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

To: johnd who wrote (53854)	12/5/2000 6:49:46 PM
From: johnd	Respond to of 74651

MSFT will rally if Bush is officially elected; see below === Bush Raises More Than $7 Million By JONATHAN D. SALANT, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - George W. Bush (news - web sites) has raised twice as much money as Vice President Al Gore (news - web sites) to pay for their Florida recount expenses, both campaigns reported Tuesday. Bush has raised $7.4 million, helped by the same benefactors that enabled him to raise a record $100 million for his presidential campaign. Gore has taken in $3.5 million to pay his recount expenses. Both presidential candidates continue to raise money. At least 73 contributors to Bush's recount committee also raised a minimum of $100,000 for the campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group that studies campaign finance. The list includes former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach; Roland Betts of the development firm Chelsea Piers Management, Bush's college roommate at Yale University and an overnight guest at the Texas governor's mansion; and Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay. The energy giant and its employees have given more money to Bush over the years than any other company, according to the watchdog Center for Public Integrity. In addition, several $5,000 donors have issues before the federal government, including: - MBNA America Chairman Alfred Lerner. MBNA and its employees were the top givers to Bush's presidential campaign, contributing $234,425. MBNA, a major credit card company, supports efforts to make it harder for debtors to declare bankruptcy. - James Kimsey, chairman emeritus of America Online, awaiting federal approval to merge with Time Warner. - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whose firm represents Microsoft, being sued by the Justice Department (news - web sites).

To: johnd who wrote (53854)	12/5/2000 7:11:11 PM
From: PMS Witch	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

My thoughts ... Price wars may move some additional boxes. But if software prices remain constant, consumers seeking bargains may substitute lower cost (and lower margin) applications over higher priced (and more profitable) full featured packages. This makes the predictions difficult. The last PC manufacturers price competition was beneficial for Microsoft, but I don't see any guarantees this will repeat. The question of upgrading to Win2000: I've a recently minted PC, and I am motivated to upgrade just to remain current, but I also don't wish to face the expense and effort needlessly. So far, I haven't seen anything Win2000 offers me beyond increased reliability. My Win98 system is currently running wonderfully: It's been months since I've seen the BSOD or had a program terminate pre-maturely. So I ask myself, If I don't want to upgrade, why would anyone else? Given that Win2000 is business oriented, and businesses can roll out upgrades in massive tidal waves, and Microsoft gets a booster-shot of revenue, I view the upgrade picture as rosy, but not tremendously stellar. However, each and every additional Win2000 system adds to the installed base, expands the market for Win2000 packages, and increases the pressure on users of older systems to get on the Win2000 wagon. This both increases Microsoft market penetration and raises barriers to competitors, making the success of alternative systems even more remote. This process tends to snowball. Windows, from version 1 was a more cost effective solution than Apple. From version 3.0, Windows' utility gap narrowed too. I see no reason for this trend to discontinue. Allan Greenspam agrees that in some respects Wall Street is influencing Main Street. We've recognized this for some time. Now it's officially acknowledged. Today's market reaction confirms the benefits of the Fed's new recognition of this connection. That's what I think. Cheers, PW.