Re: Where to download free Fujitsu COBOL compiler

tlmfru wrote:
HeyBub <heybub@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:8M-> If you're
worried that a Microsoft monopoly will gouge the consumer, don't.
In virtually every case, a free-market monopoly is good for the
consumer!

You can't possibly be serious! Hasn't Microsoft been fined 1.5
billion euros for anti-competitive behaviour? And haven't they just
been enjoined from selling WORD because they've infringed upon a a
patent for XML?

Yes, Microsoft got pounded by the European courts.

But look at your claim: "... anti-competitive behavior." That's not
anti-CONSUMER behavior. MS got flogged for including a media player with XP
to the competitive disadvantage of other companies that wanted to SELL a
media player. From the consumer's perspective, FREE is better than PAID.

As for being prohibited from including XML, there is no way the CONSUMER
benefits from that sanction.

I stand by my statement: "In virtually every case, a free-market monopoly is
good for the consumer." Conversely, most government-sanction monopolies
leave much to be desired (cable TV, most roads, water distribution or other
utilities, and soon, the internet).



Even the poster boy for evil monopolies, Standard Oil, managed to
drive down the price of Kerosene from $3.00/gallon to 5¢/gallon in
only three years.


Was Standard Oil the only company involved?


Involved in selling Kerosene? Uh, probably. The original Standard Oil Trust
was first organized to take advantage of the burgeoning switch to Kerosene
(from whale oil).


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