MSN Going the Way of IE for Mac

By C.K. Sample, III


Microsoft has announced that they will no longer offer MSN dial-up service for Mac. Of the multiple reasons I do not care about this news, I'm not really sure which is the reason I care the least.  Let's review them, shall we? First of all, it's dial-up. 
Secondly, it's Microsoft internet-related software, like that horribly malformed and slow security risk that everyone knows and loathes: Internet Explorer for Mac.  Third, and here's the interesting part: "Under a deal from years ago with Qwest, Microsoft is required to offer Internet access to Mac users. Therefore, customers will still be able to buy $22-a-month Internet access from Microsoft. However, the company will not offer any local software and customers will have to log on using the Mac's built-in Internet Connect dialer."

Let me get this straight: Everyone who currently uses MSN to connect their Mac to the internet will still be able to do so, but without having to install any extra MSN software on their Mac.  Rather they will rely on OS X's built-in tools for internet connection.

Where's the downside to this news?

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