Debate: RealNetworks suing Microsoft

Let's talk about this: http://news.com.com/2009-1023_3-5168648.html?tag=nefd_lede

If you're one of the Anti-Microsoft zealots, tell me what you think, and why you think it. If you say something stupid, I'll punch you in the face, stab you in the heart, or light you on fire, depending on the severity of the stupidity.

If nothing else, read the quote below. I'll respond after a while, I want to see what everyone else thinks first.

Does this lawsuit hold water? Does it have merit? Does RealNetworks deserve $1 Billion from Microsoft? Do they even deserve $1? Are RealNetwork's failures related to Microsoft, or their own doings?

Key to the lawsuit is RealNetworks' claim that Microsoft has competed unfairly on the server side of the digital media business by offering free products to customers and by bundling that software with its dominant Windows operating system.

I didn't read the whole thing but Real sucks. That's why no one uses them, not because Microsoft is a bully. Microsoft is kicking their ass, so they want something free from them. WMP isn't much better than Real Player in my opinion, but better enough that I think Real has nothing to bitch about.

real is dumb, their product is horrible, always has been. Its dumb to say that microsoft is competing unfairly, its an operatiing system, if someone wants real they will download it. Any other operating system has these same programs bundled in them. If real wants people to actually use their products, they should make their own crappy os. Real is just mad that they arent making any money off their junk product, and want to go after the big company with all the money to spare. An operating system need some basic tools and microsoft is merely providing those tools.

It's a last ditch effort by Real Networks to get some money before going under. No one actually uses RealPlayer it downloaded itself onto my computer somehow, but it just sits there.

You guys are no fun, you're not supposed to hate Real !!!

I just downloaded Real Player for OSX tonight to play some South Park episodes I downloaded. That's the first time I've used it in about 2 years....

RealPlayer/RealOne sucks period!

Isn't the Real format so proprietary that only their player can decode it?.. I know Quicktime can open almost every possible file format ? and that QT *.mov files can be decoded in WMP too.

Thing about the RealPlayer or RealOne, each time you close it, there's this stupid ad box that appears from the bottom right of the taskbar.

Compare it with WMP and Quicktime, it loaded the slowest amongst the three.

I'm afraid I'm with everyone else here.

I do so love when people diss microsoft, but in all objectivity, Real is the worthy underdog here. Any of the services they provide are mediocre at best, and can eb done by either WMP, or any other third party program such as winamp, QT, etc. And as for their music player capabilities, they're clearly surpassed by iTunes or musicmatch (which I understand, sucks). Or, you can just find all of the content that they offer online.

The only reason that they're still around, is because they have parasitically attached themselves to organizations such as CBS, to provide clips of their network's assorted programs online. Now, there's no good reason that they can't just provide that in a more generic movie profile (mpg) that could be played on any platform. Granted, they're not just going to roll over, and except their fate. That's not how businesses work. Unfortunately, they seem to have run out of ideas insofar as the relevant services that they can still provide.

Unfortunately for those employed by Real, they may need to dust of the old resumés quite soon.

Well I do like the fact that someone is actually trying to get video to cell phones and PDA devices. Real is taking the horse by the reigns here and pushing to get companies to adopt video over wireless, albeit only about 1 frame per second at current, but at least somebody is starting.

Next up, portable satellite video!

If they can do it, and use that as their vehicle to stay around for another 5 years, then kudos for them. As it stands now though, they're going down fast.