Microsoft verdict panned as "pointless"

silicon.com readers have panned the EC ruling against Microsoft, with a staggering 42.4 per cent of respondents to a poll calling the decision "pointless".

A further 28.6 per cent said the penalties against the software giant are too lenient, while only 15.1 per cent said it was spot on and only 13.8 per cent think the ruling is too lenient.

On Wednesday, the EC ruled that Microsoft had to pay a €497m fine and also imposed measures upon the Redmond behemoth that would see it offer a stripped-down version of its Windows operating system without the Media Player application.

However, it is likely that the two version of the operating system will be priced identically and as such it's unlikely that, given a choice, consumers will opt for Windows-lite.

That ruling has led to accusations of pointless political posturing on the part of the EC and the fine, which many believe is pitiful for a company with Microsoft's revenues, has done little to placate those who believe the EC should have thrown the book at Gates and co.

And the reader comments have been pouring in. One reader wrote: "Although I think the fine is too lenient, I believe that the status quo will remain in Microsoft's favour. Not many manufacturers will bother to supply unbundled Windows when it costs the same as the bundled version."