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

To: John F. Dowd who wrote (12277)	11/18/1998 8:52:00 AM
From: Mike Milde	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

<< MSFT has no obligation to support any application or language that is outside of the best interests of MSFT >> This really isn't important. There are lots of 3rd party Java runtimes. If the apps are developed and useful, then users will have a Java runtime, just like they went to Netscape for a web browser to view HTML. Can you honestly say that we'd never have had a web browser if Microsoft had chosen not to develop one? Of course not. Microsoft insisted that MSN was the world's network and turned its back to the Internet until it was obvious the Internet was growing faster than MSN. Then they finally gave in and offered a web browser. And don't make the mistake of thinking Java is an applet in a web browser. Microsoft isn't worried about applets right now. The threat over the next 2 to 5 years will be platform independent applications written in Java. Wide use of applications that arrive on demand (like applets) are a little further into the future in my opinion. Mike

To: John F. Dowd who wrote (12277)	11/18/1998 9:55:00 AM
From: ToySoldier	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74651

Talk about arrogance John!! Java does not need MSFT! MSFT needs Java. Its too late for MSFT to pull back on its commitment of Java. Their "promote a mutated Java" strategy has now blown apart. In the process MSFT has helped entrench a Language/Technology that could possibly be their undoing. If you actually have the nerve to think that MSFT is not threatened by the concept of a pure-Java that in open platform, then you truly are either completely arrogance, naive, or heading up the MSFT FUD department. This is a huge hit for MSFT! Make no bones about it! MSFT cannot put the Genie back into the bottle (that ironically enough they help bring the Genie out). The largest software vendor in the world is - as Mr. Gates himself can be quoted - a "Rabid Java Backer". With the massive efforts of IBM to push Java into the forefront, and the comibined collaborative efforts from Oracle, Sun, Novell, Netscape, etc. to make the open-pure-Java happen, even your prescious MSFT cannot pull this one back. If I were Sun, I wouldnt let MSFT Execs near their offices for another attempt at writing or changing the contract with Java! They would be stupid. Sun has MSFT where they want them now. MSFT can kick scream and threaten all they want but they have not choice but to continue their efforts to support Java. And if you think that MSFt can re-brand their mutation of Java and market it, then get ready for another court case MSFT. And get ready to lose. MSFT is fighting so hard to put their fingers in all the holes in their MKTG-Centric strategy that their long-term prospects are looking pretty dim. Java will be the eventual demise of the WinTel dominance. MSFT knows that. And as of yesterday, they now have to deal with it. Toy

To: John F. Dowd who wrote (12277)	11/18/1998 11:40:00 AM
From: Charles Tutt	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74651

Not any more; I think at this point that Java would be better off without Microsoft. It can still run on Windows machines without them. I think Sun will think twice before negotiating a new agreement, given where the last one ended up. I also think Microsoft could have problems trying to offer the "Java experience" independently at this point, now that they've seen Sun's code. A clean room implementation would take time and be expensive. I suppose they could buy one, but it would be cheaper just to comply with their agreement with Sun. JMHO, as always.