Windows Too Complex to Mess With, Exec Says

Using a personal computer would turn into a confusing and frustrating experience under antitrust sanctions sought against Microsoft Corp. by nine states, a Microsoft executive testified. Christopher Jones, in charge of development of the Windows operating system for desktop computers, said proposals to let computer makers and rival software developers tinker with parts of Windows would create chaos for consumers and hurt the industry.

Jones told U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly that Windows was a highly complex array of interdependent blocks of code that could not be pulled apart and put back together in just any combination.