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To: SMALL FRY who wrote (114773)	10/5/2000 11:29:11 PM
From: puborectalis	Respond to of 120523

Cannot see LNUX or RHAT as independent companies in the future.........Open source uncertainty over Microsoft-Corel October 05, 2000 11:23 AM PT by Sam Williams Three days after the surprise announcement that Microsoft (MSFT) will acquire a 25 percent stake in erstwhile rival and current Linux vendor Corel (CORL), company outsiders are still speculating on what exactly the decision means for the open source community. Although many observers downplayed the impact on Linux following the Monday announcement, some, including Axxel Knutson, chief executive officer of tradingweapon.com, a New Jersey-based office of First Allied Securities, see the Redmond-based giant trying to turn itself around. "I think Microsoft is interested in Linux," said Knutson, who speculated on future Microsoft moves in the Linux arena, including a possible acquisition of top Linux distributor Red Hat (RHAT). "I think Red Hat is certainly a candidate," he said. "I would hope that didn't happen, but if I was Microsoft I'd get the checkbook out. They're going to have to do something or risk getting left in the dust." Other analysts disagree, however. Stacey Quandt, Linux analyst for Giga Information Group, issued a written summary of the deal, blasting both companies for their pathetic slowness. "What is ironic about a partnership between Corel and Microsoft is that both companies have both been late to recognize the Internet," wrote Quandt. "Corel's founder and former CEO and president Michael Cowpland, who recently resigned, was more remarkable in chasing the latest trend du jour than in developing a sustainable business model." Looking at the deal from the Linux community perspective, Quandt sees little for established Linux players to worry about. "I don't look at this as Microsoft having a Linux strategy," said Quandt. "I think Microsoft has too much of a commitment to its current OS to pursue a bifurcated operating system strategy." Nevertheless, Quandt did see the deal as a reaction to other recent trends, including Sun Microsystems' (SUNW) recent attempts to cozy up to the open source community. Sun, a company that has espoused network-based computing from its inception, has turned to open source developers for strategic assistance. In late September, the company acquired Cobalt, a Linux appliance server vendor of Linux server vendor, and in mid-July, the company announced its decision to release the StarOffice suite under the GNU General Public License. The Star Office GPL announcement immediately preceded Microsoft's own well-publicized unveiling of .Net , an attempt to turn Microsoft's popular applications into a rentable collection of Internet-based services by fall of 2001. "[This investment] is a reaction to the degree that they've announced this investment in Corel, but it's not equivalent to the moves Sun Microsystems has made, especially with OpenOffice," said Quandt. "I think they're looking at the way the market is evolving, with the focus on the Internet and the way the applications are moving toward the application service provider model, and trying to address that with .Net." Knutson, for one, agrees with Quandt's take. Whatever pressure Microsoft may be feeling from Linux, multiply it by a hundred and you have an idea of the real threat Microsoft feels whenever Sun makes a major move. "I think Sun Micro is an extraordinarily important company long term. I can't say that anymore about Microsoft," Knutson said. As for Corel and its own future as a Linux operating system and application vendor, company president Derek Burney, who replaced the outgoing Cowpland last month as chief executive officer, says the company is already evolving beyond operating system concerns. "Our distribution has always been fully compatible with Windows," Burney said. "We stand from the side that you can use whatever operating system you want, and we'll give you the best applications to run on whatever platform you choose. All we've done with this announcement is choosing the set of tools that will make that happen."

To: SMALL FRY who wrote (114773)	10/5/2000 11:40:09 PM
From: nokomis	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 120523

I don't know about you SF, but my nighttime scans seem to be a waste of time just now...because so many look so good for the longs in this market (which is me 'cause I'm still not shorting real $) .. Took very little home today, because I can't get a read except to listen to my gut, which says Fri. a.m. will be so-so and long overdue rally in p.m. after lunch (BWDIK) .. So, think I'll call it a night and do what I did today ..play strictly momentum and jump into those that trigger...if no triggers, then no trades. I have my favs in each sector earmarked so whatever's "hot" tomorrow, that's where I'll be ...changing hour by hour as it has been doing for some time. That, together with early morning news seems to work very well in this climate ... nite all NOK