At the second annual ‘Internet and Society’ conference here at Harvard University, internet industry commentator and venture capitalist Esther Dyson was asked her opinion of the antitrust cases being directed at Microsoft Corp. She thinks the control of the startup screen and more importantly the browser is central, because most application in the (near) future will be started from a browser screen: that’s where there is a real problem, she said, referring to Microsoft’s rigid contracts with personal computer manufacturers. And while she does not think that breaking up Microsoft is the answer I’m glad to see it being raised, she said, adding that the freedom of PC makers to add what they want is crucial, because consumers don’t want a blank slate, they want something to choose from.
