Microsoft Antitrust Essays - Microsoft Litigation, Free Essays

Microsoft Antitrust Essays - Microsoft Litigation, Free Essays Microsoft Antitrust Is Microsoft a fetching business model to be emulated or the most destructive force in the software industry? Should the government apply the antitrust laws to the software industry or sit back and wait for dynamic market forces to solve anti-competitive problems? Discussions about Microsoft represent a larger-than-life dispute that speaks not only to the computer giant's impressive efforts to monopolize key elements of the software and electronic commerce markets, but to the larger issues of a high-tech society. Many partisans in debates over Microsoft are speaking to the broader issues and defending ideological views that will be tested as the debate over Microsoft's anti-competitive practices plays out. From my view point, there are some aspects of the dispute that seem clear and others that are anything but clear. First, it is clear that Microsoft has achieved its current market dominance through a combination of factors that include hard work, good luck, popular products, and an impressive array of anti-competitive or simply ruthless business tactics. It is equally apparent that some sectors of the computer industry undoubtedly benefit from this dominance not everyone sells products or services that directly compete against Microsoft in strategic markets, and the existence of a private monopoly for the desktop operating system (OS) simplifies life for some developers. And in the increasingly broad areas where Microsoft has targeted a sector for dominance, the results have been a demoralized software industry, a paucity of venture capital and stifled innovation. What is less than clear is what the government or the public should or can do about Microsoft's often brutal efforts to monopolize software markets. The Justice Department is now focusing on important but relatively narrow issues concerning Microsoft's 1995 antitrust consent agreement, whereby Microsoft agreed not to license Windows 95 on a per-machine basis (forcing computer manufactures to pay twice if they installed competitors' OS) and not to tie the purchase of the OS to the purchase of other Microsoft products. Justice is focusing on contractual agreements between Microsoft and computer manufacturers that require firms that distribute Windows 95 also to distribute Internet Explorer, a product Microsoft wants to replace Netscape as the most-used Internet browser. Microsoft's principle defense against the suit is to argue that Internet Explorer 4.0, a program that takes as much as 66 megabytes on a hard disk, is not an application at all but simply a part of the OS. Because more than 90% of PCs worldwide ship with Microsoft's OS, the issue of what constitutes the OS is an important dispute, given the Microsoft agreement regarding product tie-ins.

Acanthostega - Facts and Figures

Acanthostega - Facts and Figures Name: Acanthostega (Greek for spiky roof); pronounced ah-CAN-tho-STAY-gah Habitat: Rivers and swamps of the northern latitudes Historical Period: Late Devonian (360 million years ago) Size and Weight: About two feet long and 5-10 pounds Diet: Probably fish Distinguishing Characteristics: Stubby legs; long tail; eight digits on front flippers About Acanthostega One of the best-known of all the Devonian tetrapodsthe first, lobe-finned fish that climbed up out of the water and onto dry landAcanthostega nevertheless seems to have represented a dead end in the evolution of early vertebrates, the giveaway being that this creature had eight primitive digits on each of its stubby front flippers, compared to the modern standard of five. Also, despite its classification as an early tetrapod, its possible to oversell the extent to which Acanthostega was a land animal. To judge by certain anatomical featuressuch as its fish-like teeth and the lateral line sensory apparatus running along the length of its slender bodythis tetrapod probably spent most of its time in shallow water, using its rudimentary legs only to crawl from puddle to puddle. Theres another, alternate, explanation for Acanthostegas anatomy: perhaps this tetrapod didnt walk, or crawl, at all, but rather used its eight-digit forelimbs to navigate weed-choked swamps (during the Devonian periods, land plants began, for the first time, to shed leaves and other detritus into nearby pools of water) in pursuit of prey. In this case, the forelimbs of Acanthostega would be a classic example of pre-adaptation: they didnt evolve specifically for the purpose of walking on land, but came in handy (if youll excuse the pun) when later tetrapods, descended from Acanthostega, finally made that evolutionary leap. (This scenario would also account for Acanthostegas internal gills, as well as its weak ribs, which made it unable to poke its chest fully out of the water.)

