> The Smart Tags issue was debated here a while back.  Apparently it was hot
> in quite a few places because M$ announced they were withdrawing Smart
Tags
> from the next release of IE.  (We'll see how long that lasts and if they
> issue a silent upgrade incorporating Smart Tags at a later date ...)

 It isn't over.  If they can thumb their noses at the justice department and
still come out with WindowsXP which is so obviously built to put a dozen
companies out of business, then this is just a short ruse to get us to quiet
down for a couple months while they rush XP out the door.  Then they will be
able to tie things up in court again.  By the time the government nails
their pelt to the door, it will be too late.

 They decided to remove smart tags from "this" version, but said that they
were doing so only because it wasn't quite ready for for prime time
(right!).   They went on to say they intend to do something with it in
future.  They have never forgotten this and won't.  Rely on it.

 Six months ago I thought .NET and XP was a great idea particularly because
it would advance XML.  Now I see it as a long range plan to not only control
the Internet but * everything * about how the Internet works.  Small web
design shops will be history because they will not be able to afford the
software if M$ succeeds like they have in the operating system and office
arenas.  If you have looked at the price of Coldfusion lately, you know what
I am talking about.

 Obviously the folks at M$ don't understand that many of us are getting
paranoid out here. They are living in their own little insular world where
we are just supposed to continue sending them lots of money no matter what
idiocies they think up for our future.

 I got a post card from MicroSoft last week.  No it wasn't a thank you for
purchasing Office XP last month.  It was a threat similar to the one the
software alliance sends out.  It was sent using my yellow page information
and basically was a warning to get legal if I wasn't already.

  Think about that now.  This wasn't the government telling me to register
my car or something, this was a private company sending out threat letters
to it's customers.   Anybody out there get threatened by a car dealer or
store lately because they own a car or refrigerator?  Last time I checked
smart businesses treated their customers cordially.  Even the government
wouldn't send a threat worded like that unless I hadn't registered my car on
time.

I watched as M$ wiped out Stacker, Netscape, Word Perfect Corp, Lotus, and a
host of other companies big and small.  They own a piece of Corel too.
Who's to stop them?    Currently Bill G. is aiming at AOL, but thats just
his short range plan.  He will not rest until he controls the Internet and
put Sun Microsystems away too.  He is out of control and the government
can't and won't deal with him. He contributes heavily to both parties.

Paul Wilson
webguroo(at)tampabay.rr.com

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