RE: Bill Gate$.

Kari and others --

Unfortunately, Anti-trust laws (in the U.S.) are not as black and white as
we wish they were. This type of situation is not an easy one to solve.
Neither side -- the "I hate Microsoft" versus "Leave that successful company
alone" -- is willing to consider all the facts.

"Break up Microsoft" isn't as easy a decision as "Break up Standard Oil"
was. We're on the cusp of a new millenium (Jan 1 _2001_) and the business
environment has changed ... _drastically_.

"No one was harmed" isn't totally true, either. It is in the best interest
of the country -- and ultimately that is what all of society and laws is
about -- to allow _competition_.  Trying to beat your competition is one
thing. Using your dominance in the marketplace to destroy your competition
... well that's something completely different.

God help us if PC operating systems end up being like our telephone
carriers. Last thing I want is to get a phone call during supper asking me
if I want to switch to another OS, and "we'll send you a check for $50 to
switch!".

<grin>

An aside: A phone service carrier -- I forget where in the U.S. -- was
recently sued because of their underhanded business practices. Among the
things they did was form a phone company called "I Don't Care". Sooooo ...
when people were asked who they wanted to be their carrier, if they said "I
don't care" ...

True story.

Peace,

-- Don "Starting an OS called 'Anything That Works'" Schenck 

-----Original Message-----
From: Karen Summers [mailto:ksummers@earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 9:42 PM
To: midrange-l@midrange.com
Subject: FW: Bill Gate$.


<SNIP>

Get off Bill's back.  Who out there complaining (that is not a Mac owner)
has a Gates-free machine?

Criminy!
Kari
<SNIP>
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