Wealth and Industrial Attractiveness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Wealth and Industrial Attractiveness - Essay Example This is followed by acquiring valuable materials. However, majority of the people makes wealth through coming up with a budget and different estimates of what they want to acquire and setting up a plan to achieve it. For instance, they come up with a budget on how to develop a concept and sell it to other people for money. After getting money, they diversify their investments in order to reduce the risks and uncertainties associated with inventing in one sector. With time these people are able to acquire valuable materials. Business environment is critical in the success of any business. Economic, social, political, environmental, legal, and technological components dictate how the customers, local administration, and the business interact. This is through creating a platform for the business to make profits without interference from external forces. Therefore, these components can be useful in acting as parameters to measure whether an investment in the industry can return the initial capital and make profits which are

Chief Executive Officers Compensation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Chief Executive Officers Compensation - Essay Example The term human resource management is not new. It has been widely used by scholars and managers to refer to the set of policies designed to maximize organizational integration, employee commitment, flexibility and quality of work4. In the sections that follow, I will attempt each of the questions as requested and there after I will provide a brief conclusion. In economic literature, the significance of information asymmetries, innovation and strategic behaviour has long been recognised. There exists a considerable literature on how incentives affect a variety of management problems and the methodology for analysis of incentive problems most notably the principal agent model (Turner and Muller 2006). CEOs are paid based on the job description given to them and since in America it is often believe that, they are the leaders they want others to emulate. In addition, it always costs more to hire a new person than keep the old one. Osborne, Hyman & Jack (2006:451) substantiate further that an effective human resource policy "is not only to find competent workers but also to motivate and effectively manage them, is recognised as important for the viability of the organisation". They argued th They argued that, problems emanating from conflict of interest are virtually general to all cooperative activities amongst individuals whether or not they occur in a hierarchical fashion as suggested by the principal agent analogy Because principal and agents are utility maximisers, there is every reason to believe that the agent will not always act in the best interest of the principal (Jensen 2003:86). This attempts to draw out contractual problems that can arise as a result of agents acting opportunistically when their interest departs from those of their principal (Jensen 2003). Thus, agency theory provides us with the rational for an effective human resource management policy. Thus, if American CEOs are paid more than their Japanese counterpart, it is just their own way to handle the opportunistic behaviour of the agent. Hyman & Jack stated that Corporations in the States save twice that much every year from an even more outrageous loophole, what executive excess 2008 dubs the "unlimited tax deductibility of executive pay." Top companies can essentially

Sherlock Holmes Essay Example for Free

Sherlock Holmes Essay His appearance also, with his pipe and deerstalker, has become a widely accepted depiction of a detective. Many detectives since Sherlock Holmes have copied his basic appearance, also being depicted as wearing a cloak and deerstalker, and smoking a pipe. Conan Doyle uses the aspect of Holmes appearance to reflect his character; Watson describes him as having a hawklike nose. This comparison to a hawk suggests that Holmes is powerful, strong, and inescapable; Holmes is predatory, and he is hunting his prey. Further symbolism as to the depiction of a hawk is that large birds of prey are revered for their immense skill at catching prey, in a similar way to Holmes. Their speed and power, is that of Holmes. The United States of America use a bald eagle as their national bird and as part of the great seal of national congress; the eagle, as a bird of prey, symbolizes power. Throughout the Holmes stories, he exhibits an intelligence that goes beyond the traits of a common investigator. His powers of observation and deduction are most apparent when he meets his client Helen Stoner; There is no mystery, my dear madam, said he, smiling. The left arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you sit on the left-hand side of the driver. This shows how superior Holmes ability to observe and deduct information really is. This superiority is emphasised by Watson; serving as a filter between Holmes himself and the reader, Watson is able to emphasise Holmes abilities and to make him appear even more admirable. Conan Doyle creates the character of Dr Watson, whom we learn about as we read through the stories, as Holmess companion. He is always there with Holmes and assists him when he is in trouble. He occasionally helps Holmes solve elements of different cases and is reasonably good at working things out, however his powers of deduction are not nearly as powerful as Holmes; You reasoned it out beautifully, I exclaimed, in unfeigned admiration. It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings true. Doyle uses this sense of inferiority to subtly elevate Holmes ability. Watson is always there for Holmes and he makes the stories more interesting by serving as a comparison to Holmes; Watson is a person who has a romantic, less practical imagination than Holmes. This contradictory attitude serves to exalt Holmes and the abilities of his concentrated mind. Watson is also used as a filter; Because I made a blunder, my dear Watson which is, I am afraid, a more common occurrence than anyone would think who only knew me through your memoirs. Through Watson we see only what Conan Doyle wishes us to see, this then means that when the mystery is revealed, it is even more awe-inspiring, since the reader, along with Watson, were oblivious to what was such an elementary conclusion. Holmes has a very prominent duality that is obvious to us as a reader; It saved me from ennui, he answered, yawning. Alas! I already feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little problems help me to do so. Holmes took drugs on a regular basis while he was not working; he used them to help him relax. Holmes detests being unable to occupy his ceaseless mind and reverts to drugs to give himself a distraction from his boredom. Since first appearing in the Strand magazine, the Holmes stories have been enjoyed by many readers. These stories appealed to the Victorians because they offered an escape from the crime ridden society they lived in. Holmes never failed to solve a crime and offered them moral certainty. Although in current society we are more competent at solving crimes, Conan Doyles stories are still enjoyed as they are an entertaining, easy read for many modern day readers. I, for one, enjoy the old-fashioned, formal language used.   Matthew Gatehouse 10i 2 Friday 1st May 2008 1 | Page Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section.

