Today's "breaking" news, which I've been predicting for over six months is coming to fruition. Netscape, along with Sun's Java, and AOL's either gaining a major piece of or outright buying out Netscape is total and unmitigated proof that Microsoft is the victim of "being too good," and that the case against them now has become a farce. Of course when you have the government involved anything is possible, but I can't see a judge sitting straight faced and still have these companies whining about how Microsoft is just a big bully.

The bottom line is that while these companies have been sobbing and moaning, Microsoft virtually ignored them and kept making better products. The quality of computers has gone up. The price of PC's keeps falling, and people continue to buy more computers.

AOL has been on the brink of suicide with Steve Case's tactics for nearly a year now. Netscape has been playing "chicken little" for over two years; even though they had a virtual monopoly on the browser market until about a year ago. Sun who was angry that Microsoft has been guilty of inventing or borrowing heavily from their Java script; is now showing it's true colors.

The question I pose to you and to everybody is "In the long term what stock would you buy?" "Microsoft, AOL, Netscape, or Sun?" I'll buy stock in a company that continually is on the cutting edge, not asking for government interference, and just keeps on being productive in the "American Way." What's good for Microsoft is good for the country. GM is good for nothing.

Being a subscriber to AOL for nearly a year and have barely able to put up with much more. I think that within two years AOL will be on the ropes. AOL really hasn't done anything, but play both sides against the middle. Now they will have to become a company that actually does something creative. I know that my decision to be leaving AOL in the near future now will have hardly anything with my own personal dissatisfaction, but will be a "moral" choice.

Sincerely,

Michael Ulbricht
Coeur d' Alene, ID