The Microsoft Scheme
As a newbie I'm not privy to too many things technical, or “inside-information” in the computer world, but it just struck me today what Microsoft is doing. Microsoft knows very well that standards are being set for the industry and that they have no alternate course but to conform themselves. Yet by delaying the pace at which they themselves conform—because they can as the industry leader—they end up stifling the pace at which standards are being set, in effect buying their time as the leader.
The one thing I don't understand is why the standard setters tolerate their scheme. Any ideas? |
Probably because they are financed or bribed my M$.
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Joe Sixpack who buys a PC at Wal-Mart doesn't care, as long as they get their email, and can watch a video online. They don't know/care about DRM, viruses, or whatever...they know they push the button, the computer comes on, and they click the icon to do something. MS drags their feet, so that they can push THEIR version of the 'standard' out...look at IE. No one actually cares anymore what MS does, really....folks who know better simply load Linux or buy a Mac. Apple has seen their share of the desktop market grow (albeit slowly), and Linux encroaches more and more on the desktop, not to mention the back-end server market. |
The people who write the standards just write the standards. If Microsoft doesn't conform to those standards, it's not their problem.
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There is no great conspiracy, sorry. |
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For example: I recently heard a story about a (non-english) MMO company who installed kernel-level copy protection software onto machine of their every client. You can't get rid of that, it is probably vulnerable, and technically it is a ready-to use botnet. Now, try to explain the problem to "average" person... Another thing is that even if you're skilled, I see no reason to treat a standard as something sacred. |
Market has it's own dynamics.
Front end software from Microsoft is the most recognised and practiced. Therefore they are able to get away with anything. Secondly, and even more important, even though Microsoft is a member of most standards organisations and committees, they dont participate but just hang around in the background and make their own alternative versions. The latest example was seen in the Open Document Format. OK |
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But then doesn't MSFT eventually conform to most of these standards? |
Standards are decided by international consensus. If there is no unanimity, there is a vote with each country getting one. It needs two third majority to make a standard. Also, there can be multiple standards.
As of writing, open document format is a standards and open xml (the microsoft proposal) is just short of the two thirds needed. Importantly, Microsoft is in the drafting committee of the open document format but didn't make any contribution. OK |
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