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: John F. Dowd who wrote (4215)	12/11/1997 8:58:00 PM
From: Sowbug	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

<<Once the internet is imbedded in the OS what will NSCP say? >> I think that's kind of the whole point of the entire legal action. NSCP wants it so that Internet access features are NEVER embedded in the OS, rather, that the browser is always a separate purchase/option. As a user, I'd prefer integration. It would be great -- no weird compatibility problems; no launching a browser; ability to file away URLs like files. But think about the immense power the principal OS manufacturer has. Include a reasonably colorful screen saver with and bang, Berkeley Systems (After Dark) loses 95% of market share. Build in a basic Word-compatible word processor that can handle footnotes and tables, and you can kiss Corel and Lotus goodbye, not just because people won't pay extra $$ for functionality that's free with the computer, but also because the Word file format will be so pervasive that a WordPerfect/Lotus Word file will be undecipherable to most. If it weren't for antitrust law, MSFT in its current position could put ALL other software companies out of business in three years. NSCP's position is pro-competitive, but kind of anti-progress. I'm rooting for them because I don't like MSFT as a company, but at the same time when I upgrade to Windows 98/99/00, I'll probably choose the Active Desktop, because it makes more sense.

To: John F. Dowd who wrote (4215)	12/11/1997 9:08:00 PM
From: vinod Khurana	Respond to of 74651

I would like to see IE 4.0 embedded into Windows 98. MSFT has done a fine job of the desktop O/S and are in the best position to prevent incompatabilities. Fair thing would be to allow other companies to directly compete with Windows software and actually call it Windows software. Something like in the old DOS world where we had MS-DOS, Compaq DOS, IBM DOS, DR-DOS etc.... We could have IBM Windows 95, Compaq Windows 98, Novell Windows 98 etc.... Who would win in that case ? Then MSFT could happily integrate whatever it likes into Windows 98...MSFT WINDOWS 98 that is. Just a thought. V.K

To: John F. Dowd who wrote (4215)	12/12/1997 2:51:00 AM
From: Flair	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 74651

John, The ruling does not prohibit Microsoft from releasing its integrated Windows98/IE4.0 in the retail market (new installation and update versions). This temporary ruling may only be able to force Microsoft to let OEM's have an option of installing Windows98 without Microsoft's browsing software. That is, the "separate" installation option of Windows98 is not required in the retail market. I think Microsoft will promote its integrated product vigorouly, and will agressively add tons of new OS functionalities on top of it to deepen the "integration". Eventually, box makers will be "implicitly" driven to install integrated version of Windows98. (For example, it shows something like "this OS function requires IE, and please insert your Window98 CD-ROM and install IE.") I don't think that the "integration" in Windows98/NT5.0 will be stopped.