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Technology Stocks : MSFT Internet Explorer vs. NSCP Navigator -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Charles Hughes who wrote (14997)	12/17/1997 3:13:00 AM
From: Daniel Schuh	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 24154

Three Hidden Dangers Dog Microsoft zdnet.com I don't know what Microsofties think of local correspondent Jesse Berst, he knocks them sometimes, sticks up for them other times. This column would, I guess, count as friendly advise, though I doubt very much it will be heeded. Microsoft's unrepentant tone only exacerbates three hidden dangers facing the company, problems that could bring it to its knees: 1. OEM negotiations. Battered, oppressed, and forced to comply with the software giant's every demand, computer makers are fed up. Should they suddenly find themselves with the upper-hand -- say, by dint of some permanent court ruling -- Microsoft may find itself victim of an OEM uprising. And paybacks are hell. Nah, the OEMs all love Bill. We heard them all say that recently, didn't we? Maybe they'd gotten a few courteous, ethical phone calls from Steve, or one of Bill's emails. Of course, they got to deal with cutthroat competition on the hardware front, and -what? could this be true? rising prices on software? That's what the rags are saying... I guess it has something to do with "Free Forever" IE4. 2. DOJ negotiations. Microsoft is foolish to treat the Justice Department like an enemy, rather than a referee. Bill Gates should take a hint from smart sports teams. They work the ref, they try to get the crowd to boo the ref, but they never attack the ref. Microsoft could have handled this matter much differently, and ended up making some innocuous little adjustment. Instead it attacked the ref. Now everybody is mad. Well, Microsoft just thinks it should be treated like Major League Baseball, vis-a-vis antitrust. Unfortunately, they never quite got around to getting the all important statutory exemption. Write your legislators, guys! 3. Industry negotiations. People underestimate the importance of momentum. And perception. What if the government fact finder comes down against Microsoft, and forces the company to unhook Internet Explorer from the upcoming Windows 98? If the company doesn't have a back-up version of Win98, if the company can't make a quick switch, there will be enormous ramifications for the computing industry. For hardware makers who need the OS on time to ship their orders on time. For software makers who are building products to Microsoft specs. For Fortune 1000 companies that are making huge investments based on the new OS. If it appears Windows 98 is in trouble -- Microsoft is in trouble. Sheesh, this is going a little overboard. Microsoft bet the company on NT5, then slipped it indefinitely a month or so later, and nobody seems to much care. Windows 98 was being downplayed, but now it's a big deal again. Competition wise, it's all to the good as far as I can see. How anybody could bet the future of anything on timely delivery of reliable software from Microsoft- well Jesse lead off with a Santayana reference. Of course, old Steverino told the Sun OEMs not to get religous about it, just switch to NT or you're dead meat. The holy war has many fronts. Cheers, Dan.