RealNetworks sues Microsoft alleging monopoly of digital media

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: igowerf
WMP is actually a pretty nice piece of software. Not everyone cares that it loads .5 seconds slower than Winamp.

0.5 less? You've got a new machine or are very lucky/careful. For mine, WA loads in about a quarter of a second, WMP 2 seconds or so, and never takes less than 2 seconds to actually start playing a file (unless it's music).

 

[GoodToGo]

Originally posted by: Balt

Originally posted by: gopunk
i got news for them... their "substantial lost revenue and business" is a direct result of their subpar software

To call their software subpar is being pretty generous, but other than that you are absolutely right.

RealNetworks was one of the first companies (IIRC) to include spyware in their program. Their software is crap that breaks stuff.

Tell me about it, after I installed it, it took over all the digital file types even though I specifically checked off all the associated file types box. Good lord, I hate it so much that I dont even view videos in Real player format (even if it is getting rave reviews from someone else).

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: marquee

Originally posted by: gopunk
i got news for them... their "substantial lost revenue and business" is a direct result of their subpar software

couldnt have put it better myself.

I can't say it better, but I can say it meaner. That piece of sh*t company deserves nothing but bankruptcy and if Microsoft is hurting their business in the least I will sleep better at night for it. The last time I ever have to lay my eyes on a frigging real media piece of crap file will be a sweet time indeed.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

For once, I don't agree with an enemy of MS....

Real stuff sucks!

 

Attention FBI: I Plan on Destroying RealNetworks Headquarters From an Orbital Laser Cannon

 

[Legendary]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: marquee

Originally posted by: gopunk
i got news for them... their "substantial lost revenue and business" is a direct result of their subpar software

couldnt have put it better myself.

I can't say it better, but I can say it meaner. That piece of sh*t company deserves nothing but bankruptcy and if Microsoft is hurting their business in the least I will sleep better at night for it. The last time I ever have to lay my eyes on a frigging real media piece of crap file will be a sweet time indeed.

Amen. :beer:

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: igowerf
WMP is actually a pretty nice piece of software. Not everyone cares that it loads .5 seconds slower than Winamp.

0.5 less? You've got a new machine or are very lucky/careful. For mine, WA loads in about a quarter of a second, WMP 2 seconds or so, and never takes less than 2 seconds to actually start playing a file (unless it's music).

It's always been pretty quick for me. My current system IS pretty fast, but the load time isn't that long on my laptop either (4200 rpm hard drive). WMP actually takes less memory for me too. Right now, Winamp 5 takes 9mb while WMP only takes about 4.5mb. Neither are showing visualizations.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: gopunk
i got news for them... their "substantial lost revenue and business" is a direct result of their sh!!ty software

 

[theNEOone]

Originally posted by: GhettoFob

Originally posted by: Sid59

Originally posted by: Ameesh
MS is not stopping people from downloading and installing real player. people are not doing so becaue real software blows

exactly.

word

that's not the point of anti-trust litigation. predatory and anti-competitive behavior goes far beyond whether or not microsoft prevents users from installing real player. that being said, realplayer needs to go to hell.


=|

 

[theNEOone]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: ajayjuneja
Ok well, MS was also 4 years behind in the streaming media race, and then bundled WMP 8 with every copy of WinXP. Hate to tell you this, but this is exactly like what they did with IE4. Better product or not doesn't matter. What does is the bundling with the OS bit. I for one, hope MSFT gets a big slap on the wrist for this one. They need to learn to stop biting the hand that feeds them -- that is seeking out and detroying companies who provide software for Windows.

Sorry bud, but no one is forcing you to use WMP. The difference with IE was that it was integrated into the Explorer and interface of the computer. But having a product included isn't a monopoly tactic. Also no one is forcing you to buy and use the project.

first of all, monopoly tactics aren't illegal, just as far as they are maintained by legal means, i.e. superior product, patents, etc. second, bundling isn't illegal - it happens all the time. the problem is with tying a less popular product w/ a product that maintains 40%+ of market share, and not giving the consumer a choice as to whether or not the tied-in product is included in their purchase. it has nothing to do with microsoft making you USE it - the mere fact that it's included is enough to be considered illegal under certain circumstances. also, the fact that IE was integrated into explorer and the interface had very little to do w/ the court's decision. it wasn't so much an issue of the fact that IE was tied into windows - it was more of an issue how microsoft maintained IE's prevalence. e.g. they incurred large outlays of development capital and forfeited opportunities to derive revenue from it - with no prospect of compensation other than the erection or preservation of barriers against competition by equally efficient firms, i.e. netscape. microsoft engaged in predatory tactics, which basically involves aggression against business rivals through business practices that wouldn't be considered profit maximizing except for the expectation that actual rivals will be driven from the market.



=|

 

[JungleMan1]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
WMP 6.4 is sweet.

WMP 6.4 is so 5 years ago...I'm using 9 myself.

 

[rh71]

.rm format is nice, but I use WMP Classic to play it. 😉

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
I would have more sympathy for Real in this case if they weren't liers(durring the MS monopoly trial, they claimed MS intentionally broke RealPlayer, a statement they later retracted after some geeks made some good points about the phonyness of the claim),

I thought Real broke RealPlayer.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: igowerf
WMP is actually a pretty nice piece of software. Not everyone cares that it loads .5 seconds slower than Winamp.

0.5 less? You've got a new machine or are very lucky/careful. For mine, WA loads in about a quarter of a second, WMP 2 seconds or so, and never takes less than 2 seconds to actually start playing a file (unless it's music).

Your machine must really suck. Both Winamp 2.x and WMP9 load just about instantaneously for me. This is such a non-issue, it's laughable.

 

[SaltBoy]

I personally think that REAL has the monopoly on digital media, not microsoft. Everytime I want to watch a video on sites such as cnn.com. mlb.com, and other popular sites, it's in REAL format. GAH!!! 🙁

 

[Kipper]

Like a previous poster said, the reason why REAL doesn't have a monopoly is because its software sucks. Simple as that.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Lonyo

Originally posted by: ViRGE
I would have more sympathy for Real in this case if they weren't liers(durring the MS monopoly trial, they claimed MS intentionally broke RealPlayer, a statement they later retracted after some geeks made some good points about the phonyness of the claim),

I thought Real broke RealPlayer.

That's my point, they did. It wan't MS that broke it, it was real.

 

[Avatar26]

Originally posted by: igowerf
WMP is actually a pretty nice piece of software. Not everyone cares that it loads .5 seconds slower than Winamp.

<whine>You're player is free, without ad support, plays more stuff, and does plays it better than ours! It's not fair!</whine>
For once, MS does have the better product (only comparing between RP and WMP, not all media players)

Edited for stupid grammar mistakes.

You're not done editing.

Thank, edited again (too many cocktails with the boss at lunch...)😱

 

[spaceman]

haha!
i hope real gets buried and never returns
over the past couple weeks at work i have removed it from over 100 machines
DIE REAL DIE!!!