On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 23:25:45 +1100, Steven D'Aprano <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Accounting software comes to mind. But just because Microsoft >did not, or was unable to, illegally squelch competition in one market >does not excuse them for doing so in another. Just as a factual matter, while Micorsoft has not achieved a monopoly on accounting software, it is not for not trying. The Business Solutions unit is hard at work on the project. It is not judgemental - sinply factual - that among the strategies being employed is to buy accounting software vendors for the express purpose of burying their offering, creating less options in the marketplace, and of course offering a migration path to Microsoft alternatives for the software they are buying to bury. Not a pleasant thing to watch, and not sure why it doesn't get more attention from regulators. but to the extent it doesn't, it is playing within the rules. "Roll-ups" of this sort are in fact happening all over the economy - in muffler shops as well as accoutning software. Consumers benefits from the economies of scale achioeved. Whether they like it or not ;) Art -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list