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Strategies & Market Trends : Rande Is . . . HOME -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Flying Crane who wrote (24570)	4/25/2000 8:21:00 AM
From: Rande Is	Read Replies (5) \| Respond to of 57584

Good point, Crane. There certainly is no guarantee that MSFT parts will do better after divestiture, nor that the non OS software division will be competitive. However, I feel that MSFT has had such a strong headstart. . .and that by forcing their software on everyone, have embedded their brand names into the minds of users. . thus translating into massive market share. Word is not BETTER than Lotus Word Pro. . .but ask 10 people which they use and 6 or 7 will say Microsoft Word. And people are very software loyal. Once you've learned a particular word processor, you tend not to change often, if at all. Likewise, if you learned to use an Excel spreadsheet, you will continue to prefer it over Lotus 123, unless your employer forces you to change. Same with databases and presentation software. Then again, I don't believe the Windows operating system is immune to being overthrown. Linux has been gaining sufficient market share to reach that critical mass necessary to make it a permanent fixture in the software market. Now it need only expand. Computer enthusiasts love it. . . .and when the most popular games are fully converted to Linux WATCH OUT! The Linux OS could slowly gain important ground like AMD did with Intel. . .until one day, you look in the Sunday paper advertisements and find there has been a changing of the guard. [many now prefer AMD over Intel] So there is still risk in the long-term MSFT play. . . which is why we remain cautious as we step in. . . . hoping for the $40 price to help reduce the risk of the play. And looking forward to hearing about MSFT's wireless endeavors. [I personally don't think Office 2000 offers enough to justify change from Office 98. . . so I'm not looking for significant growth there] I appreciate the alternative view, Crane. . .helps everyone here to make up their OWN minds. Rande Is