EXS 24 Logic Sampler Users Group

=Erk= said:

>This is why Microsoft don't simply buy up Adobe and shut down the 
>company's mac output, it might be in Microsoft's interest to do that, 
>but it would be so far over the line that even Microsoft wouldn't get 
>away with it.

Because Microsoft is clearly in the dominant position. They also bought 
$150m worth of Apple stock 5 years ago partly to deflect anti-trust 
concerns. Apple was severly wounded at the time and Gates needed a worthy 
competitor to present the appearance of a level playing field. The two 
companies had a five year pact to cooperate which has now expired, so 
Apple is starting to flex its muscle.
>
>In the case of Apple, we'd have to show that this was part fo a 
>pattern and not just a one-off. I think they are supposed to have 
>just bought up some video software company with a great product, and 
>shut down the Windows version of that, too, so this might be a 
>strategy. 

Yeah, that was Final Cut Pro. Sorry if this has been said, but at face 
value MOTU seems like it would have been a better target for acquisition. 
They're Mac only, a US company and even their advertising seems Mac-like. 
But the Emagic choice adds a component that MOTU doesn't, existing PC 
users that will now be forced to make a choice. It's notably consistent 
with Apple's current "switch" campaign. Of course, it doesn't help 
Microsoft's cause to loose another Windows developer either.

>Then again, US laws on big business tend to be broken or ignored a 
>lot of the time anyway, the companies tend to plead that they are 
>especially strategically important to the US economy, and get let off.

Maybe so, but in Apple's case, they're still the small fish and as such 
impossible to hang that monopoly badge on, no matter how many windows 
developers they acquire. Microsoft has a lot more to prove as far as 
anti-trust goes. Forget about strategy for a moment and think about 
product: for all the bad news, don't forget that the Apple of late is a 
pretty innovative company, and the new Logic, whatever form it eventually 
takes, should be something to behold.

Good points, Eric.

-Mark