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Story: RealNetworks cries foul over Microsoft antitrust case

Arthur,
Yes , I am aware of the litigation comments that were made.

Just one (of many ) ways to remove IE , taken from the web , for your perusal.
Yes , it does work.
Now please give it up. This is one argument you (or Steve J)are not going to win.

"Steps:

1. In order to remove Internet Explorer from Windows XP without the Windows File Protection kicking in and restoring the files I am trying to delete, I booted into Windows 98 by selecting Windows 98 from the boot menu.
2. Once Windows 98 was booted I used windows explorer to browse to the drive where I installed Windows XP. In my case I double click the E: drive in Windows explorer, then Program Files, then Internet Explorer.
3. Select all the files in the directory Internet Explorer and delete them.
4. Reboot the computer into Windows XP.
5. Internet Explorer will be gone."

Yes , I did say that I am of the opinion that Netscape and RealNetworks got what they deserved. I also explained why I made that comment and I see no reason to justify that comment yet again.

Your comparison with " Olympic Sports " has me completely baffled.

However , if it is comparisons you want, let us try something a little more obscure but important nevertheless.

Mercedes. (as an example only)
Mercedes manufacture cars , vans , trucks etc.
Every new car , van , truck that Mercedes sell comes complete with a built in radio/stereo/cd player, as with most other vehicles.
Ostensibly made by themselves.

I don't hear Sony , Panasonic , JVC (or any other media application manufacturer) crying foul.
But these are Companies who realise they are in a very competitive market and will endeavour to make their product better.
When the Mercedes contract comes up for renewal they will want to be in with a (real) chance of winning.
If they do not they can always run to the EU Commission and complain. I think not.

It is quite a simple analogy (Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar) to understand.

Microsoft manufacture Windows and "bundle" their own type of Media Player.
Mercedes manufacture vehicles and "bundle" their own type of Media player.
Once the vehicle is purchased the owner is perfectly free to change said media player.
The same applies to people who purchase the Windows OS with Media Player.

If they do not like it they are free to use another.

Whilst on this topic of comparisons there are other points to make.
How far will the EU Commission go?

If they (EU Commission) receive complaints from manufacturers of other programs not dissimilar to :
Windows Back Up, System Restore , Paint , Calculator , NotePad , Movie Maker , Narrator , On Screen Keyboard , Sound recorder , Character Map, Disk Defragmenter , Security Centre , WordPad , Zip Utility, is it sensible to presume that they (EU Commission) having received a complaint will order Microsoft to remove it (any of the preceeding applications) from the Windows OS ?
That , it would appear , is something you agree with. I do not.

Microsoft is not stifling competition , it is creating competition.
If companies realise they have to produce something better , they will , because they will have to in order to stay in the "market place".
And , contrary to popular belief , there are many companies out there who do.

Netscape and RealNetworks had their chance and failed. You will not see the like of RealNetworks again and that can only be a good thing.

You manufacture and market a better Media Player than the one "bundled" with Windows and I will use it.

In my opinion the EU Commission has set a very dangerous precedent with far reaching implications and may well live to regret their judjment.

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