breaking up Microsoft into different companies may not be punishment on the long term
I agree. Microsoft or it's spawn is going to continue to be big. Contrary to most people's thinking, their stockholders are not going to lose a penny. BUT MS WON'T BE AS BIG AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE.
AT&T doesn't have the market share they used to have. MCI Worldcom is a worthy foe and may become more so if the FTC lets them acquire Sprint. IBM is huge, but they have a small fraction of the PC business. The Standard Oil companies have competitors like Shell and BP, as well as infighting amoung the 34 units the original was broken into.
What is going to happen is that whatever remidy happens Microsoft will gain serious competitors. One way or another. Which will be great for all of us.
Re:Night of the living Microsoft (Score:2)
I agree. Microsoft or it's spawn is going to continue to be big. Contrary to most people's thinking, their stockholders are not going to lose a penny. BUT MS WON'T BE AS BIG AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE.
AT&T doesn't have the market share they used to have. MCI Worldcom is a worthy foe and may become more so if the FTC lets them acquire Sprint. IBM is huge, but they have a small fraction of the PC business. The Standard Oil companies have competitors like Shell and BP, as well as infighting amoung the 34 units the original was broken into.
What is going to happen is that whatever remidy happens Microsoft will gain serious competitors. One way or another. Which will be great for all of us.