U.S. Public Maintains Favorable Image of Microsoft and Gates
by Mark Gillespie
GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
While many computer industry leaders and the Justice Department would like to
see the power and dominance of computer software giant Microsoft curtailed, a
majority of Americans believe Microsoft's clout has been good for the computer
industry, and a plurality take Microsoft's side in its highly publicized lawsuit with
the U.S. Justice Department.
When Gallup interviewers recently asked Americans whether Microsoft has had a
positive or a negative impact on the computer industry, 80% of those polled chose
the positive alternative, including 89% of those who use a computer at home,
work, or school.
In addition, six out of ten Americans say they have a favorable image of
Microsoft. That percentage is down slightly from a 66% favorable rating the
company received in early February-in the middle of the widespread press
coverage of the government trial in Washington. In March, 1998, when Gallup first
asked about Microsoft, its favorable rating was 58%.
The Justice Department trial is scheduled to resume on or about May 10 after a
ten-week break, during which lawyers for Microsoft, the Justice Department, and
several state attorneys general discussed the possibility of a settlement of the
case. To the extent that they have an opinion, the American public tends to side
with Microsoft in the case: Only about one in four Americans take the
government's side, while 42% take Microsoft's position that it has not tried to
unfairly drive competitors out of business. Among computer users, 47% agree
with Microsoft's position. Support for that position generally runs consistently
along age, race, and political lines, with slight increases shown for the
government's case among blacks, liberals, and women.
While there has been some discussion among industry leaders that the trial
should result in the breakup of Microsoft into several smaller companies, over
two-thirds of Americans-69%-say the software giant should be left as is. Only
21% say that it should be broken up.
There is also significant public support for Microsoft chairman and CEO Bill
Gates, widely believed to be the world's richest man. Nearly six out of ten
Americans have a favorable opinion of Gates, with the percentage even higher
among computer users (69%). However, his approval rating tends to fall among
minorities and senior citizens, and he rates higher with college graduates and
higher income Americans. As is the case for the Microsoft Corporation in general,
there has been little apparent impact of the Justice Department trial on Gates'
image in the eyes of the American public. In March, 1998, when Gallup first asked
about the billionaire, his approval rating among the general public was 55%, very
similar to what it is today.
For results based on the sample of national adults (N=1,078) surveyed March
30-31, 1999, the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Thinking about Microsoft -- the computer software company that produces
Windows 95 and other products -- do you have a favorable or unfavorable
opinion of the Microsoft Corporation?
Favorable
Unfavorable
No opinion
99 Mar 30-31
60%
14%
26%
99 Feb 26-28
58
16
26
99 Feb 8-9
66
16
18
98 Nov 13-15
55
17
28
98 Mar 6-9
58
13
29
Now thinking about Bill Gates -- the founder and CEO of Microsoft -- do you
have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bill Gates?
Favorable
Unfavorable
NEVER
HEARD OF
(vol.)
No opinion
99 Mar
30-31
59%
18%
1%
22%
99 Feb
26-28
62
16
4
18
99 Feb
8-9
66
18
3
13
98 Dec
28-29
66
16
7
11
98 Nov
13-15
56
18
3
23
98 Mar
6-9
55
16
3
26
As you may know, a lawsuit by the Justice Department against Microsoft is
currently being tried in court. Based on what you know about the case, do you
side more with -- [ROTATE 1-2]?
99 Mar
30-31
99 Feb
8-9
98 Nov
13-15
1. The Justice
Department (or with)
26%
28%
28%
2. The Microsoft
Corporation (or with)
42
45
44
BOTH/MIXED (vol.)
2
2
1
NEITHER (vol.)
4
4
7
No opinion
26
21
20
100%
100%
100%
For results based on the sample of national adults (N=1,021) surveyed March 5-7,
1999, the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Just your opinion, should the U.S. government [READ AND ROTATE 1-2]:?
1. Force Microsoft to break up into several
smaller companies (or)
21%
2. Allow Microsoft to remain as it is (or)
69
No opinion
10
100%
For results based on the sample of national adults (N=1,013) surveyed February
26-28, 1999, the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Overall, do you think that Microsoft has had [ROTATE 1-2]?
99 Feb
26-28
98 Mar 6-9
1. More of a positive impact on
the computer industry, or
80%
75%
2. More of a negative impact on
the computer industry, or
8
8
NEITHER (vol.)
3
3
No opinion
9
14
100%
100%
Just your opinion, is Microsoft a monopoly, or not?
99 Feb 26-28
98 Mar 6-9
Yes
49%
43%
No
38
41
No opinion
13
14
100%
100%
(vol.) = volunteered response
gallup.com |
