WinInsider

I found interesting article by David Coursey on ZDNet, finally some decent scene is coming from ZDNet - I guess the Oracle ad campaign is near the end. Make sure you vote at the bottom of the article on ZDNet page.

If you took away Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and Windows Media Player, would what remained still be Microsoft Windows? What would happen if those programs were replaced by Netscape's browser, Eudora's e-mail client, and RealNetworks's RealPlayer?

Of course, there's a big downside--for all of us. If the PC companies go too far afield, they risk eroding the Windows standard that has done so much to universalize the personal computing experience. Out-of-the-box thinking may be a good thing, but only in small doses. The chaos that could result from an unbundled Windows might do customers a lot more harm than good. I've yet to see the feds make any real case that Microsoft left consumers any worse off. There is a misguided notion that somehow consumers would be much better off had Netscape not suffered at Microsoft's hand. Or that we'd be that much closer to computing nirvana had Microsoft failed to weave so many features into its operating systems.

The idea of bringing additional elements into the operating system as a way to provide more value isn't Microsoft's concept alone. Does anyone remember the days when you had to buy--and install--memory cards, serial cards, modem cards, terminal adapter cards, and Ethernet adapters? How about sound cards and multimedia kits?

All these products used to be big business. This PC aftermarket shriveled when the hardware OEMs started adding all these components into the base package. Why did PC makers embrace this route? Gee, because it was easier for customers and, yes, it allowed them to obtain incremental revenues that otherwise might have gone directly to component makers. Did PC prices go up because of this? Don't make me laugh.

There is no doubt that Microsoft played hardball with Netscape. The Internet's sudden surge caught Microsoft flat-footed. It reacted at its competitive best. I don't question that abuses took place. But are customers worse off? Of course they aren't.

Microsoft integrated Internet Explorer into the operating system because it was the best thing for customers--as well as for Microsoft. It bundles an e-mail client for the same reason. The same is true for Windows Media Player.

Customers like the Windows bundle, and I hope it doesn't go away. Having a browser brought into the operating system is no different than building modems into new PCs. Both are excellent ways to serve--not screw--consumers. Microsoft's bundling, which hasn't cost customers a cent, has brought tremendous value to computing and made the widespread adoption of Internet technology possible. And for this Microsoft deserves praise, not scorn.