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To: Roads End who wrote (25582)	5/5/1998 7:41:00 PM
From: Chris	Respond to of 97611

agree 100%!

To: Roads End who wrote (25582)	5/6/1998 1:11:00 AM
From: Jet.Screamer	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 97611

"Without Governmental intervention 15 years from now MSFT will not be the king on the hill." Sorry I don't buy it. If we allow MSFT to operate the way it currently does and wants to here is what happens. Netscape creates the browser market. MSFT creates its' own browser-competition exists innovation is fostered. MSFT upgrades its' operating system and making so called "improvements"( since that is allowed under its' decree with the justice department) incorporates its' browser into the operating system. Well since 90+% of all computers come with the MSFT operating system you automatically have their browser so why buy/use another. Netscape which created the market slowly dies, i.e. another potential competitor of MSFT is gone. Without competitors who are in a strong financial position to challenge MSFT their monopoly extends. So what do we have here, initial competition and creativeness in the marketplace and then the big foot of MSFT squashing it. Sounds like a monopoly to me. Now MSFT has a monopoly on the operating system and if left uncontrolled will incorporate future software into the system to eliminate a competitor which it is trying to do. However MSFT also uses its position in other ways. Say you buy a PC from GTW or DELL what do they charge you for the Latest version of Office? $99 maybe a little more. What does it cost in the store? over $330-400. What will the consumer do? Buy a system that features a MSFT operating system as well as the latest version of MSFT Office since it is highly discounted compared to the competing office suite. What happens? the competing office suite does not sell and that software company slowly goes out of business. Why does this happen? Because MSFT is allowed to leverage its' dominance in the operating system to promote its' other products. Furthermore I will bet you that if the competing office suite gave away its' software for free that MSFT would suddenly include office in its' operating system. jon