I was thinking the same thing. For those who missed my rants, USWest screwed
me out here. They advertised DSL in the apartment I moved into. I called and
they confirmed. But at 23K feet, they basically lied. As a result I'm SOL.
HOWEVER, I don't have local carrier service through USWest. I have it through
Cable-Plus. They're not much better service wise, but I do get the choice.
In addition, I just found out AT&T is running lines out here and I should have
the choice of them in a few months or so.
No, the breakup didn't immediatly fix everyone's problems, however over time,
things change. Since BIG bell didn't get the chance to squash USWest, or
vice versa due to size, and since cable-plus is out here, there is a little
competition. Any bets either prices will get better or quality will once
AT&T is built out full scale and competeing with USWorst?
USWorst, why life's bitter here.
Robert
Thus spake ">tewkewl@mindspring.com (">tewkewl@mindspring.com):
> Just thinking back though I can remember this happening to a very large oil company and also to a very large telco provider.... Nothing was really gained as far as the end user. Especially with the telco.
> Bell still owns everything and has the right of way to do what they want as they please. Prices have not dropped drastically and are not dropping currently. Additional features are popping up, But truthfully as far as service goes, (large scale connectivity) we got the shaft with Bellsouth. I would much rather have the service that Bell Atlantic offers. Would I have that same service if Bell was back as one? I would hope so... Obviously there's no gaurantee....
>
> All in All, I would love to see MS brought down from the clouds and onto everyone elses' playing field. I just don't think it's as simple as saying "Just do it". Who's to say two seperate companies once owned solely by Bill, can not collaborate? (legitimately)
> What are the rules as far as this goes? What does splitting the company up have to do with IE being the default browser in Windows? Would it be legal for MS1 that is over internet connectivity get paid royalties from MS2 who is over the OS for including IE in the bundle?
> If it is, would Bill care that he's taking money out of his left pocket and sliding it back into his right?
>
> Just some thoughts... I'm not sure of the legality and what stipulations would have to be enforced.
>
> -Patrick
>
> Bob ">bob@cavu.com> wrote:
> > > From: "Patrick"
> > To: "Bob" ,
> > References:
> > Subject: Re: [ale] CNN Poll: Should M$ be broken up
> > Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 18:36:15 -0400
>
> > Breaking up MS will just hurt everybody more in the long run actually...
> > What will happen is this:
>
> > MS 1 will have a monopoly in blah blah
> > MS 2 will have a monopoly in blah2 blah2
> > MS 3 will have a monopoly in blah3 blah3
>
> 1. If MS1 gets the Office Suite, there will be pressure to port to Linux and
> Unix. Hopefully this will break the Winbloz monopoly.
>
> 2. Similarly MS2 that owns Winbloz will stop building special features in
> that they only tell MS1, leveling the playing field for other application
> companies.
>
> 3. MS* will lose some of its money illegally obtained from competitors and
> it will go back to those harmed competitors. Everyone reading this who
> makes his or her living (or would prefer to) by doing Linux or Unix
> instead of Winbloz been harmed by M$. Future harm will be reduced.
> A class action lawsuit could be filed.
>
> 4. MS* will stop its various illegal activities such as bribing companies
> to not put Netscape icons on their "desktops" for their customers.
> It will stop forcing hardware vendors to charge their customers for M$
> whether or not they want it.
>
> 5. People will no longer think of M$ as the benevolent dictator.
>
> 6. Gates and Ballmer (sic) will be competitors.
>
> 7. MS* will be tied up fighting lawsuits for the next 10 years.
>
> 8. Those investors that made a deal with the devil by buying M$ stock
> will get burned and will invest in Linux companies instead. (Hopefully.)
>
> > And Bill Gates will still be sucking cash out of the economy like mad. Just
> > because he's not "The Boss" doesn't mean squat really.
>
> 9. Gates and Ballmer already are worth 40% less than they were a month ago.
>
> The breakup could not possibly harm the world any more than a united
> M$ operating above the law.
>
> > my $.02
>
> > -Patrick
>
> ... and mine.
>
> Bob
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Bob
> > To:
> > Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2000 10:20 AM
> > Subject: [ale] CNN Poll: Should M$ be broken up
>
> > > CNN is having a poll on whether M$ should be broken up.
>
> > > It seems that everyone at M$ has voted.
>
> > > http://cnnfn.com/poll/micropoll.html
>
> > > Bob Toxen
> > > ">bob@cavu.com
> > > http://www.cavu.com
> > > Fly-By-Day Consulting, Inc. "Don't go with a fly-by-night outfit!"
> > > Quality Linux & UNIX software consulting since 1990.
> > > No Microsoft programs were used in the creation or distribution of this
> > > message.
> --
> To unsubscribe: mail ">majordomo@ale.org with "unsubscribe ale" in message body.
>
> --
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:wq!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert L. Harris | Microsoft:
Senior System Engineer | For when quality, reliability
at RnD Consulting | and security just aren't
\_ that important!
DISCLAIMER:
These are MY OPINIONS ALONE. I speak for no-one else.
FYI:
perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5,(41*2),sqrt(7056),(unpack(c,H)-2),oct(115),10);'
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