties could then particapate, Microsoft would lose any lockin they currently have and would not be able to reaquire lockin. Oh, and the OEMs like Gateway , Dell and Compaq would all have to pay the same price as BestBuy and CompUSA retail stores for Microsoft software.

There is a discussion started by Cam over at UserLand, Dave’s company.

Shadowrunning In The Corporate Republic JonKatz questioning if we are headed to a Shadowrun dystopia. Or is it more like Cyberpunk 2020, basicly Shadowrun without the Fantasy Muntants (Meathumans). Intrestingly FASA, the makers of Shadowrun, are owned by Microsoft.

Thinking Outside the Outbox
The problem for consumers choice. First there is Microsoft’s Windows “Projecting the corporate persona”. Second there is Apple’s Mac OS for the “artist and creative types”. Finally there is Linux, for the geeks. Where is the Operating System for normals? It doesn’t exist and will never exist til someone else can get into the playing field.

The Microsoft Decision

“If Jackson’s findings of law are tossed out, Gates will win something bigger than an affirmation of his company’s monopoly and business tactics. He’ll have overturned the antitrust laws themselves, leaving the New Economy with only one rule: There are no rules.

…

What happened on Wednesday was historic. A federal judge ordered harsh sanctions against the most successful company in recent history. He reaffirmed a shining principle of American life — that no one should be above the law.”