I mean, really. How do they continue to get away with the crap they pull. For years, they force vendors to push their applications on customers, whether they want them or not, and they're getting away with a "slap on the wrist."
As a computer hobbiest and professional, Microsoft Windows, and many applications designed for Windows, are requirements for my work, and a source of great leisure time pleasure.
The fact that I like the Windows OS, and applications that run on that platform, does not mean I should be forced to use inferior Microsoft applications. Just TRY to buy a Dell computer without Microsoft Office or Works Suite on it. It's impossible. I bet there's plenty of customers for a Dell computer without MS productivity apps, but due to secret deals between Dell and MS, Dell just won't sell it without the software, and you know Microsoft is getting a license fee for software many customers don't want.
Microsoft bundles all the following non-essential applications in Windows 2000:
I am made to pay for them whether I want them or not. Many of them are non-optional installs. If I want the OS, I have to take Internet Explorer.
Microsoft should be made, by rule of the court settlement, from this point forward, to provide to customers a specific version of Windows, excluding any of those applications on the distribution CD, which must be made available at a lower cost commensurate with the "value" of the technology removed.
I could buy my own utility and communications programs (and Web browser!) and install them myself, rather than be forced to pay for all these bundled applications I don't want.
Microsoft could then set up a e-commerce site where I can buy the individual packages, like Windows Update, a la carte.
Customers are being made to pay hundreds of dollars for applications they might never use, some, like Microsoft Outlook Express, are actually a liability. Other applications for which superior third party competitors exist include NetMeeting, Address Book, Imaging, Paint, Phone Dialer, Fax Software, Hyperterminal, Sound Recorder, Pinball, Telnet client, Backup, Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter.
Microsoft being allowed to bundle all these applications in the operating system non-optionally gives them application exposure and market share unfairly, and costs customers more money.
I have paid good money for Norton Utilities, Talkworks / Winfax, Ulead PhotoImpact, Sound Forge XP which are far superior to the bundled tools, but I've been made to pay for these applications, which, in fact, just pollute my hard drive.
Computer manufacturers could offer "all the bundled applications" or an "a la carte" version, where instead of paying $200 for WIn2K, you'd pay $100 for Win2K, $50 for a utilities / anti-virus package, $50 for a telecommunications suite (web browser, FTP, Fax) and there would be real competition and money to be made for businesses, and customers would get access to better technology at fair prices.
If you think my idea is impractical or unfair, I hope you're ready to back up your arguments with facts, then bring it on.