On Tue, 2 Mar 1999, Or Botton wrote:
> I think there is something we should think about.
> We all want and hope for MS to fall, but besides the results in the OS
> market, I think we need to consider another things that will accour.
> Normally, when a company fall, the effects are mostly only on it's
> workers and nothing else. Microsoft, however, is an exception.
> Its a large company. a VERY large company. It has thousends
> (excuse the spelling mistakes) of programmers, salesman, advertisers,
> and the rest of the titles. If most these people will suddenly find
> themselves out of jobs.. out-of-this-world unemployment.
Counting Bill Gates, who currently owns 19.8% of Microsoft's shares of
stock, there are 11 people who own 31% of its stock (as of 1/29/99).
There are 4 billion shares of Microsoft stock authorized (which they are
asking shareholders, on the 12th of this month, to increase to *12*
billion shares -- a 2 for 1 split) at the moment. If there is a panic
sell off of Microsoft stock, I could see it lose perhaps 1/3 of its value,
but that would not stop the company from operating, and it wouldn't take
Windows off of the shelf. However, just the *emotion* in the technology
sector (the NASDAQ) of a big Microsoft shake up could send things into a
serious tumble, along with the worries of other over-valued Internet
stocks, etc.. Then, after the damage is done (whatever that might be),
companies and consumers would start looking for stabler territory, such as
Linux. And IBM. Because IBM is just beginning a large-scale integration
and support -- long term support -- of Linux within its product lines.
Think about *that* for a moment.
Jerry
Internet Montana
Red Hat Linux 5.0 / Pine 3.96
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