Anti-Windows Catalog

Sunbelt Pot calls Microsoft Kettle Black

Written by Gordon Fecyk, 6/23/2006

FOUL! FOUL! MICROSOFT IS BULLYING US AGAIN! Sunbelt Software's Alex Eckelberry went on a rampage denouncing Microsoft's Live OneCare anti-virus service, declaring it "predatory."

Microsoft is endangering the entire security ecosystem with ruthless, Standard Oil-style pricing.

The predatory tirade went on to compare Microsoft's offering with those from Symantec, producers of Norton Antivirus, and McAfee, producers of Virusscan.

Strangely, mister Eckelberry didn't include his own products in the comparison. Let's cite his numbers and compare his company's prices alongside, shall we?

Eckelberry's omission of his own product seems absurd, doesn't it? If he's going to accuse anyone of predatory pricing, maybe he should look within his own company. CounterSpy is priced at -33% compared to Norton Antivirus. This is rather comparable to OneCare's -44%.

I TOLD YOU THIS WAS HAPPENING. The IT security industry is running scared. Sunbelt doesn't have a superior product compared to OneCare, and they don't even have superior products compared to Norton Antivirus, or McAfee Virusscan. In fact, they appear to have several smaller and cheaper products which directly compete with similar offerings from Symantec and McAfee. Because they don't have a better product and not enough time to develop one, they chose to take the smear campaign route.

The only real foul here is Microsoft beating Sunbelt Software at their own game. This sounds like the Sunbelt Pot calling the Microsoft Kettle black, doesn't it?

If I really wanted to add insult to injury, I'd further point out that all of the listed products are obsolete, thanks to built-in safety features in Windows 2000, Windows XP, and soon Windows Vista. If you really want to save money on security software, then practice safe computing. There's nothing more predatory than -100% pricing, after all!

Related Links:

• Counterpoint: Microsoft and Predatory Pricing
• KettleMicrosoft practices predatory pricing -- PotSunbelt Software
• The Register's editors say Get a grip, Eckelberry -- The Register
• Vista Scares The Industry. This is a Good Thing.
• Eckelberry should fix his own products

[Catalog Home]

Resources:

Recently Edited Categories:

Browse All Categories

Recent Commentaries:

Browse All Commentaries