Re: Competition in Software market research project

[rlande@UBmail.ubalt.edu]

  If you work out a lot of difficult details, a decrease in software
  advertising certainly might tell you that Microsoft's power is becoming
  even stronger - why should a monopolist bother to advertise very much?
  But, even if Microsoft is becoming stronger, total advertising
  could increase, at least for a while - failing firms could increase their
  advertising budgets as a last desperate step, or Microsoft could be
  engaging in "predatory advertising" or vaporware announcements to drive
  its opponents out.  At a minimum you should separate Microsoft advertising
  from other advertising.
  
  But, don't most poeple concede that Microsoft is dominant in a growing
  mumber of software markets?  Won't market shares and trends in market
  shares be the best indicators of this?  Isn't the real question whether
  Microsoft's conduct has been anticompetitive?
  
  Bob Lande
  
  
  On Mon, 13 Oct 1997, James Love wrote:
  
  > We would like to do a simple research project, comparing the level of
  > advertising for software over the past decade in two popular magazines
  > which cater to consumers who own personal computers that use the
  > microsoft operating system:  PC Magazine, and PC World.
  > 
  > Our hypothesis is that there has been a dramatic decline in the percent
  > of advertisements in these magazines for software (with a corresponding
  > percent shift in ads for computer hardware).  If true, this is evidence
  > that is consistent with the view that the market for mass market desktop
  > software applications is less competitive today.  
  > 
  > It would be very helpful if people could send us some older issues of PC
  > World or PC Magazine, since we have not kept them.  Thanks much for any
  > older issues.  Our mailing address is P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC
  > 20036.  For deliveries to the office directly (by UPS or other
  > non-postal carriers) use 1233 20th Street, Washington, DC 20036, Suite
  > 401.
  > 
  >    Thanks.  James Love <love@cptech.org>
  > 
  > -- 
  > James Love | Center for Study of Responsive Law
  > P.O. Box 19367 | Washington, DC 20036 | http://www.cptech.org
  > voice 202.387.8030 | fax 202.234.5176 | love@cptech.org
  > 
  > 
  > -- 
  > James Love | Center for Study of Responsive Law
  > P.O. Box 19367 | Washington, DC 20036 | http://www.cptech.org
  > voice 202.387.8030 | fax 202.234.5176 | love@cptech.org
  >