Jerry,

>For example, when you HAVE to use IE to browse most website because propriatary XML, Kerberos and other technology make non MS browsers non-functional. I saw that Britian has made a government website, that it will require it citizens to access for certain government business, IE dependent. Other browsers are rejected. You can't run IE on other platforms, so what are Brition to do.

I really have to address this point separately, because it is a good example of an anti-MSFT article on Slashdot which ignores the facts.

The Slashdot article is at http://slashdot.org/articles/01/05/29/2058238.shtml

The government site is at http://www.gateway.gov.uk/

Firstly, you say "that it will require its citizens to access for certain government business" - there is no requirement in the UK to carry out any government business over the internet. I have no idea where you got that from.

Secondly, the site in question uses digital certificates - as some apparently don't support this, those browsers cannot be used to access parts of the site.

You can see the list of requirements by clicking on the link to "What do I need before I can register?" on the gov web site.

Best.

Matt.