You're always free to do without altogether. Just because you don't want to have to make that decision doesn't give you the right to demand that others change the way they do things.


When a law prevents you from exercising your rights then that law is invalid and there is no moral obligation to abide by it.

I think they'll decide according to what they find to be in their best interests and act accordingly.
Of course not. It's not like anyone's being forced to do anything--if they don't like the terms they can always refuse to deal with Microsoft.

SO, $16 is what you get back for not wanting to use Windows on a PC. What a joke. That's great. So you buy a PC and the manufacturer includes Windows OEM version. The OEM version is worth about $130 (For Windows XP Pro). So they give you back $16 of $130. Real nice

Aint MS Great

---------------------

On a side note, I will say this. I think if you buy a product, like Windows, Office, Half-Life or whatever, you should "own" it. Nobody should tell you you have to upgrade or that you need to stop using it after a certain time (Steam is doing this to Half-Life right now).

L8r,
Whitehat

Really? maybe we should let all the felons out then. You're saying that there is nothing illegal then.
"Ohh... by the way, holding on to my money is my right, so I'm not paying that fine Mr. Officer"
Or.. how about tresspassing laws?
It's my right to walk anywhere I want!
Let's just say you might get shot eventually.

We are.. nice. I'd love to see any major bank operate without PCs, or Ford, or the US gov't.
So no, we aren't free to do without.

Point is, MS is a monopoly, that means if they choose something else 90% of the time, if it's a company they'll go out of buisness because they can't find the right applications.

I perfectly agree. Except for one point.
Now... what do you mean by best interests?
I think a companies best interests are to pick the best product for the job, not beeing forced to do what a certain company dictates or be forced out of buisness.
By using your defition, extorsion would simply qualify as you acting in your best interests (by giving me all your money, your car, wearing a pink feathered suit, and walking in circles), or I burn your house down.

Ok,As far as choice what does a normal home user knows about linux or apple? M$ marketing campaign makes sure that no one knows about anything else, is that choice? My family never even heard of linux until I started using it and why is that? I'll tell you because these companies that make computers fear M$ will take there rights to sell windows away if they advertise to sell something else!

Just because I "choose" to by a product does not necessarily make it my choice, it just means that someone made there product sound a little better then the rest but that also does not mean thats the case. What does the average computer have in the area of choices when he/she walks into a computer store and all they sell is windows machines? And of course the people that work in such a place will take that person and tell them how great this system is when its loaded with windows because they want to sell a product to make money! To me these are not fair business practices and gives the consumer the unfair choice.

just my 2 cents!

ooops