Nickname: jalabi

Review: RealPlayer is a big, bloated, spyware ridden piece of software. I used to like the earlier incarnations, but around version 8 they turned truly evil, installing things that you really don't need, changing all the file associations without your permission, etc. So I uninstalled it and installed RealAlternative. A much smaller, single-purpose program that plays all RealMedia files, and does it well. (The same guys made QuickAlternative for QuickTime haters.) Get yourself a copy, and get free of RealPlayer dictatorship.

Date reviewed: Apr 25, 2006 12:35 PM

Nickname: jakecolly

Review: I don't see what the commission is trying to prove in the first case. We know Windows media player is widely used but it's not the best. You should try WinAmp from www.winamp.com because it's tons better. Also, of course, Microsoft has a huge percentage of the market because there are millions of people who have it with their Windows system who may or may not atually use this application. That is hardly monopoly control. That figure does not even take into account the other media players that compete in this market.

Date reviewed: Apr 25, 2006 3:06 AM

Nickname: Wayne

Review: I fail to see the differences between Microsoft/Media Player and Apple/iTunes. Neither company is locking anyone into its media player. You are free to go download RealPlayer, VLC, MPlayer, etc. on either system. They are simply providing a piece of free software with their operating system. Next thing you know, some random company who makes a Solitaire or Minesweeper game is going to sue Microsoft for eliminating their market.

Date reviewed: Apr 24, 2006 6:56 PM

Nickname: Dave B

Review: Maybe if RealPlayer was interested in putting out a media player that wasn't a pile in the first place, instead of just trying to sue Microsoft to take them out of the market, they would have a share above 10%. The problem isn't that Microsoft is bundling. It's that RealPlayer is awful. Please, go to a web forum and try and post a file in the RealMedia format. Half of the people there won't download it simply because they don't want to put RealPlayer on their computers. I'm not a huge Microsoft fan. I don't even use Media Player. ITunes has more of what I want from a player. I even used it before I had an iPod (iTunes is one of the primary reasons I decided on an iPod). If Real would wake up and realize it's their product, not the competition that's the problem, they might be able to pull themselves out from the bottom of the pile.

Date reviewed: Apr 24, 2006 2:27 PM

Nickname: Tom B

Review: Microsoft's abuse of its monopoly has severely limited innovation in the tech sector and has resulted in hundreds of millions of people owning insecure, buggy computers that they detest. The US backed down from monopoly enforcement against the software giant under the current administration, which has shown itself to always put big money ahead of the consumer. One hopes the EU does better.

Date reviewed: Apr 24, 2006 1:36 PM