Due Diligence
RE: "Hal, Give it a rest. I admit you've posted one or two interesting little tidbits of information, but you shovel so much vitriolic refuse that it becomes difficult to wade through and find content. Thanks, Mike" in response to a posting on "Gates Replies".
Mike, thank you for your comments, but please do not shoot the messenger! : -)
I have actually read the Gates "Reply". It seems to me to be a compilation of transparent misdirections away from the specifics of the issues. Have you tried to imagine this reply being promoted, as presented, in a court of law as a substitute for a legal defense?
In fact, I do not think that Microsoft's better lawyers will allow the irrepressible Bill Gates to spend much time before the court propounding this line, if they can possibly prevent it.
Legal minds will almost certainly cleave the issues along different lines than the irrelevant and transparently self-serving ones propounded by Bill Gates in his reply. To repeat myself as previously posted, legal type charges require a legal type defense. Bill Gates is in effect saying that he has not yet come to see it that way. This is not a good thing for Microsoft shareholders when it persists too far into the legal proceedings.
Being the consummate well rounded business man, I am sure Bill Gates will eventually swallow his pride and begin to consult effectively with his legal staff. I think the sooner, the better.
In the mean time, this so called "Reply" is nothing new and is something better suited to rallying the faithful than to actually addressing the issues. But, who can say? Maybe the current tack is the best one for now. The real "Reply" may come at the appropriate time.
The bottom line here is that these legal proceedings are serious business. Blinders must be set aside. To imply that the charges are so obviously ill founded that the courts will not make any changes in Microsoft's prospects is not likely to be the true outcome. As an investor, it is well to remain mindful that any change in Microsoft business prospects is also a change in Microsoft shareholder prospects.
Hal
PS: With respect to frustration with "vitriolic" comments relating to Bill Gates, please remember that he is a very controversial figure beyond the confines of this board. Perceptions of Bill Gates profoundly affect the value of Microsoft shares and there are no sacred cows in investing. If no vitriol were to appear here in relation to Bill Gates' business practices, then this board would be somewhat misdirected in its speculations about how high Microsoft will fly. Happy Investing. HR |