Lewis Carroll Essay -- essays research papers fc

Lewis Carroll is one of the most well known Nonsense Writers. Though using nonsense in poetry has been dismissed as simply "for entertainment purposes", most nonsensical poetry acts as an allegory, has deep symbolism and leaves the door wide open for varying interpretations. Lewis Carroll has utilized this sense with nonsense through his poems and prose found in his novels Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass . Through Carroll's interactions with his close friends and family, and the innovative and eccentric society and politics of the Victorian Era, he has created beautiful poetry with many different levels. The Victorian Era lasted from 1837 until 1901, which was the time during Queen Victoria's reign in England. The term Victorian has "conveyed connotations of ‘prudish', ‘repress', and ‘old fashioned'"(Landow 1). This era is now seen as a time of " great expansion of wealth, power, and culture"(Landow 1). This change in ideas and politics led to great change in democracy, and saw a rise in other modern movements. Since the era lasted for so long it is comprised of several different periods including Socialism, Darwinism, and scientific Agnosticism. The widespread use of opium during the Victorian period may have influenced or been reflected in Carroll's work. "In Carroll's time five out of six families used opium habitually"(Wohl 34). The Victorian Era, ideology, and politics had a great impact on Lewis Carroll's poetry. Lewis Carroll, formally Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was born at Daresbury, Cheshire, on January 27, 1832. His parents were Charles and Frances Dodgson. He was the oldest of 11 children.All through his life he loved to write, and take photographs. During 1854 Carroll continued to write and compiled a scrapbook of his best writings, called "Mischmasch". "Mischmasch" included a four line verse, titled "Stanza of Anglo-Saxon Poetry". Later this became the first verse of his nonsense poem "Jabberwocky". In 1855, Henry Liddell arrived as the new Dean at Christ Church and Carroll was introduced to his children. He had a son, Harry, and three daughters: Lorina, Alice, and Edith. Carroll had begun to photograph the family and had become especially charmed by the little girl Alice. Alice later b... ...nbsp; Works Cited Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland. Norton Critical Edition. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1992. Connell, Kate. "Opium as a Possible influence upon Alice Books" 22 Mar 2000. The Victorian Web. <http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/victov.html>. Graham, Eleanor. Lewis Carroll and the Writing of Through The Looking Glass Great Britain: Puffin Books, 1981. Landow, George P. "Victorian and Victorianism" 23 Mar 2000. The Victorian Web. <http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/vn/victor4.html> Sewell, Elizabeth. The Field of Nonsense London: Chatto and Windus LTD., 1952.

