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They've been at the top of that list for years. It may not be a part
of their well crafted public image, but they have a huge legal
department that they have used to sue potential competitors out
of existence.

They also top the "can't compete, so steal" and the "can't
compete, so leverage" lists. If true competition existed in the IT
industry, Microsoft wouldn't last a year. That's why a company
like Apple, with only a fraction of Microsoft's financial resources,
has been able to wipe up the floor with them in the music media
market. They tried to leverage their OS monopoly, but it was too
much of a stretch. Now they're trying to do it again in the
portable video market. Hopefully it won't work there either.
Meanwhile, they're trying desperately to create a market for
tablet computing, with virtually no opposition--certainly none
from Apple at any rate--and they simply can't pull it off. They
simply aren't a competitive company. Never have been; never
will be.
Posted by: Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   Posted on: 07/21/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Microsoft better get used to it. Employees will be leaving in droves.  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
They can leave all they want  Loverock Davidson | 07/19/05
Microsoft should just try to compete instead of crying about one employee  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
They do compete  Loverock Davidson | 07/19/05
Microsoft, trade secrets?? Are you serious??  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
he is serious  stormdoor | 07/20/05
If you work for MS...  John L. Ries | 07/19/05
Tricky indeed  Loverock Davidson | 07/19/05
Good reason not to work for MS (NT)  John L. Ries | 07/19/05
There are time limits on those non compete contracts  osreinstall | 07/19/05
Most I've seen are 2 and 3 years  voska | 07/20/05
That is for the average worker  osreinstall | 07/20/05
That's the tricky part  voska | 07/19/05
Not down here Voska  osreinstall | 07/19/05
Actually it depends on where  voska | 07/20/05
Listen Microfanboy...  Colonel_Panic | 07/19/05
infantile comments....  critique | 07/20/05
Bah! I don't like google either...  Colonel_Panic | 07/20/05
DonnieBoy, are you clueless...  John Zern | 07/19/05
Most non-compete agreements are NOT enforcable. Only to scare employees.  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
what planet do you live on?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/19/05
Sure thing, Don  Yagotta B. Kidding | 07/19/05
Last time I checked, slave labor is NOT legal.  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
Be careful if you do contract work though  voska | 07/19/05
Not just contractors  A.Sinic | 07/20/05
Slave labor?  Real World | 07/20/05
Slavery  A.Sinic | 07/20/05
All consultants (even dependent) work like that  FirstNLastN | 07/19/05
They've been defeated in court too  voska | 07/19/05
Maybe in the USA they are  FirstNLastN | 07/19/05
Look at how many people get convicted  voska | 07/19/05
ALL contracts are enforcable, beware what you sign...  Physco Dude | 07/20/05
By your definition Zern...  nomorems | 07/19/05
Really, looks to me like Google needed him.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/19/05
Every company needs good employees  Jeff Spicoli | 07/19/05
More important, the best and brightest do NOT want to work for MS anymore.  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
You are full of crap.  osreinstall | 07/19/05
Now you hit some things enforcable, the GPL and your house mortgage.  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
You are Wrong  osreinstall | 07/19/05
Judges can throw out contracts that are ilegal.  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
I am sure MS's contracts are legal  osreinstall | 07/19/05
I have experience with this  voska | 07/20/05
There are contracts and there are contracts!  osreinstall | 07/20/05
Judges can throw out contracts that are ilegal.  doc_cotton | 07/20/05
No wonder they can't find employees  nucrash | 07/19/05
Yes, the fact they are suing ex-employees is just one more reason to avoid  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
Message for DonnieBoy  B.Beck | 07/19/05
Still a good reason not work for MS  voska | 07/19/05
Sadly...  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 07/20/05
Nope  nomorems | 07/19/05
Well, we do like bashing Microsoft, they do so many stupid things.  DonnieBoy | 07/19/05
He didn't sign the clause.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 07/20/05
Microsoft sues over Google hire  Loverock Davidson | 07/19/05
Something about color, pots, and kettles  Robert Crocker | 07/19/05
A contract is a contract.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/19/05
Microsoft breaks contracts for breakfast  Jeff Spicoli | 07/19/05
Depends on the contract  voska | 07/19/05
Depends how legal the contract is  voska | 07/19/05
That's what I thought..  Patrick Jones | 07/19/05
It usually does take courts  voska | 07/20/05
Why care?  nomorems | 07/19/05
Re: A contract is a contract.  none none | 07/19/05
Right..  Patrick Jones | 07/19/05
Google didn't sign a contract  Michael Kelly | 07/19/05
booyah  Jeff Spicoli | 07/19/05
Because  Real World | 07/20/05
Here is why.  osreinstall | 07/20/05
Well, Microsoft's reputation is ruined already.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 07/20/05
Fairness  yyuko@... | 07/19/05
Gotta be kiddinG!  Reverend MacFellow | 07/19/05
Lee is now a PR more than a aggressive researcher  ChinesePhDinCA | 07/20/05
Microsoft's Trade Secrets ?!??!!  daver10 | 07/20/05
Well, well....  Anti_Zealot | 07/20/05
Add them?  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 07/21/05
Microsoft, the masters of IP theft  whisperycat | 07/20/05
Goes back even further to Stacker, Quarterdeck...  ordaj@... | 07/20/05
What Are You Talking About? Microsoft Is Leader In Innovation!!!  itanalyst | 07/20/05
Maybe now  Roger Ramjet | 07/20/05
Good ol' STUPID Microsoft.  SmarterITGuy | 07/20/05
Kai Fu Lee Was Great In "Chips Of Fury"  itanalyst | 07/20/05
Working in specialized fields  xkmail | 07/20/05
Direct Competitor?? i don't see google selling computer operating systems  wessonjoe | 07/20/05
If you DARE to leave, we are gonna get you... (Why MS, Why?)  michael_t | 07/20/05
Microsoft sues over Google hire  doc_cotton | 07/20/05
Who To Hate More Google or Microsoft.  RobertoSalazar | 07/20/05
That's easy: Microsoft  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 07/20/05
Lotsa luck  code_flogger | 07/20/05
Stay on focus!  osreinstall | 07/20/05
I think you mean, "a history of limited success."  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 07/20/05

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