Ravenwood - 10/10/02 07:10 AM
The Register notes that Microsoft has had an epiphany.
Numerous studies have confirmed for Microsoft what any fool knows: people are not much interested in a home-entertainment device masquerading as a computer that burns special mission-impossible DVDs which can't be played on any device other than the specific machine which recorded them.It seems that the power of the consumer and the almighty dollar hasn't completely faded. I agree with the Register, that people aren't likely to line up to buy one of these machines. You can record DVD-type disks, but they still don't play on standard DVD players. It is amazing that a company that made their fortune with open-compatibility is now trying to pioneer a proprietary format. But what do I know?Unfortunately, that's just how MS designed its new Windows Media Center PCs, apparently in hopes of pleasing the entertainment industry, which considers listening to or viewing its products to be a criminal act in all but the most rigidly-controlled, preferably supervised, situations.
M$ uses open standards only when it suits them. Otherwise it's all about corraling users into a corner. Another thing they like to do is "embrace and extend" where they take an open standard and build functionality into it, but only for Microsoft products. (Kerberos)
Posted by: todd at October 10, 2002 12:07 PM(c) Ravenwood and Associates, 1990 - 2014
