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

To: vinod Khurana who wrote (3818)	10/27/1997 11:14:00 AM
From: vinod Khurana	Respond to of 74651

Readers find MS anticompetitive By Suzan Revah October 21, 1997, 1:55 p.m. PT Even if it has a lot to offer the PC marketplace, Microsoft (MSFT) is on the verge of eliminating competition and undermining consumer choice, readers indicated in the latest NEWS.COM poll. The bundling of Microsoft's Internet Explorer into the software giant's Windows operating system is a move many readers hailed as one that adds a new degree of functionality and convenience to computing, and likely will revolutionize the future of OS development. Nevertheless, 61 percent of poll respondents questioned the move's impact on the free market and voted in support of the Justice Department's charges. They agreed with the DOJ that Microsoft's efforts to dominate the browser market by offering Explorer free to all Windows users could result in an unfair monopoly. "It has been a while since antitrust laws were used for the benefit of consumers and consumer choice. This may be one of the best examples of these laws being used for the good of technological advancement and consumer interests," wrote Mark D. Slosberg, president of Net Information Systems. "The issue is predatory pricing and eliminating choice, and the Justice Department is taking a strong and important stand. Make Microsoft's products compete in the marketplace!" Indeed, some respondents tossed around references to "Big Brother" when opining on Microsoft's attempt to extract itself from antitrust suspicion by claiming that Explorer is merely part of its OS and that Windows users are under no obligation to use it. Of the 39 percent who voted against the DOJ's action, many objected to Bill Gates's heavy-handed effort to make Explorer the default browser for PCs. Some argued that Explorer is but an inferior copy of Netscape's Navigator, the browser Microsoft seeks to supplant. However, some poll respondents felt that the DOJ chose the wrong battle for taking on Microsoft, arguing that incorporating a browser into an OS is an innovation that has been a long time coming. Many objected to what they see as government intrusion into efforts to set a new standard for the PC market. "Of all the things to beat up on Microsoft about, I can think of few that are more harmful to the end user than this one if it is codified into law," wrote Craig Cline, editorial director of Seybold Publications. "To tell any OS vendor that it can't build additional functionality into an OS--where Web browsing really belongs--runs the risk of...impeding the natural evolution of the browser into the desktop and vice-versa, which most folks view as a good thing." Copyright c 1995-97 CNET, Inc. All rights reserved.

To: vinod Khurana who wrote (3818)	10/27/1997 11:15:00 AM
From: vinod Khurana	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

The following is a letter from Don Hardwick, Microsoft's head of OEM sales, to Celeste Dunn, Compaq's vice president of consumer software business. Hardwick says Microsoft will terminate Compaq's license for Windows 95 unless the PC maker restored the Microsoft Network and Internet Explorer icons on the desktop. June 6, 1996 Ms. Celeste Dunn Vice President Consumer Software Business Unit, Compaq 1111 Bayhill Drive, Suite 475 San Bruno, CA 94066 Re: Notice of Intent to Terminate License Agreement #1107-3053, dated October 1, 1992 Dear Celeste: I appreciated speaking with you over the phone earlier today. As we discussed, in the spirit of reinstating mutual cooperation and trust we would like to resolve the above mentioned Notice of Intent to Terminate letter in as a quick and mutually agreeable manner as possible. To accomplish this, Microsoft is requesting that Compaq replace the Microsoft Network and Internet Explorer icons on the Windows 95 desktop on all Compaq Presario machines. Specifically we are asking that these icons be put back on the Windows 95 desktop so they look and function exactly the same as how they were originally provided by Microsoft and/or Authorized Replicators. This means the icons should not be just Windows 95 shortcuts, since the functionality is different. In addition, the Microsoft Network and Internet Explorer icons and Internet Setup Wizard icon should also be put back into their original locations and functionality under the "Start" button on Windows 95. If you are willing to give Microsoft a clear written assurance that the above will be implemented on all Compaq Presario machines within sixty (60) days of the date of this letter, Microsoft will withdraw its Notice of Intent to Terminate letter addressed to David Cabello and dated May 30, 1996 once such written assurance is received by Microsoft. By withdrawing the Notice of Intent to Terminate letter Microsoft does not waive or limit its rights under the Agreement. I [sic] you would like to discuss this further, or would like more detail, please let me know and I will respond immediately. Once again, we appreciate your openness and willingness to discuss and resolve the above issues. Sincerely, Don Hardwick Group Manager, OEM Sales Division cc: David Cabello, Compaq Legal Department Steve Flannigan, Vice President, Compaq Computer Corporation Joachim Kempin, Sr. Vice President, Microsoft OEM Sales Division Bengt Akerlind, Director, Microsoft OEM Sales Division Back to Top Copyright c 1995-97 CNET, Inc. All rights reserved.