Namaste - 9:33 am on Jan 27, 2005 (gmt 0)

It can be argued that GM is v. diff from MS. GM has cut prices to the bone makes a normal profit. MS makes supernormal profit and has enjoyed monopoly staus for over a decade.

In a monopoly situation it is very hard to determine who the thief is. Is it the monopolist that is charging supernormal prices, or the consumer? It can be argued that MS' monopoly pricing invites much of the piracy that we see. What happens if MS gives OEM manaufacturers XP at $5? Will there by any piracy. Very low likely. And surely MS can do that, considering XP is now at a fully depreciated stage.

It can also be argued that MS has hurt Linux and other competitors through various tactics (read: SCO suit; locking up fonts, etc). Consumer-Ready-Release of these OS will lead to correction in OS prices.