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

To: ed who wrote (29181)	9/5/1999 10:35:00 PM
From: Charles Tutt	Respond to of 74651

I'm a SUNW investor, and I am not frightened to death of "Mercede + Win2000" (you might look up its real name when you have time). In fact, I'm elated that the UltraSPARC III and MAJC chips are on the horizon along with a plethora of innovative and well engineered software for them. Your argument is one of the more disjointed ones I've seen, but you seem to be saying that Microsoft Office is "cheap enough" (just as it has been described as "good enough") that people will not bother to switch. In other words, established mediocrity will win if it's below a threshold price. Maybe that's right. I hope not. As with many things, a changeover will take time. It will be led by "early adopters" for whom "cheap enough" and "good enough" are unsatisfying. That's probably the phase we're in now. BTW, the "past proved record" of Microsoft Office which you tout might prove a liability in the minds of some, so I wouldn't crow too loudly about it. JMHO.

To: ed who wrote (29181)	9/5/1999 11:29:00 PM
From: Mitch Blevins	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

Hi ed. You have mistaken me for a SUNW investor. I have never tried to suggest that StarOffice will become a dominant office suite. I have only tried to discuss issues that MSFT must address to counter this threat to a major revenue source. I promise that I won't try to convince you or any company you work for to buy StarOffice. :) I think thou dost protest too much! You have stated reasons for why an individual might not want to upgrade to StarOffice from MSOffice, and have also given reasons for why a business would also be reluctant to make the switch. Your reasons (although disjointed) are valid, but you should not consider them in a vacuum. I have already pointed out reasons why new consumers might choose StarOffice (if it is the default on their shiney new computer), but let me also point out a major reason (IMHO) for businesses to consider it.... vendor independance. Sun has essestially licensed this software so that any company can develop it and add to it and resell it... provide support and integration with other software. In effect, they have given up most control over the software itself. Heck, even Microsoft could now sell StarOffice if they wanted! Most companies value vendor independance. Ford would never design a car in a way that it had only one supplier for the alternator. Likewise, a prudent CIO will not use critical software for which there is only one source for bug-fixes and support. Whether the desire for vendor independance is important enough relative to the insightful arguments you have given remains to be seen. -Mitch