The week in your words: Leopard, Ofcom and Eee PC

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 2 Nov 2007 at 16:10

Ofcom hammered

Which brings us to Ofcom, the UK watchdog that distinctly didn't like the sound of the EU's proposals for a pan-European telecoms regulator - a fact its chief executive Ed Richards pointed out to the Financial Times in no uncertain times.

However, as Microsoft recently found out to its cost, the EU enjoys a scrap, and it wasn't going to going to accept any cheek from Ofcom.

"Go EU!" Cries an overly excitable qpw3141. "Ofcom needs (well, disbanding, really) a massive great kick up the backside."

Surely somebody will argue? Mr_Flynn? "Please, please, please, please, please, please, please let's get a regulator with teeth, initiative and proper objectivity and not the current bunch of oxygen thieves who are there at present."

Perhaps not, so what does all this mean? Amnesia10, over to you. "It is rare that the forums get a unanimous response." Indeed it is. "In this case we all would prefer the EU to replace Ofcom. It is a clear sign that Ofcom is not doing its jobs properly."

We couldn't possibly comment... except we already have. Oh well.

Low-cost laptops

And finally, the introduction of the glorious Eee PC and emergence of Classmate and OLPC machines means that the age of the low-cost laptop is truly upon us, a fact Microsoft seems to have taken note of as it goes around gazumping Linux deals.

This week its tactics earned it an ear bashing from employees of Linux distributor, Mandriva, who asked Steve Ballmer to "take a look in the mirror".

"That is not going to do any good because, like all Nosferatu, Ballmer does not cast a reflection," warns Stonespear.

Greemble wasn't having any of it though. "More competitive - isn't that what everybody keeps saying they want in the operating system market? Presumably only if it's competition against Microsoft, then... Sorry chaps, but if you really want competition, then be prepared to get the full weight of whatever advantage the other guys will throw into a competitive market."

And on that rare note of common sense we'll say goodbye. See you all next week.