Xref: utzoo misc.legal:4414 comp.sys.ibm.pc:13887 comp.sys.mac:14586 comp.sys.apple:5007 comp.sys.hp:637
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!eos!labrea!decwrl!decvax!mandrill!neoucom!wtm
From: wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Resident Scatologist)
Newsgroups: misc.legal,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Apple challenges MS-Windows, et.al.
Message-ID: <1062@neoucom.UUCP>
Date: 28 Mar 88 00:19:01 GMT
References: <2543@charon.unm.edu>
Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Lines: 28
Summary: I doubt Apple really cares if it "wins" or "loses" the tiff


I really sort of doubt that Apple really cares a whole lot if they
win or lose the battle with HP/Microsoft.  They are doing two
things that make very good business sense regardless of teh outcome
of any legal battle.

I.  Tons of free media exposure.  Apple gets a lot more column
inches than they could hope to buy.-- And they are column inches in
very well read sections of the media.

II.  By suing members of the IBM encampment, Apple is really
saying, "See we are just as good as you are".  Not that the
MacIntosh or its software were ever any worse than anything else.
This could be the leverage that Apple needs to make the buyers for
the Fortune 500 companies sit up and take notice.  This is
especailly timely in light of the fact that Apple has recently made
overatures of cooperation with Digital.

Don't misunderstand me.  I don't like Apple's approach to doing
business on this ground.  I don't approve.  It does, however, make
very good business sense to do so in the current market.  This is
essentially the same thing that IBM did with its FUD (fear
uncertainty and doubt) factor to stave off sales of competitors
when its PS/2 series of computers was introduced.  IBM has since
learned that there has to be substance to back up the FUD factor.
Apple too may learn that they'll have to put their money where their
mouthes are in the coming months.

--Bill