Microsoft and a lot of techies treat politics like it's some failed paradigm, some odd beast which demeans them when they even think about it.
This is not to say that Microsoft's troubles are not well deserved, but the fact that they acted as if the Feds were people who didn't matter, has screwed them.
They never cultivated the allies they needed in DC, and when they had to act, they moved crudely and thuggishly, things style sensitive Washington never appreciates.
Their rivals did. They had enough people in their pockets or willing to listen to them that MS was in trouble.
Orrin Hatch, chairmman of the Senate Judiciary Committee had spent years listening to Novell's problems with MS.
When he got Bill in front of his committee, he grilled him like bacon.
Now people have called the people who pushed the government on MS whiners and crybabies.
Which just means they need to start teaching civics again.
When companies kept finding their way blocked to the marketplace by Microsoft's flagrant illegalities, they did what all smart people do when faced with a crook, they called the cops.
Gary Reback had to work like a civil rights lawyer in 1960's Mississippi, getting secret depositions, always wondering when Sheriff Bill and his deputies would ruin one of his clients.
His work clearly influenced how DOJ made their case and how they saw Microsoft in action.
This is not how we want American business to run. Everyone should have some access to the market. The problem was that one company defined that market in their best interest.
Gates is upset, but if he doesn't settle, Microsoft will be buried in lawsuits. The victims can sue, the European Community has already been in tight communication with the DOJ.
The company was so bereft of political sense that they went after the judge and then the Anti-trust division, WHILE the case was being litigated.
They acted as if they had no idea that people in Washington would be a wee bit upset by this. That there are rules in politics and trying to strongarm someone who has you in court is not smart.
They made a lot of enemies by doing that, and it hurt them in making their case before Congress. You can imagine the questioning Gates will get when they get him before Congress again.
The fact is that unless Microsoft is challenged, Linux will never get a chance to fully grow.
Jackson was correct to downplay Linux as a threat in 1999. He had no legal choice. But he's also right.
Bill Gates could dominate the Linux market within a year. MS Linux with Office 2K would crush the opposition.
Companies would install MS Linux on their machines and run MS endorsed Linux programs.
They can outmarket Red Hat any day. And when MS starts tossing around options and money, a lot of people who have to feed their kids and Quake habit will join right up.
Microsoft has already proven that the best OS doesn't win.
Now, if you want to make sure your interests are protected and your industry can grow, you need to take some of that Red Hat IPO cash and invest in a few politicians, form a pac and cover your rears against Microsoft and other people.
Now, you all can whine about the corruption of politics and all that crap, but the reality is that politics is how America is run and you have to play the game to win
This is business, and your futures. You want to protect them, you better make sure you have friendly ears on Capital Hill.
This is not to say that Microsoft could have fended off a lawsuit, but look at what the gun industry has gotten away with and how they spend their money.
You register to vote, support candidates who can support your issues. Which means giving them money.
Taudry and sad? Sure. But like flu shots, burned out hard drives and Windows, some burdens must be born.
Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft and a lot of techies treat
politics like it's some failed
paradigm, some odd beast which
demeans them when they even think
about it.
This is not to say that Microsoft's
troubles are not well deserved, but
the fact that they acted as if the
Feds were people who didn't matter,
has screwed them.
They never cultivated the allies they
needed in DC, and when they
had to act, they moved crudely and
thuggishly, things style sensitive
Washington never appreciates.
Their rivals did. They had enough
people in their pockets or willing
to listen to them that MS was in
trouble.
Orrin Hatch, chairmman of
the Senate Judiciary Committee
had spent years listening
to Novell's problems with MS.
When he got Bill in front of his
committee, he grilled him like
bacon.
Now people have called the people
who pushed the government on
MS whiners and crybabies.
Which just means they need to start
teaching civics again.
When companies kept finding their
way blocked to the marketplace
by Microsoft's flagrant illegalities,
they did what all smart people do
when faced with a crook, they called
the cops.
Gary Reback had to work like a civil
rights lawyer in 1960's Mississippi,
getting secret depositions, always
wondering when Sheriff Bill and his
deputies would ruin one of his
clients.
His work clearly influenced how
DOJ made their case and how
they saw Microsoft in action.
This is not how we want American business
to run. Everyone should have some
access to the market. The problem was
that one company defined that market
in their best interest.
Gates is upset, but if he doesn't
settle, Microsoft will be buried
in lawsuits. The victims can sue,
the European Community has already
been in tight communication with
the DOJ.
The company was so bereft of political
sense that they went after the judge
and then the Anti-trust division,
WHILE the case was being litigated.
They acted as if they had no idea
that people in Washington would
be a wee bit upset by this. That
there are rules in politics and
trying to strongarm someone
who has you in court is not
smart.
They made a lot of enemies by
doing that, and it hurt them
in making their case before
Congress. You can imagine the
questioning Gates will get when
they get him before Congress again.
The fact is that unless Microsoft
is challenged, Linux will never
get a chance to fully grow.
Jackson was correct to downplay
Linux as a threat in 1999. He
had no legal choice. But he's
also right.
Bill Gates could dominate the
Linux market within a year.
MS Linux with Office 2K
would crush the opposition.
Companies would install MS
Linux on their machines
and run MS endorsed Linux
programs.
They can outmarket Red Hat
any day. And when MS starts
tossing around options and
money, a lot of people
who have to feed their kids
and Quake habit will join
right up.
Microsoft has already proven
that the best OS doesn't win.
Now, if you want to make
sure your interests are protected
and your industry can grow, you
need to take some of that Red
Hat IPO cash and invest in
a few politicians, form a pac
and cover your rears against
Microsoft and other people.
Now, you all can whine about the
corruption of politics and all that
crap, but the reality is that
politics is how America is
run and you have to play the
game to win
This is business, and your
futures. You want to protect
them, you better make sure
you have friendly ears on
Capital Hill.
This is not to say that Microsoft
could have fended off a lawsuit,
but look at what the gun industry
has gotten away with and how
they spend their money.
You register to vote, support
candidates who can support
your issues. Which means
giving them money.
Taudry and sad? Sure. But
like flu shots, burned out
hard drives and Windows,
some burdens must be born.