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Friends of the Revolution

by Brian Day

Fri, Nov 19th 1999 2:43am





Microsoft Stealth PR Target Middle America

from the mind-control dept

Rumor has it Microsoft has been involved in several grass roots efforts (read: Mighty PR machine) to generate sympathy editorials from local news sources. I believe it! When I last spoke with my mom, who lives in Iowa, she wouldn't stop talking about how unfair the unfavorable decision against Microsoft was. She said that even people in Silicon Valley were against the decision, since it infringed on their "right to innovate." At that point I had to stop her and give her the real story. People were dancing in the streets of Palo Alto! These people are being bullied, ripped-off, and gouged by Microsoft every day.
While I was able to clear up the issue for my mom, the situation does not look good for prosecutors for the following reasons:
1. Microsoft has successfully built up public support in middle america
2. Without anyone in Silicon Valley or NYC becoming aware of it
3. Tech companies will not speak up since they fear Microsoft.
4. Microsoft can now force a lenient settlement since public opinion appears to be on their side.

4 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Sneaky MS

    identicon
    Mark Gallagher, Nov 19th, 1999 @ 9:38am

    This is really interesting as I live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area (about as Midwestern as you can get) and I haven't seen anything like this. Any chance that anyone has a link to one of the Ed pieces so I could take a look?

    By the way, I think MS might be using the word

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Tsk Tsk Tsk

    icon
    Mike (profile), Nov 19th, 1999 @ 3:48pm

    Now I have to make fun of my admins in public... Hey Brian, a sample of "1" doesn't necessarily constitute a valid survey. :) That's made even more true when the sample is your mother. Also, you should at least try to find some story that backs up what you're saying and link to it. And, there are some stories, such as this one that talks about how Microsoft and the DOJ are battling it out in the court of public opinion.

    Also, I disagree with some of your assumptions. I think Valley companies have shown pretty clearly that they don't get scared speaking out against Microsoft. Plenty of them do it all the time, and now a lot of them see it as an opportunity to hit 'em when they're down. How it all turns out, I don't know, but I'll be sure to ask my Mom next time I speak to her. :)

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Iowa

    identicon
    Brian, Nov 19th, 1999 @ 10:50pm

    Where in Iowa? I live in Marsahlltown (small, right in the middle of the state) and the reaction I get is mixed. My parents don't have a clue, anyone with a little tech knowledge is mixed, and the PHB's think it's a travesty. Same old crap. I think it's more of a political thing. If you hate the government you hate the trial, if you think the government ain't bad, you like the trial. MS PR is working overtime, no doubt, but I am not sure of the results.

    And keep in mind that the Iowa Attorney General is one of the leaders in the state's portion of the case. (To tell you how un-political I am, I can't remember his name, oh well)

    Brian - who says "no shit but too late" to the whole trial

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    True-ish

    identicon
    Robert Smithson, Nov 21st, 1999 @ 12:54pm

    There is no dount that many of those supposed to be anti-Microsoft have been pretty luke warm about the decision. Neal Stephenson, a well-known Linux and BeOS fan, was less than complimentary.

    There is a pretty good sum-up of the various pro and anti views expressed at http://www.thatvisionthing.com/Articles/microsoft1.htm

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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