Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on December 24, 2004 12:33 AM
Microsoft ship Windows Media Player on all Windows computers, so making it available to a wide range of clients.
Given that availability, and the DRM component, Windows have a strong sell to media suppliers to provide content in Windows Media Format.
It becomes a self-reinforcing loop, and if you need Windows Media to access downloaded music, then you needs Windows - so vendor lockin. If the next album from MegaBigBand needs the latest version of Windows, then its time for you to upgrade.
Whether or not it's anti-competitive is interesting. You can easily accuse them flooding the market at loss, a valid complaint. It would be really anti-competitive if the deals with the record companies prevented them releasing the media in other formats. I'm not aware of whether or not that has happened.
As for making a better product - many better products exist. The cost of the product though includes the hassle and expense of getting hold of it. If what comes For Free, already there on your shiny new PC is Good Enough, then there's little incentive for users to look elsewhere.
Much of Microsoft's strategy has been to use this tactic. The rest of the strategy is that once hooked, you're locked into the formats. Then the monopolist can charge whatever it wants to keep you in supply.
Lets say that in a few years time you find you have to buy the latest Windows just to continue enjoying your music downloads, or by then you have a subscription service through your permanently online broadband. Will you be busy complaining about socialists then when you have to pay whatever Microsoft charge to continue listening?
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Re:Nuts
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on December 24, 2004 12:33 AMGiven that availability, and the DRM component, Windows have a strong sell to media suppliers to provide content in Windows Media Format.
It becomes a self-reinforcing loop, and if you need Windows Media to access downloaded music, then you needs Windows - so vendor lockin. If the next album from MegaBigBand needs the latest version of Windows, then its time for you to upgrade.
Whether or not it's anti-competitive is interesting. You can easily accuse them flooding the market at loss, a valid complaint. It would be really anti-competitive if the deals with the record companies prevented them releasing the media in other formats. I'm not aware of whether or not that has happened.
As for making a better product - many better products exist. The cost of the product though includes the hassle and expense of getting hold of it. If what comes For Free, already there on your shiny new PC is Good Enough, then there's little incentive for users to look elsewhere.
Much of Microsoft's strategy has been to use this tactic. The rest of the strategy is that once hooked, you're locked into the formats. Then the monopolist can charge whatever it wants to keep you in supply.
Lets say that in a few years time you find you have to buy the latest Windows just to continue enjoying your music downloads, or by then you have a subscription service through your permanently online broadband. Will you be busy complaining about socialists then when you have to pay whatever Microsoft charge to continue listening?
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