Re: Where to download free Fujitsu COBOL compiler

On Nov 7, 11:08 am, "HeyBub" <hey...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
tlmfru wrote:
HeyBub <hey...@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.

It is anti-consumer in that MS wields its monopoly by tying OEMs and
retailers in almost exclusive deals, most often with 'discounts' that
only get applied if the OEM does as MS 'asks'.

This means that the consumer is restricted in choice, usually they
cannot buy a computer without paying money to Microsoft.


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.

Not necessarily. MS would like to drive all other media players out of
business, like they tried to drive Netscape out of business with
'free' IE. MS would like to control access to movies and other
programs by having the only player and silverlight and using DRM to
control access. They could then take a cut of all movie viewing
revenue.

It is not about 'free stuff' it is about control of the industry and
revenue.


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

Just because you fail to understand does not mean there is no harm.

Microsoft stole another company's invention (and not for the first
time by far). That reduced the company's revenue so it may close. This
reduces consumer choice and reduces innovation.


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).

The reduction in price was not the result of Standard Oil but was
because oil drilling boomed when oil was $20 a barrel and the
resulting glut dropped the price to 10cents a barrel.

Production costs of kerosene plummeted and Standard Oil had to reduce
its own selling price because it was not a 100% monopoly. However,
what it did that was anti-trust was that it bought pipelines to
refineries it wanted to buy and then turned off the supply so the
company went bust.

"""To stimulate demand, the company sold or even gave away cheap lamps
and stoves."""

"""When independent companies tried to compete, Standard Oil quickly
cut prices--sometimes below cost--to drive them out of business. Then
Standard raised prices to recoup its losses."""

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Where to download free Fujitsu COBOL compiler
    ... worried that a Microsoft monopoly will gouge the consumer, ... Further, monopolies are sanctioned, even encouraged, by the United States ... Well, when the telephone company in Manitoba (MTS, a government ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: Where to download free Fujitsu COBOL compiler
    ... worried that a Microsoft monopoly will gouge the consumer, ... In the case of Microsoft, ... are not against monopolies but are against the _abuse_ that monopolies ... government for handouts! ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: HF Multifunction tool
    ... Even the arch-demon of monopolies, Standard Oil, managed to lower ... practices - not the average consumer. ... consumer needs - it's the competitors that are stirring up the folk. ...
    (rec.woodworking)
  • Re: Where to download free Fujitsu COBOL compiler
    ... worried that a Microsoft monopoly will gouge the consumer, ... billion euros for anti-competitive behaviour? ... Conversely, most government-sanction monopolies ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: HF Multifunction tool
    ... Even the arch-demon of monopolies, Standard Oil, managed to lower ... The consumer benefited enormously. ... consumer needs - it's the competitors that are stirring up the folk. ...
    (rec.woodworking)