Re: Company, government eyeing deal?

[Mitch Stone <mstone@vc.net>]

--- From a message sent by Christopher Pall on 3/9/1999 2:49 PM ---

>I think there is a small bit of reality that has hit some Microsoft 
>executives
>that it's going to be easier to settle. Enough that they convinced the 
>company
>into "negotiating" mode. They're probably just testing the waters to see what
>they think they can get out of this. There are going to be a number of execs
>who would be quite pleased with a broken up MS. But I still think they'll act
>desperately to hold their "union" together. It will be important to enticing
>the "baby-bills" companies that follow to compete with each other, not
>cooperate and assimilate. 

The "voluntary breakup" scenario has got to be looking more probable 
every day. Dramatic, but in reality, ineffective -- the ideal political 
and economic combination for Microsoft. It would be difficult for the DoJ 
to reject in concept, but Microsoft could still hold out on the devilish 
details that would pretty much leave all the same hands on board. Short 
of some major earthquake, that's where I'd place my bets.

   Mitch Stone
   Editor, Boycott Microsoft
   http://www.vcnet.com/bms 
 +---
   Like medieval peasants, computer manufacturers and millions 
   of users are locked in a seemingly eternal lease with their
   evil landlord, who comes around every two years to collect 
   billions of dollars of taxes in return for mediocre services.
                     --- Mark Harris, Electronics Times