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

To: Frank Ellis Morris who wrote (16432)	2/18/1999 11:45:00 PM
From: Lee Martin	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 74651

Doesn't the gov't have to prove that MSFT is a monopoly to win this lawsuit? My dictionary defines a monopoly as "a company or group having exclusive control over a commercial activity". The word exclusive jumps out at me. My dictionary defines exclusive as "not divided or shared with others". All MSFT should have to prove is that Windows shares the OS market with Linux, OS2 etc. and Internet Explorer shares the browser market with Navigator. It doesn't matter what share of the market MSFT has as long as it's not 100%. The gov't says that MSFT did some arm twisting to get co's to use it's products instead of its competitors. This is called good business and ALL of the big co's cut deals like this every day. CSCO has tried to put ASND out business for years by cutting deals with ISP's that were looking at both co's products. ASND would have the best product but CSCO would get the contract because CSCO could twist the ISP's arm over other pending contracts for CSCO proprietary equipment. In other words, if you're an ISP using CSCO proprietary equipment (routers etc.) and CSCO IOS software and you want to buy some RAC's from ASND, CSCO will offer to cut you a better deal on their routers etc. if you buy from them. If you don't play ball, you'll pay a higher price than other ISP's who will. Is this right? No. Is it illegal? Apparantly not. Is it done every day around the world? You betcha. Will they be able to continue this after ASND becomes part of LU? No, Ma bell is gonna be the one doing the arm twisting. Until then CSCO will continue with the same practices they have for years because nobody considers them a monopoly. MSFT does exactly the same thing but now enough competitors have gotten together and petitioned the gov't to declare them a monopoly. If they can prove MSFT is a monopoly, these tactics are illegal. If they can't, they're just practicing good business. So I go back to my original question; does the gov't have to prove MSFT is a monopoly to win, and thus be able to propose some kind of remedy? If the answer is yes, how will they be able to prove Linux and NSCP don't exist so that MSFT will meet the definition of monopoly? All answers to these questions are welcome. Thanks,Lee

To: Frank Ellis Morris who wrote (16432)	2/19/1999 8:49:00 AM
From: ToySoldier	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74651

I would be happy to make a next year prediction since I predict that next year MSFT will be in the heart of all their troubles. By Jan 1, 00 the industry will be utterly ticked off with MSFT that their Windows2000 will still not have been released while every other OS has executed their new version - including 64 bit. In fact, MSFT will likely have announced by then that Active Directory aint ready for prime-time and/or other major components may not be in the initial release when it releases in Q1/Q2 2000. The Y2K issue will have MSFT consuming steaming mad at MSFT because of all the glitches in all their code - including Win95 and Win98. Consumer confidence and satisfaction with MSFT's toying around and arrogance will be at an all-time-low. The DOJ trial will have already seen the first round go to the DOJ and MSFT will still be in court trying to win some kind of appeal before the Government finally lays down its remedy on MSFT. In the mean time, the Java, Linux, Directory Services, and other technologies will be on fire and all those customers that were brainwashed into believing MSFT's story of "implement a homogeneous MSFT only environment" will have had enough as they watch the IT world go by them and take advantage of the newest technologies and OSes. So Frank, you want my predictions - you asked the wrong guy since I have never been afraid to make predictions on stocks. All I could hurt is my pride. This is all post split stock pricing... January 2000 = $50 - $70 June 2000 = $60 - $90 (Windows2000 might rear its ugly head finally) January 2004 = $50 - $80 (Gov. remedies take their toll and competition puts MSFT back in its place within the industry) There you go Frank. Now its your turn. Tell us all what miracles MSFT will pull off next year and in 5 years. I really want to hear what a MSFT Cheerleader has to say about these predictions. Toy