By: Michael E. Martinez

Some people think that Microsoft forced users of Windows to use its Internet browsers which prevented other browser companies from putting their products on the market. I don't think Microsoft's behavior was unethical at all.

At the time that Microsoft was enforcing this, you did have other choices but very unpopular such as Linux and Solaris. Even though these alternative operating systems are still around, they are only used by developers and manufacturers to catalog their databases for the most part.

I think it's up to the public to educate itself as to other PC products that are out there. Microsoft is not the only software company around. I don't think of Microsoft's behavior towards its rivals to be unethical either. Microsoft has always been in my estimate, a very well run business to deal with.

There will always be someone out there trying to bring Microsoft down. Why not? With Microsoft's money, you would be extremely rich. So my take is everyone just wants a piece of their profit and will do anything to try to get it even if that includes false claims.

If Microsoft did have to change their business practices, it would probably be best to give rival companies options to embed their software in future releases of Windows. That way the consumer would have a sure way of choosing which software titles to use and not to use.

 For one, the public would benefit because they have a choice as to what products they would like to use. The rival companies would get some more market share off of this move as their software would be distributed then on a much larger scale then it had been in the past.