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

To: Augustus Gloop who wrote (7446)	5/18/1998 2:25:00 PM
From: Hal Rubel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74651

Microsoft Monopoly Abuse -Running to Substance? RE: "Like its MSFT's Fault" Sherman Anti-trust Considerations: "Saying Microsoft had been engaging in illegal practices in violation of the Sherman Anti-trust Act and other anti-trust laws, associate Attorney General Joel Klein outlined the three main counts in the civil complaint the Justice Department was filing against the company. First, the federal government alleges that Microsoft has illegally mandated that the startup sequence of Windows 95 and Windows 98 promote only Microsoft products. Second, that Microsoft has illegally tied its browser software to its operating system to extend its monopoly to the Internet browser arena, and third, that Microsoft has entered into illegal contracts with a majority of the major Internet service providers and key content providers to shut its competitors out. Klein also said that Microsoft knew from the beginning that Netscape Communications presented a major competitive threat to the company and, in the words of an unnamed Microsoft executive, moved to "cut off Netscape's air supply" with Internet Explorer. At one point Microsoft even approached Netscape and asked them to split the browser market with the Redmond, Washington,-based giant and not to directly compete against each other's products. When Netscape refused, the company began a series of illegal maneuvers to shut out Netscape and other Internet competitors." Thesasource News Any anti-trust significance if true? HR

To: Augustus Gloop who wrote (7446)	5/18/1998 2:54:00 PM
From: trouthead	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 74651

You are all missing the point. MSFT is using it's OS leverage to put competitors out of business. The basic functions of the OS are to facillitate I/O between apps and the hardware, to manage memory allowing apps space to run. Without these basics no program will run. MSFT continues to add application type functions to the OS which puts companies out of business. Other companies choose not to persue developing apps that they perceive MSFT will eventually put into the "OS". No one can afford to compete with MSFT because they can lose money for years developing a program and then put it into the "OS". This does stifle innovation. The real question is what do you do about it? I am not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing. I own MSFT stock. I am not trying to bash MSFT. Let's try to take an intelligent view of this and come up with some more sensible solutions than including NSCP in the box. Maybe no company should own the OS. bps