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 : Compaq -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BILL CHOW who wrote (25634)	5/7/1998 12:47:00 PM
From: Jet.Screamer	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 97611

The issue is not about what products a company can produce it is about the legal interpretation of MSFT's agreement with the DOJ which allows "improvements". The question is what constitutes an improvement. MSFT says integrating the browser with the operating system is an improvement the DOJ says its the integration of a new application. The DOJ would have no case against MSFT if MSFT marketed the browser as a separate product. In terms of marketing MSFT probably shot itself in the foot when they threatened to take away CPQ's licence for W95. Unfortunately we don't know what agreements MSFT has with others such as Dell who stood behind MSFT in congressional hearings earlier this year only to look like a puppet of MSFT when Sen. Hatch produced evidence that you could not order a Dell computer without IE. Although Dell does have the right to offer whatever software it chooses with its' products it does make one question what is really going on when the number 2 seller of computers does not offer the most popular browser as an option.