Giving to get news.com
Here's another guy that needs to be straightened out on the proper perspective on Microsoft, John. Maybe you can send him one of your sober, informative messages.
For Microsoft, concern for vendors is certainly not first priority, if it's a priority at all. Nor until Thursday, when it reached a settlement with Justice, did it seem to be concerned with the government's concerns, which centered around Microsoft's providing PC makers a choice of Windows 95 without the Internet Explorer browser.
Microsoft easily could have given in and complied with the DOJ order without any loss to its reputation or its business.
But instead it decided to put on a show of defiance, petulance, and arrogance, apparently aimed more at its so-called business partners than at the government. The message it seemed to be delivering to them was that if Redmond can stare down the DOJ, which wields unsurpassed power, then what chance do mere business competitors have?
In other words, even in the act of giving in to the DOJ, Microsoft got what it wanted all along: The forced loyalty of its business partners.
Right. The OEMs all love Microsoft, from the bottom of their hearts. As do we all.
Cheers, Dan. |
