How high will Microsoft fly? Message Board

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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly?

MSFT 507.49

-0.6%

Nov 17 3:59 PM EST

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To: Otto Plath who wrote (18719)	3/24/1999 3:16:00 PM
From: Hal Rubel	Read Replies (1) of 74651

Citizen Gates -Stonewalling on Settlements From CNN: "In an interview at an investor conference, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said the company is in ongoing talks with the government and that the company "would like nothing better" than to put an end to the lawsuit. Though terms of the settlement aren't yet known, the issue of Microsoft's ability to add new features to its Windows operating system is said to be non-negotiable. Microsoft's refusal to concede on that issue could derail any possible settlement, since bundling is one of the key issues in the government's case. The Justice Department claims that Microsoft leverages its Windows monopoly to stifle competition in other markets." This raises a lot of Questions: Looking flexible but sticking one's head in the sand is the new posture? How is this going to get the bad smell behind us any time soon?! IMHO, Gates is looking increasingly isolated in industry, within Microsoft, and in the investment community. Is this so called "non-negotiable" issue critical to the future of the firm? Can't we compete and prosper without it? Hal PS: What if we are still in the spotlight six months or more from now? Will Gates confrontational attitude become a regular part of the MSFT image? Will it affect investors by making MSFT's continued prosperity seem "controversial" or even "speculative"? Will this in turn affect our PE, in spite of continued profitability? No mater how profitable we are, if the PE pump-up fails, we sink. HR

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