In article <[log in to unmask]>, "Ian Samuel"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
 
> 56 million is few. Microsoft Windows has 120 million users, and there
are at >least another 50 million using PCs without Windows.
> (Linux, OS/2, maybe even some DOS folks still). If Microsoft wanted to,
they >could toss Apple against the wall, especially since
> all the software manufacturers are more then a little scared of them.
 
1.  Apple only recently started talking to MicroSoft, by sending a rep up
to Washington.  I don't think Apple or Claris is very scared of MicroSoft.
 
2.  Apple is an $11billion dollar per year company.  MicroSoft is a $7
billion dollar per year company.
 
 
 
> 2) Microsoft has a track record of products that continually outdo
everyone >else. I take the latter, but there are certainly arguments for
the former.
 
They are a monopoly.  Most of their products are shit on both platforms.
The only reason why Excel and Word do so well is because of the
interdependancy on those applications.  Everybody has them, so everybody
gets them.  It's like a virus.  It's the same reason why most people moved
to Windows 95 -- what ELSE are they going to do if they want to run
Windows 95 programs reasonably fast.  Certainly not NT or OS/2.
 
Word on a PC is shit compared to WordPerfect.  And it's the same on a
Mac.  Whenever there is a company that makes something better than
MS...they try to buy them.
 
 
Chris Murphy