1. DOS
    A. What is the difference in a contracted service between exclusive and non-exclusive?
    B. How did this impact Microsoft's future?
    C. Why did Gates go the way he did?

2. Vaporware
    A. How risky is selling something before you have it?
    B. How did this enter into Microsoft's early days?
    C. What is Microsoft policy on this today? Why?

3. Creating a standard
    A. What specific strategy did Gates pursue to make DOS the standard?
    B. Was DOS the best operating system at the time?

4. Microsoft versus Apple
    A. What was the difference in strategy between these two companies?
    B. Which approach was more effective in the long-run? Why?
    C. Who made better systems?

5. Technology
    A. Was Microsoft a leader, avid follower, or laggard?
    B. Discuss specific examples to support your position.

6. Microsoft and IBM had a long partnership in PCs.
    A. Why did each company enter the partnership in 1980?
    B. Why did each company continue through 1989?
    C. Who broke up the partnership? Why? Cite specific examples.

Microsoft and Intel

7. What is the relationship between the success of Intel and that of Microsoft?

8. Both Intel and Microsoft have products with short life cycles and rapid obsolescence.
    A. How specifically, does each company deal with this?
    B. What do they do the same and what do they do differently? Why?

 - R. S. Kulzick - Q1 - 1/23/2003 -