The decision to integrate Internet Explorer into Windows 98 helped spark antitrust litigation from the Justice Department in a wide-ranging suit that was decided last week in favor of the government. Integrating functions into the system, however, has been a given at Microsoft for years. This is evidence that they haven't been swayed in their product development by the antitrust trial. Microsoft executives said software developers weren't distracted by the company's legal woes. We were really heads-down on delivering this.
Integration generally takes two forms.
Some technologies, such as Internet Explorer, are woven into the OS, while others are given preferred placement. The games menu includes links to online games, along with the familiar standbys such as Solitaire and FreeCell. The online games are hosted by MSN, although nothing on the menu reveals them as such. Even though development of the operating system's features was set far in advance of the legal ruling, Windows Me sends a powerful message to Microsoft's detractors, say analysts. I could imagine having that technology fundamentally grounded in the OS makes sense out of the necessity to enable things.