The Chronicle of Higher Education: Colloquy

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Richard Barker argues that we must accept Microsoft's dominance in the Operating System marketplace (and the anti-competitive behavior which such dominance fosters) because "Microsoft is the 'owner of the technical means of production.'" To buttress this argument, Barker mentions that the alternatives, Linux and OS/2 "cannot handle the multitude of applications that are considered the 'norm' for the general educational edifice."

The problem with this argument is two-fold. First of all, while it is true that Linux and OS/2 applications are few and far between, and certainly not extant in sufficient number to justify major expenditures in Linux and OS/2 hardware by colleges and universities, Barker has carefully ignored the existence of the Macintosh OS, and the extensive library of educational software available for that platform. Truth be told, unless you are purchasing your computer for the primary purpose of playing the newest multimedia games, the WinTel environment holds NO advantages in software availability over the MacOS. And, as we are discussing the use of computers in higher education, games are most certainly not the issue.

Secondly, and in my opinion more importantly, Barker's argument seems to suggest that Microsoft should be permitted to be a bully precisely because they are so good at it. They may be "the key player," but the mere fact that they hold 90% of the OS market is not (by any stretch of the imagination) a justification for the use of anti-competitive tactics in order to gain the other 10%. And make no mistake: Their policy of paying professors and computing services administrators to act as "advisors and consultants" (read: Shills) who then, not surprisingly, argue for the exclusive presence of the Windows OS in their jurisdiction, is anti-competitive and, frankly, contrary to the principles of academic integrity.

-- David W. SImon, Deputy District Attorney, San Bernardinoi County District Attorney's Office (posted 7/2, 11:20 a.m., E.D.T.)
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