Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: Charles Tutt who wrote (44427)	5/7/2000 3:03:00 PM
From: energy_investor	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

CT, thanks for the reply. I have noticed that MSFT appears to be keeping a low profile on this issue. This in itself tells me that there is something rotten in the Kingdom of Denmark (no offense to SunSpot). It does remind one of guns and tobacco : both can be said to be dangerous to the consumer and both are defended by the the argument that if the consumer gets into trouble using these products it is the consumer's fault. Perhaps MSFT should use the slogan "Outlook doesn't kill computers, computers kill computers". Anyway, with the damage around the world allegedly in the several billions of dollars range, I wouldn't be surprised if some enterprising lawyer doesn't try a class action lawsuit. Personally, I have to believe that the truth will out over this matter, and that there will be fallout for MSFT. JMHO

To: Charles Tutt who wrote (44427)	5/8/2000 4:27:00 AM
From: SunSpot	Respond to of 74651

MSFT does advice people how to use Internet Explorer and MS Outlook (Express). You just set security settings high. This is how MSFT has always worked: One setting is secure, another setting is fast, and the third setting is what people use. This way you can win all comparisons with competing products. Using e-mail the way MSFT recommends, prevents you from sending and receiving e-mails with word files attached. Using Internet Explorer the way MSFT recommends, prevents you from using ActiveX and downloading files. If you do not follow MSFTs recommendations, the doors to your network is wide open. Since MSFTs recommendations are correct, it should not be possible to sue them. But maybe you can sue those people recommending Outlook for sending and receiving files.

To: Charles Tutt who wrote (44427)	5/8/2000 5:03:00 AM
From: ProDeath	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

Re: blame-the-victim mentality/Anybody dumb enough to open an attachment deserves to lose their data. It is interesting that this attitude exists. I saw a piece on ( Discovery Channel? History Channel? ) about the development of automotive safety glass. The observation was made that in the early days of automobile use, accidents were regarded as a result of driver error or incompetence, and as such, injuries were the responsibility of the driver. Eventually it was recognized that auto accidents were a statistically predictable phenomenon and that blame didn't matter as much as reducing the severity of the consequences. It would appear the Microsoft email and web browser offerings are still in the "plain old window glass" era. Given the weaknesses are intentional features ( the embedded Basic functionality ), this circumstance cries out for someone to write the computer equivalent of "Unsafe at Any Speed" and get the Congressional hearings underway :-) .