A Modern Modest Proposal

It is a truly depressing matter to witness the complete and utter destruction of Haiti. Since the earthquake, the nation has being slowing withering away. The people that inhabit the land are suffering terribly and enduring the most brutal conditions. Tent cities, populated by close to seven thousand people, are being subject to crime and the propagation of a multitude of diseases. Parentless children wander aimlessly, searching for any remnant of food or even a single droplet of water. If they do not find their precious water and food they will end up like many others who end up passing out due to starvation or dehydration and eventually dying. Only the fortunate have an actual place to call a home, if one considers four sticks embedded in the ground covered by old clothing a house. It is indisputable that a precarious situation exists in Haiti. Any moral human being must realize that action has to be taken. Haiti could serve as a valuable consumer market if the nation is restored back to a perpetual state of stability. It would aid every single American in that it could potentially boost our economy. It could serve as another place to have manufacturing done cheaply because Haitians are desperate for any job. We could use this nation for our advantage and integrate them as valuable aspects of our economy. The real question is not why should we help them; it actually is why should we not help this feeble nation. Haiti needs us great Americans to lend our hand and help them from their destruction and devastation. This predicament has engulfed the majority of my thoughts for the past few years. Constantly, weighing out the pros and cons of each and every situation. All of the other solutions just do not sufficiently mend the problems of Haiti, according to my calculations. This being true, the only plausible solution that would efficiently fix the immense amount of problems in Haiti is my proposal. It is reasonable to believe that the situation will only worsen. With new children being born due to the rape of women and the continuous manifestation of deadly infections it is becoming increasingly difficult for Haiti to recover. That is why direct and immediate action is imperative to the survival of this potential huge asset to America. My proposition is the perfect panacea for Haiti. It will bring an abrupt halt to all the problems in Haiti. No longer will a child have to scour the streets looking for food. No longer will mothers beg people to take their children to a safer environment. No longer will there be unconscious infants, due to dehydration and lack of nourishment, being lugged around by their elder siblings. The distress and chaos will come to an end if my modest proposal is followed with the utmost precision. It is now that I bring to you my modest proposal. It is simple really; slaughter the elderly, weak, sick, and the children, who are too young to fend for themselves. There is a plethora of uses that come from their bodies. First the bones can be used to build much more stable houses. They can act as a very sturdy shelter that will actually be able to withstand the rainy season, unlike their current houses built from simple cloth and sticks. Then the meat, which is not infected with disease, will act as valuable source of nourishment for the hungry. I have been reassured by an array of scientists that for every one hundred grams of brain there are: 78 grams of water, 10 grams of fat, 11 grams of protein, and 1 gram of carbohydrate. This will be an easy way to get the remaining population water and the necessary nutrition they need. I assure you that this is the most efficient way to provide shelter, food, and prevent the spread of disease. There is no feasible rejection to my proposal. All of those who claim there are alternative methods to helping the Haitians are mistaken. The idea that we should take more direct action in helping Haiti is laughable. I have ventured off into Haiti once to try and help them. I had success in helping a small population in Haiti. I gave them water, helped rebuild a school, and entertained the lonely children. But what does that do? Nothing. After all, they are still in desperation; constant help and gradually development of Haiti is not the answer, clearly. There has to be one defining movement that will drastically alter their condition of lives. People just tend to forget about problems that are not in the news. Due to the incurable attention deficit disorder that has cursed this country, Haiti requires immediate and drastic action. There is much humanitarian talk of alternative absurd methods to helping this country. One is attempting to fund raise in America and use that money to build hospitals and other necessary buildings. Another idea is to aid the Haitians in reconstructing their society rather than just throwing food and water at them; basically help them become a self-sustaining nation. â€Å"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a ifetime,† obviously this Chinese proverb is just nonsense. There have even been suggestions to try and work cohesively on an international level. With these foolish proposals it should be obvious that it is mine that is the most logical and efficient. I will be the first one to initiate my proposal. I am traveling this April to do so. I have been accepting donations to fund my purchase of the toxins that will kill those who need to be killed. So I call upon the people of America to rise up and overcome their ignorance and help this nation in a true state of need.