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Technology Stocks : WDC/Sandisk Corporation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Art Bechhoefer who wrote (11909)	6/10/2000 9:03:00 PM
From: Craig Freeman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Art, I agree in principle with your take on MSFT's legal problems. As to SNDK, I think you actually understated the probability of their success in the Lexar suit. MSFT has most certainly acted poorly in their handling of their case with the Feds and has consistently played it tough with competitors ... perhaps too rough even for our Capitalistic system. But you have to look very hard to find anyone, beyond Netscape, who was actually "harmed" by those actions. And the blokes at Netscape aren't exactly paupers today either. The Feds have an arguable case but the prospect of all 50 states and a zillion individuals suing MSFT amazes me. MSFT has done more to keep end user prices down that anyone since Borland sabotaged the profitability of the industry with their $89 bundles. They have created standards that have permitted thousands of independent companies to prosper. Take away those standards and users would still be struggling to learn how to use desparate interfaces. I never did like the way Big Bill ran MSFT. When the PC killed minicomputers, it nearly out me out of business. And for a while, I had to pay three times what big OEMs were paying for Windows. But eventually I adapted to the rules and went on to make more profits than ever before. Several people have referred to Big Bill as "the father of the PC software industry." You may not like what he makes you do but if it makes your life better in the end, your father shouldn't have to defend his reasons in court. In any case, if MSFT loses, the stock probably hasn't got much downside. But if they win on significant matters on appeal, the stock will surely pop bigtime. Since stock ownership is about profits rather than law, I am content to hold my shares for the short term. Craig