Let me state for the record that yes, I am not a huge fan of MSFT. It's not that I don't like their success, or I envy it. I just don't like some of the things they do (or have done).
Now, the notion of "innocent before being guilty" makes for nice rhetoric but somehow I don't believe it to be as cut and dry as you state. Every Grand Jury ever convined in the history of the US always has one thought pass through it's collective mind -- we must be here for a reason and their must be something wrong of the government has taken the time to present this stuff.
Prosecutors know they can't waste time or energy on stuff that won't pass the "grade" so to speak. They do this not because they are lazy but because it can be used as evidence to prove innocence or overzealous prosecution. All of which can be later used at an appeal hearing.
It also affects juries if prosecutors try 2 or 3 or 4 times to get a trail against someone. Juries don't like to hear that kind of stuff, it prejudices them against the state's case. For these reasons, prosecutors are very careful to be sure they have something (unless you discount for total corruption and they both of our opinions are moot).
If you don't believe me, just ask some defense attorneys, I'm sure they can better explain this.
I do agree with you about some bad choices/moves. This can explain probably 60% of MSFT's success. But come on, you expect me to believe ALL of MSFT's success is completely hinged on people making bad choices/moves and some good marketing? Do I look that silly?
There have been MANY documented instances of unethical (and even immoral) plays by MSFT in helping themselves along their path of success. Remember the DR-DOS incompatibility error messages? That was what??? Some programmer was just kidding right....
As for AOL, you miss the point on why people are AOL members. It's not about the access, it's about the community. Unless you like, you can't understand that aspect of it. The uniformity of the content, the ease of use, the ability to interact with many people in a seamless fashion all make AOL different from any other ISP. MANY AOL members can't wait to access their favorite AOL content via cable/DSL or any other hi-bandwidth alternative.
Heck, with outside access, AOL is nearly 55% cheaper ($9.95 per month as opposed to $21.95) for me. Get faster access to my favorite stuff and save 55% -- sign me up!
As for that MSFT employee sending that note....you make the assumption that the employee (if there really is one) was acting on their own and that MSFT is telling the truth.
Sounds to me like a very convenient excuse - some one did it, we don't know who but it wasn't really from us. Sorry.... oh yeah by the way, did you read that note, its true. Please, re-read the article. MSFT first denies doing it on purpose then comes up with a lame excuse and then asks you to look at the substance of the note and believe it as truth. Tricky stuff if you ask me.
As for what AOL is doing blockint out MSFT let see -- MSFT HACKED into AOL's backend systems to allow access into the Instant Messanger system for their client. Sounds like something most people go to court for.
Why couldn't they just work out a deal with AOL for access like everyone else?
Peter J Strifas |
