@Gis Bun (and various others with the "they should go after Apple as well")
'The only ones that care...' 'So much for living in a democracy...' 'The EC is telling people what they can and can't do. Maybe they should stop wasting millions on this mess and try and do something meaningful.'
On the contrary. Firstly, many people care. There are lots of people however who don't care and just want their computer to work in the same way that their TV works. Alas they've been sold this picture and they don't know any better.
Secondly, a democracy is about everyone. Not a majority. Not a minority. Everybody. There are restrictions though: you can't really let a mass murderer go round claiming that he/she has the same rights as everyone else when he/she is actively engaged in taking someone else's rights away.
Thirdly, and this ties in with secondly, the "people" who are telling everyone what they can and can't do is Microsoft. This point doesn't really need any examples, they're there for all to see. What the EU Commission is doing is protecting the rights of people to be able to make a choice (e.g. use whatever browser they want without having something foist upon them, or even be able to use whatever OS they want without having to purchase/install another OS). The word for this is democracy. Yes it is, see secondly.
I've seen Stallman talk on a couple of occasions now and whilst I don't really like the way he behaves, I've come to the conclusion that he's largely correct. This is a political battle for the ability to use your computer, in the way that you want, with the programs of your choice. There's a word for this: freedom.
'If they continue, they should go after Apple for allowing them to bundle Safari [does any Apple users use that buggy piece of crap anyways?]'
The difference is that Apple is not a convicted monopolist. [Yes, my boyfriend - one of the people who uses the machine like he uses a TV - quite reasonably too since all he does is e-mail and surf.]
And finally, in the 30+ years I've used computers it never fails to amaze me just how much shit people who don't know any better will put up with. "That's the way it works," is the plaintive cry. Bollocks. These people wouldn't put up with a car that stalled two or three times every journey but they'll put up with an OS that does the equivalent. They just can't be arsed to go out and learn something about the machines and that's because they expect to be able to just switch it on and go.
Which brings me back to firstly.
Sigh... why am I even bothering... I'm just a bit sick of it all now... where's the lottery ticket...