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>So the central point does not get lost, let me be clear: there is another level to which this dispute can be raised - the issue of flagrant abuse of monopoly power. I want to make it absolutely clear to Microsoft that this broader issue is on the table, and their perpetuation of the present strategy would be highly unwise.

>If push comes to shove, Microsoft will not be spared the embarassment of exposing this debate to a much wider venue. The breadth of the discussion and issues at stake will be far greater than the puny little world of Visual FoxPro. My suggestion, therefore, is that they come along quietly and surrender to reason, before this stinking mess becomes a textbook case.<

Hi Mike -

I certainly don't mean this as any kind of personal attack but speak only to the idea :

IMO thinking that somehow MS will be intimidated by people being dissatisfied that they choose not to support part of their own product line and that this will somehow embarrass them legally or in the eyes of their stockholders borders on delusion. < s >

From time to time there are messages here from completely well-intentioned people who think that somehow we can all get together and "pressure" MS into changing their corporate strategy.

No one outside of our community cares about this issue at all. Live with it and move on.

The feature-set of XP makes it pretty clear MS is not afraid of the Justice Department - my guess is they are not afraid of you < g >