Microsoft takeover of Yahoo

[barrons]

<p>Bad news for Yahoo workers. IMHO. But they were going nowhere fast so…</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>Perhaps that will take away some of the bad press about Vista</p>

<p>[Still not a Mac](<a href=“http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/130626.asp”>http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/130626.asp&lt;/a&gt;)</p>

[simba]

<p>now i can minimize my loss on YHOO</p>

[sueinphilly]

<p>I never liked the Yahoo search engine (and that is before there was even a google). </p>

<p>44 billion…</p>

<p>yikes.</p>

[dntw8up]

<p>“BERKELEY, Calif. (MarketWatch) – If anyone thinks the Microsoft Corp.-Yahoo Inc. deal is getting past the European Union regulators, then they are crazy.”</p>

<p><a href=“http://■■■■■■■.com/3ddgux[/url]”>http://■■■■■■■.com/3ddgux&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[razorsharp]

<p>Microsft buying Yahoo is the blind leading the blind. </p>

<p>In case anyone forgot, Microsoft illegally used its monopoly power to destroy Netscape. Microsoft offered Internet Explorer for free and once Netscape was out of the way, Microsoft stopped innovating Internet Explorer. IE is essentially dead meat in terms of technology. While Microsoft had the only browser in town, it could have developed its search engine to preclude Google from ever developing. Instead, two guys in grad school developed the best search engine ever and Google now owns 60 percent of the search market. Google built the better mousetrap while Microsoft built the Edsel. If you want technology to stop, go with Microsoft. If you want technology to improve, go with Apple and Google. Until Microsoft gets rid of Balmer and spins off its businesses, stockholders will never get any value from the company.</p>

[Erewhon]

<p>“In case anyone forgot, Microsoft illegally used its monopoly power to destroy Netscape. Microsoft offered Internet Explorer for free and once Netscape was out of the way”</p>

<p>What are you talking about? Offering it for free? MSFT packaged IE with its operating system.
MSFT was sued by Netscape for, among other things, packaging IE with its operating system and requiring OEMs to purchase the entire package (which included IE as the only browser) if they wanted the Windows operating system.</p>

<p>Balmer is another story!</p>

[sueinphilly]

<p>firefox blows IE away… try it, you’ll like it.</p>

[Erewhon]

<p>^ ^ </p>

<p>Sure does. And it’s free!! </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/[/url]”>http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[razorsharp]

<p>

In a stunning setback for Bill Gates’ software empire, the judge in the Microsoft antitrust trial ruled yesterday that the software giant is a monopoly that wielded its power to stifle competition. </p>

<p>Using unusually harsh language, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson delivered his much-anticipated findings of fact – his take on the contradictory evidence and insider e-mails that have surfaced since the government sued Microsoft for antitrust violations two years ago. </p>

<p>The judge’s blunt rebuke of Microsoft is the first clear indication that he might impose sanctions against the company.

<a href=“http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/11/06/MN94897.DTL[/url]”>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/11/06/MN94897.DTL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>In short, Microsoft used its monopoly power illegally to elininate a competitor. Microsoft remains under federal supervision and that supervion may be extended for even more years.</p>

[Erewhon]

<p>^ ^ </p>

<p>I know that But it had nothing to do with offering IE for free. And no matter how you look at it, a hand slap meant nothing compared to the billions MSFT reaped by bundling its products/systems. But the real reason Apple and OEMs were at the the mercy of MSFT was because of Word and its domination in the market place.</p>

[sueinphilly]

<p>Netscape was always free. </p>

<p>I used 1.0 in 1995 (when the only other browser was Mosaic). </p>

<p>Netscape died because they were bought by AOL. It was dying already, but that put the fork in it.</p>

[Erewhon]

<p>^ ^</p>

<p>Then AOL Time Warner sued MSFT for monetary damages on behalf of Netscape. The settlement was a partly 750 million and a seven year license fee exemption for IE.</p>

[Erewhon]

<p>^^
paltry…TGIF</p>

[razorsharp]

<p>Here is the trial Court’s finding of fact number 412:</p>

<p>

Most harmful of all is the message that Microsoft’s actions have conveyed to every enterprise with the potential to innovate in the computer industry. Through its conduct toward Netscape, IBM, Compaq, Intel, and others, Microsoft has demonstrated that it will use its prodigious market power and immense profits to harm any firm that insists on pursuing initiatives that could intensify competition against one of Microsoft’s core products. Microsoft’s past success in hurting such companies and stifling innovation deters investment in technologies and businesses that exhibit the potential to threaten Microsoft. The ultimate result is that some innovations that would truly benefit consumers never occur for the sole reason that they do not coincide with Microsoft’s self-interest.

</p>

<p>United States v. Microsoft Corp., 84 F. Supp. 2d 9</p>

<p>The Judge got it right. Microsoft is about Microsoft and the only way for it to succeed is to stop innovation by other companies. That’s bad for everyone. Microsoft is full of wips who can’t compete fairly.</p>

<p>BTW, Netscape was not initially free. Internet Service Providers had to pay for it. Whether they passed on the cost to consumers is a different matter.</p>

[thisoldman]

<p>Disagree. What is good for MS is good for America.</p>

[razorsharp]

<p>Illegal monopoly is not good for America. Competition is good for America and Microsoft does not compete fairly. Microsoft is a bully that destroys competition.</p>

[barrons]

<p>MS put some good US companies out of business and stuck us with inferior crap we were pretty much forced to buy. They were evil. Now they are just a bit sad like an old overweight prize fighter trying to stay in the ring.</p>

[thisoldman]

<p>one does not need to use MS products. Is there an argument that many products have been developed and used that are better and less expensive than MS’s browser, operating system, search engine, accounting program, wordprocessor, database, spreadsheet. virus protection, etc?</p>

<p>Apple Inc, has made a fortune on betting that MS stays #1.</p>

[BunsenBurner]

<p>barrons, you can bash MSFT as much as you want, but I bet you are enjoying your real esate gains due to the strong MSFT presence on the Eastside! What would happen if it closes its shop over here? Remember “Will the last one leaving Seattle please turn out the lights?”</p>