<Ballmer expects, that's right, expects Microsoft to lose $400 million on content businesses this year and to continue to sustain losses over the next 3 years. I wish somebody would ask them how much they are losing every year on Internet Explorer.>
Bill Gates did a damn good job in investing in MSNBC (they put in very, very little money), if that is what you are referring to. MSFT is not losing $400 million, MSNBC is losing $400 million dollars - this is a very big difference. If I am not mistaken, MSFT did not even invest $400 million dollars. In media, it is expected to have a 5 year breakeven point. The fact that the venture is losing money right now means reveals absolutely nothing outside of the fact that the companies are not overcooking the books (refernce Bloomberg LP, News Corp, CNN, etc..
<Ballmer admits that Microsoft Network is rigged so that, although Netscape users can view the "free" materials on the "promotional front end," to use MSN, you have to have an "Active-X enabled browser," i.e., IE. He says develping an internet access service "reguires" the choice of a browser, and Microsoft has (surprise) made its choice in IE. They are basically forcing people to use IE in order to be able to use the Microsoft Network. If you don't use IE, you can't use Microsoft Network.>
Come now Gerry, what do you expect? If anybody truly beleives that Active X is the most functional technology available right now, should they use anything else. You can use NAV 3.0 for Active X with the NCompass plug in if it bugs you that much (or download IE for free) |
