Microsoft Hatred FAQ

[John-Paul Stewart]

David Schwartz wrote:
> 
> If nobody wants 
> these operating systems, then it doesn't hurt him not to be able to sell 
> them. If people want them, then he could have shown Microsoft the door.

If only 5% want another operating system, the vendor has to choose 
between selling to those 5% -or- to the 95% who want Microsoft.  Had it 
not been for the underhanded tactics, he could have sold to *both* groups.

 From a purely economic standpoint, the sensible thing is to accept that 
95% and let the 5% go elsewhere.

But if *every* vendor has to make that same choice, there is no place 
for that other 5% to go to buy another operating system.  So the other 
operating system(s) die off.  And those 5% become customers of Microsoft 
since there's no other choice left.  And *that* is where the legal 
problems start:  they gained market share by preventing consumers from 
finding competing products.