Hacker heaven in the desert, Chardonnay and Camembert for the swells
The Chardonnay and Camembert will be in abundance when the New Democratic Network gets down to seriously schmoozing tech bigwigs in Silicon Valley and San Francisco during their 1999 retreat -- which just happens to take place in California. These self-styled centrist Dems have an influential ally in VC kingpin John Doerr. Anxious about early inroads made by GOP presidential hopeful George W. Bush with computer industry fat cats, they'll need to get cracking in a hurry.
Over the years, the hired help who run San Francisco have indeed made their fair share of odd decisions. But the spinmeisters at Excite@Home must really believe the city elders are a group of congenital nitwits. After orchestrating a phony grass-roots demonstration against opening up cable pipes to the likes of AOL and sundry other cyber interlopers, the newly merged portal access company is betting that the SF Board of Supervisors will allow cable companies to shut out access to outsiders for broadband services.
In a gesture of mercy to the poor scribes who have to keep track of its multiplying legal battles, Microsoft hopes to wrap up its presentation in the Bristol lawsuit by Wednesday. But for those of you who thrive on this stuff, don't worry: There are more hearings scheduled in Microsoft's battle with Caldera including a motion to prohibit the introduction into evidence of a Korean-language version of Windows 3.1. Now that should make for fascinating court testimony.
For a complete look at the week ahead, go to our programming guide and editorial calendar.
And in the week that was
I was sitting next to a Washington tech lobbyist last year who predicted that the Republicans would seize the advantage in the 2000 presidential race for the hearts and minds of Silicon Valley. He may turn out to be right; after George W. Bush's successful barnstorm through Northern California, the Democrats began making noises about supporting a permanent extension to the R&D tax exemption, an issue near and dear to the computer industry's heart. Still, tech execs continue to chafe at the Dems' close association with strike lawyers.
Apple's lawyers say the Future Power computer about to come to market is a clear knock-off of the Cupertino, Calif., company's iMac. To be sure, Apple may be on surer footing than it was during its losing 'look and feel' lawsuit against Microsoft. But the company's willingness to pull the trigger against a relative unknown also underscores the importance management attaches to the success of its hot new line. I wonder whether that also betray a lingering concern that the current bubble of success could easily pop.
With more than a dozen companies now offering rebates or free PCs to Internet subscribers, the transformation of the computer industry is going to force older guard computer makers to adapt or get out of the business. In the meantime, Young Turks such as Steve Dukker of eMachines are living large. And with online colossus AOL planning to give away eMachines systems to CompuServe subscribers, Dukker's prospects are only looking brighter.
I suppose it was awfully difficult to turn down the $2 billion CMGI was offering for an 83 percent control over the AltaVista portal. But with chairman and chief hatchet man Gentle Ben Rosen making all the big decisions -- last month he ordered a wide-ranging reorganization -- the job of recruiting a top-notch CEO from a Fortune 50 company -- though not impossible -- becomes that much more difficult. The Compaq response is that they'd be fools to twiddle their thumbs until the new chief comes on board.
In the news
Bush to Silicon Valley: Show me the money
Apple sues over iMac
eMachines' Dukker: A good ol' geek
More options for cheap PCs
Compaq, CMGI seal deal