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Why We Tune In (11/15/98)
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To be honest, we really thought we'd be completely sick of the whole "Redmond Justice" thing by now, but it somehow manages to keep our attention. Just what is it about the case that keeps us coming back? Is it the behind-the-scenes glimpses into the sordid power struggles between ruthless corporations? The fascinating views into the arguably immoral and possibly illegal ways these corporations make incomprehensible amounts of money? The way these rich people are forced to defend their choices and actions while grilled by antagonistic lawyers? The atomic clash when an Irresistible Question meets an Immoveable Ego? Well, duh.
Seriously, though, this whole antitrust thing is still going strong and will continue for several more months. The thing is, we no longer doubt that it'll stay riveting until the very end. There's a great article in Computer Reseller News about why the trial is so closely watched, and it's not just because it's the first big antitrust case dealing with software monopolies. It's because the case has just about everything anyone would ever want in a Tom Wolfe bestseller: "money, power, greed, scandal, politics, race, media, and the prospect of a powerful man... being brought down to size." (Sure, there's no sex, but there are still plenty of witnesses left to testify.) The article does a great job of analyzing the "sweeping drama" of the whole mess and paints very vivid characterizations of some of the major players.
Plus, it gave us another reason to root for the Government's side: lawyer David Boies reportedly always wears black Nikes in court. While he's portrayed as more poorly-dressed than Microsoft mouthpiece John Warden, we have to cheer for anyone who would wear sneakers to court-- especially during such a momentous case. (Yours Truly once turned down a job offer based almost solely on footwear considerations-- if I can't wear skate shoes, I don't belong there.)
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SceneLink (1147)
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And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors |
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 | | The above scene was taken from the 11/15/98 episode: November 15, 1998: "Redmond Justice" will be on the air for several more months, at least-- why's it such a hit? Meanwhile, Apple offers up a conciliatory new Power Mac pre-loaded with Microsoft Office, and in the future all PCs will be free for fifteen minutes...
Other scenes from that episode: 1148: Look, We're Still Friends (11/15/98) The relationship between Apple and Microsoft has always been strained, awkward, and soap-operatic, with a buddy-buddy smile worn for public appearances. What else would you expect, given the nature of their business positioning?... 1149: Free-- At What Cost? (11/15/98) The PC Price Wars are getting pretty fierce. Apple has long been the expensive choice on the shelf, but with the iMac's $1299 price tag, it seemed that they were finally going to be able to compete in the low-end consumer market; sure, it didn't break that magical $999 barrier that analysts had labeled as the sweet spot, but it was close-- and the cuteness factor plus ease of use attracted a lot of buyers willing to pony up the extra few hundred...
Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast... | |  |
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