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  3. Can anyone compete with Microsoft in the world of software applications? For years now, Bill Gates & Co. have had clear sailing:

Can anyone compete with Microsoft in the world of software applications? For years now, Bill Gates & Co. have had clear sailing:

admin2010-02-22  51
问题     Can anyone compete with Microsoft in the world of software applications? For years now, Bill Gates & Co. have had clear sailing: the Windows operating system monopoly has helped make their key products—like Word and Outlook—into unbeatable juggernauts. Meanwhile, innovation in those areas proceeds only at the pace that Microsoft deems appropriate.
    The Open Source Applications Foundation has a different idea: to promote free software and innovation by creating cool new applications on a bare-bones budget. The not-for-profit OSAF was initially funded with $5 million from former Lotus Development Corp. founder Mitch Kapor. For Kapor, this is a fascinating departure. Twenty years ago he introduced one of the first killer applications of the PC age, the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet; it was unabashedly for-profit and was closed-source.
    But Kapor always had his heart in the counterculture, and after leaving his company he co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a cyber-rights organization. Though he has seen success as an investor, he feels strongly about the open-source movement, which posits that in the age of complex software many people working for nothing can duplicate or even exceed the efforts of the rake-in-the-bucks gang. And because the source code is available to all, anyone can improve the product. The continued success of the Linux-powered operating system and Apache Web servers shows that open source is no wild dream, but a serious challenge to the establishment.
    Sometime next year the OSAF will begin testing its first product, a personal-information manager that directly takes on Microsoft’s Outlook. Named after the famous mystery novelist, Chandler will run on Mac, Windows and Linux, be loaded with clever features and allow users to share information with others on things like calendar entries. And, of course, it will be free. Kapor has signed up an all-star team, including Lou Montulli (Netscape Navigator browser) and programming legend Andy Hertzfeld. Also participating: thousands of volunteers who believe in the barn-raising spirit of the open-source movement.
    Ultimately, Kapor hopes the project will be self-supporting, with money coming from corporate sponsorships, foundations and licensing fees.
    For the immediate future, Kapor thinks that Chandler will be simply another alternative in the shadow of the giant. But long term, the OSAF sees a sea change in the industry itself. "If Chandler works, I can’t see why we couldn’t do a word processor or a spreadsheet," says Kapor. After all, he predicts, "in 10 years Office and Windows will be commodities." Meaning that the Open Source Applications Foundation, or anyone else, will be able to plug its products—including an operating sys tem-into your computing world. Microsoft’s will cost money. The others will be free. If Kapor has his way, it’s a long good-bye for Microsoft’s dominance.
选项 A、has taken a firm monopoly.
B、controlled all the innovation.
C、has no competitors.
D、developed the best software.
答案A
解析 事实细节题。根据题干中的Microsoft定位至首段第一句，开篇提问：在计算机王国的应用软件领域谁人能与微软抗衡？之后提到：Bill Gates和他的公司目标明确，Windows操作系统的垄断地位使得他们的主要产品，如Word和Outlook的地位无人能撼动。由此可得出答案选项的内容。该段末句提到：这些领域的创新也是以微软认为合适的速度进行的。这里指的是innovation in those areas，并非所有的创新。
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