Am I missing something?
 

Read this if you feel like it:
http://news.wired.com/dynamic/storie...MPLATE=DEFAULT

Now, tell me if I have misinterpreted what I read, but Microsoft just got slapped with a $613 fine by the EU because it includes Media Player as part of windows?

And they even acknowledge that it doesnt cost extra, and doesnt even need to be used, but supposedly MS is trying to muscle its way in because it offers free software as oart of it's os?


Does that mean if you bought a Mac and they included media software, they could fine Apple?

It seems completly absurd to me, and i really cannot comprehend how in hell they get away with charges like this. Its like saying that Hondas have radios, and you cannot buy a honda without a radio, so they are using unfair business practices. Now, you could choose not to use the radio, or even replace ti with one you already have, but they are going to get fined anyway.


Please tell me i am missing som ehuge, big-picture detail here that makes this bullshit make sense.

This is utter bullshit!!

It is ridiculous to even think that an operating system will be complete WITHOUT a media player bundled into it, now that technology has come so far that one of those is an absolute NECESSITY and an integral part of every OS.

EU has seriously lost its marbles. I feel sorry for the European people now...they might have to pay extra for a media player in their OS software.:rolleyes: I just hope they dont include this absurd trend everywhere.

Thats fucked up.
The EU is a waste of time,there all a bunch of jobsworths. As far as i know Windows OS has always included a media player 95 onwards.
I never use it but its besides the point.

EU must have run out of money, so they figured out a way of getting some.
I hate Bill Gates, but this is unbelievable.

Well, I'm glad that so far i dont seem to have missed the boat.

And that is definately the point there, personal feelings about the company or its people aside, you cant just slap people with fines because they have deep pockets, especially on bullshit precidents.

they cant even claim that it takes up too much space anymore. Most new computers have between 80 and 200 gigs of storage (and if you pay a little extra, you can damn near reach a terabyte for under a grand), and mediaplayer 10 takes up a whopping 7.9 megs.

The media player is a PART OF THE OS! It's "Windows Media Player", and if they didn't include it it's still a free download.

Yeah well, I'm actually not sure where I stand with this.
On 1 hand, bill gates is getting screwed, but on the other its for total bullshit.
So all in all, unless this really effects me personally I don't care much.

"Good morning, Sir. If you wish to have Windows Vista installed in your system, I can offer you the newest version, v. 10, of the Windows Media Player for only $99.99 extra."

Nice selling eh? Bleh...:mad:

What do use instead?

I've tried a lot of alternatives but haven't liked them much....

but you get free upgrades on the net, so what's the deal?