Hi Hank

Long time, no see. How're you doing?

>and in any case, when running on Linux (see Paul McNett's article in the March FoxTalk), the msi files aren't used; the files are copied directly. And so the questions looks to be pretty open.

Agreed. However, while the installation stuff is not required, a lot of other things that are on that list are used so it is still pretty restrictive IMO.

>And if MS thinks it isn't open, I'll bet there are some State Attornies General who might think otherwise...

No takers on that bet :)

>It's clearly a "tying" attempt by MS, tying developer tools to the OS to increase the sales of the OS. Tsk tsk.

What? You think MS would ever try and do such a thing? Shame on you, Sir :)