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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Bill Gates recently compared the software
market with the soft<BR>drink market. He says Microsoft is struggling to survive
but that<BR>the beverage giant will be on top forever because the
Department<BR>of Justice doesn't pick on them. Of course, Bill should be
careful<BR>not to give Coke any ideas. We might end up with a scenario
like<BR>the following:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Joe: (walking into McDonalds) Hi, I'd
like a Big Mac.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Cashier: Okay, here's your Big Mac and
here's your Coke.<BR> That'll be $3.99.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Joe: Uh, I don't want a
Coke.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Cashier: Sorry, they're
bundled.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Joe: What? I'm not paying for a
Coke!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Cashier: You don't; the Coke is
free.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Joe: But wasn't a Big Mac $2.49 last
week?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Cashier: Sure, but this latest Big Mac is
far more innovative.<BR> It's got integrated
Coke!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Joe: I already bought a Snapple across
the street...<BR> I'm not going to drink the
Coke.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Cashier: Then you can't have the
burger.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Joe: Okay, fine, I will pay the $3.99 and
throw the Coke away.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Cashier: Oh, you can't do that. They're
seamlessly integrated.<BR> Totally inseparable.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Joe: How can that be? They're two totally
separate things?!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Cashier: No, watch. (takes Big Mac, dunks
it in a tank of Coke) See?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Joe: Why did you just do
that?!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4>Cashier: It's a benefit to the consumer.
Otherwise you'd end up<BR> with two different, inconsistent
tastes. This way you're<BR> assured of a continuous taste
across all your foods</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
size=4><BR>______________________________________________</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>