djia - obviously there are differences between the situation with MO and MSFT.
However, talking about $100 refunds misses the point - what about huge damage awards? What if they decided that MSFT has operated in an illegal predatory manner for years? The punitive damages could be astronomical. Do you realize what the state DAs are up to? Have you read some of their claims and demands? It's amazing. As to "they can never get away with that" - think again. Look what they got away with tobacco despite the surgeon general warnings. Believe me, if there is a will, political will, there is a way. MSFT's deep pockets are irresistable. You have far too much faith in the judicial system, and you certainly underestimate the kind of raw greed and killer instinct that will be unleashed, should the DOJ win - the sharks will be in a feeding frenzy. Already today there are meetings about how to slice and dice MSFT - and that is just at the federal level... wait for the lawsuits to start for the real fun.
<<Appeals will take years and years>> - sure, but that would be tragic. It would be extremely distracting (remember IBM?). But you are wrong about how irrelevant the ruling would be - there are damages that could be assessed going back as far as they figure the "crimes" took place. There is no limit on what they could ask for.
Look, it is not my point to say that MO=MSFT - I just think there are more paralells than most people think.
Basically, I wanted to stress, that this trial is not to be underestimated. And that many people DO underestimate the dangers.
<<to date, i do not believe windows or any other msft product has killed anyone :)>>
What about all the heart attacks, ulcers, nervous breakdowns and general health threat crashing windows cause? At least MO has the Surgeon General warning on it's products <VVVBG>.
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