It is bad enough that Microsoft bullies everyone it can.  And, certainly if they are going to bully Intel, no one else is going to be spared.  Microsoft's culture is much closer to organized crime than it is representative of the computer industry.  Most major corporations have active policies in place preventing this kind of conduct.
 
The meat will come when the true price of IE is exposed (no, Virginia it is not free when you have to pay money and you have to take it).  The meat will come when the economists point out what everyone already knows for a fact; Microsoft has a monopoly on consumer operating systems.  And, they can force the sale of IE upon all consumers.  Heck, they even forced Apple to sell IE.  So.  If you buy a personal computer anywhere, you are forced to buy IE.

So.  Without exception, everyone must purchase IE. No monopoly product has ever been so powerful as to force the sale of an unwanted, unneeded or undesired product upon 100% of the customer base.  The Microsoft consumer OS product is that powerful.  And, it is obvious.  Anyone who argues that is not the case if making a real fool out of themselves.

Yet some Microsoft supporters will continue to argue that everyone has it because they like it.  Some will even argue that everyone should be forced to buy it because ...<any old silly excuse goes here>.

Some will even continue to use deceit as Microsoft does and claim that IE is the free part of the $200 item.  Let me give you a hint: Monopolists always claim that the undesired part of a bundled product is the "free part".  Otherwise consumers might object.

Do you suppose Microsoft would give 98 away for free?  Or, allow it to be downloaded?

IE almost triples the cost of the basic OS from Microsoft.  Even Microsoft in its official financial reports attributes 20% of all operating system income to "unearned revenue" which THEY claim includes IE.   So, it is not free.

Steve Ballmer says that Microsoft does not give away software. (I agree.  A monopolist does not need to.  A monopolist can just bundled it and set the price to cover both.)  So, it is not free.

So which is it?  Is it free?  Or, is that claim just a false statement to offered to fool the consumer?  If every tube of toothpaste came taped to a tooth brush, do you really think that all consumers would say "great, a free brush with every tube, what a deal?".

There is no such thing as a "free" product taped to a monopoly product.  Any economist will tell you that it is just not necessary.  A monopolist can always charge for both products.  A monopolist can either over charge for one or just add the two prices.

Microsoft clearly is forcing the sale of IE and being paid for it too.

The only question is how much.  Is it $140?  Microsoft has priced the bundle at $200.

Lewis A. Mettler, Esq.