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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank Ellis Morris who wrote (27957)	8/5/1999 6:23:00 PM
From: Teflon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

Frank (& Frank!), more food for thought on the MSFT/AOL discussion: AOL feels the heat By Shawn Langlois, CBS MarketWatch Last Update: 5:31 PM ET Aug 5, 1999 NewsWatch Join the discussion America Online has always had an outspoken following on the message boards. For the most part, AOL bulls have stood undaunted in the face of their stock's recent decline. However, Thursday's reports that Microsoft (MSFT: news, msgs) is considering a plan to offer free Internet access shook up some of those unflappable followers as America Online (AOL: news, msgs) has given back its entire gain for the year. See full story. "Content and community is what it is all about in the consumer Internet market, and AOL is the undisputed king." Bull Gator Paul Merriwether posted his concerns on Silicon Investor: "It's another story if some Johnycomelately talks about a free Internet Service Provider -- you know that with a negative cash flow they'll go outta business or at least not provide the same level of service as AOL. However, MSFT has what? 25 BILLION in cash and the ability to support such ventures for another 50 years if need be. This will put downward pressure on AOL for SURE!!" Greg Mullineaux was in full agreement: "If AOL has a good comeback for the word FREE, I'll buy back. I'm having a hard time thinking of one." On Raging Bull, many America Online investors, like Bull Gator, stuck to their guns in defense of Case and co. "Does anyone really think that AOL's 18 million DEDICATED subscribers are all of a sudden going to jump ship and flock to MSFT's sloppy MSN? Content and community is what it is all about in the consumer Internet market, and AOL is the undisputed king." Mprofita threw a jab at Microsoft: "This is a serious misuse of power by MSFT who on any day could smash a rival temporarily by manipulating the press." Anti-Bill Gates sentiment continued as Replicagb posted, "Microsoft is trying to do to AOL what it did to Netscape, give away Internet access as it gave the browser, in the vain hope of protecting its windows platform. What it doesn't realize is that the computer is no longer a glorified typewriter, Microsoft is the past, AOL is the future. You can put granny in a miniskirt, but it doesn't make her sexy." Isn't Raquel Welch a grandma? What about Sophia Loren? And Tina Turner? As America Online continued to struggle, posters tried to look beyond the short-term and focus on the future. Will the AOL brand name and huge subscriber base withstand the pressure and pull the stock out of the summer doldrums? For the record, I sold all of my AOL back when the MSFT hearings ended and the AOL/Microworkz story broke. Teflon