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Technology Stocks : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Marvin Mansky who wrote (29559)	3/27/2000 10:54:00 PM
From: nihil	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 64865

Of course, Microsoft will appeal. The right to appeal is the only power they have. They need not agree to any proposal of settlement. As soon as the judge issues his decision (which will be hundreds of pages) Microsoft will find hundreds of questionable conclusions. Microsoft is already going over the findings of fact and questioning each of them. An appeal seldom questions findings of fact. The appeal will delay things for at least a year, and the change of administration to one friendlier to business (either one) will perhaps result in a softer settlement. The private damage suits are awaiting the hard work of establishing the government's case. No one can afford to finance a private suit on their own, but should the case be settled finally, they can use the government's findings. Microsoft will not settle with an admission of guilt. The government will not accept less than that. Therefore, no settlement. This thing has to grind itself out over the next few years. The private victims better go ahead and file their suits. The statute of limitations for damages is four years.

To: Marvin Mansky who wrote (29559)	3/28/2000 5:49:00 AM
From: JDN	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 64865

Dear Marvin: IMHO MSFT is between a rock and a hard place. IF they play hardball and let the judge rule they MOST CERTAINLY will appeal. HOWEVER, there are MANY Class Action lawsuits waiting in the wings to file as soon as the lawyers get the ruling they wish to buttress their cases. This alone will cause much angyst among the shareholders and the company not to mention the negative publicity the Judges ruling will likely cause. On the other hand, if they capitulate and agree to too many conditions they will likely be hampered in conducting business in the future (govt oversight will be required), probably still have the class action suits filed against them etc etc. In summary, I would NOT wish to be a MSFT shareholder. As to what all this means to SUNW, IMHO nothing in the long run. SUNW will rise or fall on its own merits not the misfortunes of others. However, in the short term probably it will result in a bounce for SUNW for obvious reasons. JDN