Hungary Officials Raid Microsoft Office

[OhioChick]

Source: AP

Associated Press 07.26.07, 4:26 PM ET

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Hungary's state Competition Authority raided the offices of Microsoft Corp.'s local subsidiary as part of a probe into the company's relationship with large software distributors.

The unannounced raid took place July 19 at the offices of Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) Magyarorszag Kft., according to a notice posted on the authority's Web site.

According to the statement, Microsoft used sales conditions and offered software distributors incentives - described as "loyalty discounts" - so they wouldn't offer clients anything but Microsoft Office products.

Such behavior could lead to the exclusion of competitive products from the market and violate European Union rules, according to the authority known as the GVH.


Read more: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/26/ap3957835.html

[zalinda]

1. Yup, that's how Microsoft does business

I'm glad that they aren't going to let it happen over there. I use Microsoft only because I have to, but am not happy about it.

And no, I can't afford a Mac.........so don't even go there.

zalinda

[AndyTiedye]

2. Might I Recommend Linux Then

Linux is free, and runs on the PC you already have.

[zalinda]

3. I would love to, unfortunately I so afraid that it will

mess up all my business files, that I haven't done it. Maybe when my son upgrades, I can use his old computer to take a look at Linux.

zalinda

[Occulus]

5. By business files, what exactly do you mean?

I know OpenOffice, for example, handles Micro$oft's native format, and the GIMP handles Adobe's .psd format. Not so sure about spreadsheets- my only experience with those and free software was when I was trying to mod a game that used a spreadsheet for some of the units, and the Micro$oft macros programmed into the file didn't function properly.

But that was one and only one incompatibility. I'm uncertain of others.

Basically, if you are curious and want to know if you can safely migrate to linux, consider what types of files you use and check for open source apps that support those formats. You can do this from Window$, actually; most open source software options you'll find during your search have a linux version as well.

Keep in mind, linux comes with a compiler (which Micro$oft and/or resellers historically charge a firstborn child for), so you may end up having to compile from source. For Window$ uses, this can be scary the first time you do it, as the screen fills with what looks like trash (sometimes for a very LONG time indeed), but you get free software out of it.

And cake. Lots of cake. :silly:

Try http://www.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu linux first. I understand it's supposed to be easier to use than other flavors. Good luck!

[zalinda]

7. One of the programs I use is Quickbooks

so you can understand my hesitantcy. Plus, the only MS product that I use is Windows, every other program is from shareware companies, if at all possible. I hate giving money to the big guys. Quickbooks was the only thing I could find at the time that was halfway easy, and it's from 1999.

zalinda

[Bicoastal]

4. But Bill Gates refused to give the poor officials any food....

"Let 'em eat Linux," he snarled...

Never mind.

(Shouldn't that be Hungarian officials?)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. What will they raid next? Corel Draw? -nt