Hi John,

The fact that Microsoft was sued under the anti-trust laws and the Court took the case is strong indication that Microsoft is a Monopoly. Judge Jackson found Microsoft guilty of currupt business partices in regrads to its Monopolistic power and purposed that Microsoft be split-up. Somehow, instead of Microsoft's abuse of power begin the focus of the trail, Judge Jackson's behaviour in hearing the litigation was place on trail, and his decisions were overturned by a higher court on appeal. Also, Judge Jackson was seriously criticized in the press after leak were made regarding certain derogatory comment he made about Microsoft. I'm sure his career is over. I wish I knew more details about the exact issues and parties involved in the original trail, but that is my take of it.

It seem to me that a market should be consumer driven. The consumer should have the power, through the exercise of spending, to choose which products best suits its needs. The market seem mores driven by Microsoft that by the consumer. If Microsoft dries up all choices other that .Net, which it has the power to do, and developers hop on the bandwagon, then the consumer will be forced to upgrade within the next couple of years, both their hardware and software in order to continue to receive software that works and is supported. Microsoft has alot of leverage in this area because it already owns the desktop market. The cost of developing .Net will be substantial as the scope of the project is enormous. Already Microsoft is talking about hiring another 5,000 folks to bring .Net to full blossom. Without other choices, IT departments across the country could be forced to upgrade there equipment and software to the new internet OS. All of this cost will eventually be passed on to the end user in the form of higher prices for all goods and services. Its like when OPEC placed an embargo on oil exports. The price of oil in the US shot up to $20 a barrel. These price increases found their way into ever nook and cranny throughout our economy.

My question is whether .Net is really necessary or even in the consumer's best interest. What if .Net is more about Microsoft owning the internet like it currently owns the desktop market. I don't recall asking for .NET, yet I've been caught up in it anyway. Didn't you need to buy a new computer to get started with VB.Net. Didn't you buy a MSDN subscription. I suspect your motivation was somehow tied to the fact that Microsoft controls things and you must stay in tune with Microsoft's wishes and plans for the future if you are to stay in business. Somehow your cost for VB.NET and MSDN will need to be passed on down the line, so you can make a living. In the end it will be you and I and everyone that will be asked to pay the price for .NET, not because we choose to buy .Net or even want .NET, but because we really have no other good choices.

I know the internet is really something to go after, and I can't blame Microsoft for going after it. The company that wins the internet prise will have the world on a string. However, I would like to see the internet remain open and free. I'm sure Microsoft will not be the only one that tries to control the internet. All the communications companies like Cox, AT&T, etc will try to get their fair share of it as well. Also, the hardware companies like Cisco, Linksys, Netgear, etc will profit. Also, the hardware supplier will sell lot of new high power computers that are necessary to run the new internet OS. Alen Greenspand would be proud. Net might prevent the country from going into a deeper recession. <s>

However, IT department are frozen right now because they don't know what to do. They seem to be waiting for some clue as to a direction, like should they go java, .NET or wait. How would you bet it. Would you make a serious commitment to .NET at this point. Would you go NET, Linux, Unix, or maybe Mac. .NET has created a lot of uncertainty and I, for one, am waiting to see some kind of direction before making any serious budget commitments or until I'm forced to do something.

Also, I question Microsoft's commitment to its products. If Microsoft loses interest in VB and FoxPro to chase after the internet, it makes me wonder whether Microsoft is really committed to .NET. What if .NET go badly, will Microsoft stay the course and continue to support those that buy into .NET early.