How high will Microsoft fly? Message Board

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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly?

MSFT 485.92

+0.4%

Dec 19 9:30 AM EST

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To: Teflon who wrote (28629)	8/24/1999 11:18:00 PM
From: RTev	Read Replies (1) of 74651

If MSFT was planning on spinning this group off into the Market through an IPO as a separate business, Belluzzo might be the right kind of executive for the job. I agree that that's the only way this hire (if it actually happens since it's still just a strong rumor) makes sense. If that's what is about to happen, then today's runup makes more sense. I'm convinced that the various properties now under the "MSN" umbrella could compete much better as a separate entity. And Microsoft will do just fine without that division. I figure it's been mostly a distraction for Microsoft. Mike Maples, the products VP who oversaw the vanquishment of Lotus and WordPerfect and then built Office into a powerhouse, quit in '95 because of the decision to plunge into the content business. He argued openly that it was too far afield from Microsoft's core competencies. I think he was right. Hiring Belluzzo seems to be a way of finally fixing that mistake by letting Microsoft pursue what it does so well without the financial drain of those content properties. It lets the content properties, which are finally starting to show their own financial returns, create the kind of corporate culture they will need to succeed brilliantly. I fear I'm not one of those who feel that either Gates or Ballmer is capable of much helping with the creative side of the business. I think that both of them have been major obstacles for the content businesses. They've shown their genius in developing and marketing software, but that golden touch has not transferred well to the very different content business.

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