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To: Frank Ellis Morris who wrote (57083)	6/4/1998 7:12:00 AM
From: Dorine Essey	Respond to of 186894

By Neal Boudette LANGEN, Germany, June 3 (Reuters) - Dell Computer CorpChariman Michael Dell said on Wednesday that he saw a "dangerous potential" in anti-trust actions against key PC industry suppliers Microsoft Corp and Intel Corp. A Justice Department case against Microsoft and an expected action against Intel could stifle industry growth and harm the U.S. economy if the suits force the companies to shy away from new technologies. "My concern is that we could have some legislation of the way the industry evolves. In my estimation, there is a dangerous potential in that," Dell said at a news conference. The case against Microsoft could bar the company from making its browser, a programme that lets users navigate the Internet, an essential part of its Windows operating systems -- the basic software that provides the background screens and "look and feel" of most PCs sold today. But Dell said integrating new capabilities into Windows has produced a standardised platform that drives the industry's high growth rates and created a world with 300 million PCs in use. "The miracle of 300 million PCs we have today would not be possible if you made every incremental innovation a separate product," said Dell, who testified before the U.S. Senate in support of Microsoft earlier this year. Allowing Microsoft to add features to its operating systems ensures that all Windows PCs are compatible and can run the same software. "If you had 10 different operating systems, you wouldn't have the growth and success that companies enjoy today," Dell said, adding that, "progress of the computer industry is fundamental to the U.S. economy." The Justice Department has been joined in its suit against Microsoft by the attorneys general of 20 states, but Dell's home state of Texas is not one of them. Dell said he did not lobby the Texas government to stay out of the suit, although he said the state sought his opinion on the matter. "My personal opinion is the government ought to be more concerned about creating more companies that are as successful as Microsoft and not ask what did they do wrong," he said. Microsoft critics charge the software group illegally packaged its browser with Windows, a tactic that nearly put browser pioneer Netscape Communications Corp <NSCP.O> out of business. Intel reportedly is about to be targeted by the Justice Department for withholding critical data from companies that will not cooperate with the chip supplier. REUTERS Rtr 19:32 06-03-98 Copyright 1998, Reuters News Service c 1997 DLJdirect. All Rights Reserved. Copyright c 1997 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. or such other notice as may be agreed by the parties in writing.