That is all well and good, but unfortunately the public is very impressionable, unwilling to change, and not very smart. I feel like I am an intelligent person compared to the average along with most of the other people on this list (as why I stay here and discuss things) unfortunately it is the rest of the world that is buying microsoft and although not twisting my arm I almost have to use microsoft or else alienate myself from the rest of society with incompatibility issues. (not that big of a loss I know but I do still need a job) I have completely dumped microsoft products form home almost two years ago. I have always found ways to work around compatibility issues but someone not as motivated as I would rather just use Windows. I am starting to babel here so let me wrap it up with my point Although they never held a gun to my head or they never twisted my arm or they never said I had to pay MS Tax or the MSIRS is going to come after me. They put me into a position where if I wanted to remain in contact with the less computer literate people I would have too. that's all Bill Warner PS I don't really care what the DOJ does to microsoft. I would kind of feel that the legal system failed if they are found guilty and only get a slap on the wrist and I would feel that the DOJ wasn't doing their job if they are found completely innocent. I guess it all depends on what they are found guilty off to the letter, not just general Monopoly >From: "Mark R. Myers" >Reply-To: plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us >To: >Subject: Re: What shell we do with the Microsoft..... >Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 21:02:05 -0700 > >My vote is to do nothing and leave Microsoft alone. >No one put a gun to anyone's head and said that they had to purchase a >Microsoft product. >No tobacco company got someone addicted to nicotine against their will. >With the AOL/Time Warner merger, it will make them a much larger company >than Microsoft and should provide some formidable competition. >I like free software, but more importantly, I love free enterprise. >I say, let the buying public decide, not a judge. >There were no lawsuits by Sony when the VHS format (invented by JVC) beat >out Betamax, even though Betamax was a better product. >I say, let the market decide. Let the people decide. >There are some Microsoft products that I do like. >Microsoft gave me a free copy of Windows2000 Professional (see, they are >getting into free software! :-) ) >IMHO, it is the best OS that they have put out yet. >But again, let the people decide. >I DO NOT like Microsoft's businesses practices. I think Bill Gates' parents >never taught him how to "play nice." >But there are other companies that I don't like their business practices >too. >I purchased SuSE 6.3 (I will give all of the disks away free to anyone who >wants them). >For some reason, I could not get it to print. >I never had that problem with any other brand of Linux. >When I contacted customer service via e-mail concerning the issue, as a >registered SuSE users, I was informed that basic customer service did not >include the ability to make your computer able to print. >I am sorry, but I think that printing is one of the main reasons PCs took >off in the first place. I consider printing to be a "basic need" of an >operating system. >So I disagree. I think Microsoft should be scolded for predatory business >practices, and that is that. Let the buyers decided. >I guess I'm just too much a disciple of Milton Freedman economics. >Mark > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Furmanek, Greg" >To: >Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 3:01 PM >Subject: What shell we do with the Microsoft..... > > > > I have great suggestion how to equalize the market MS > > is monopolizing!!! > > > > Fine MS $15,000,000,000.00 and donate the money to > > Free Software Foundation!!!! > > > > The Wolf > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Plug-discuss mailing list - Plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us > > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Plug-discuss mailing list - Plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us >http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com