While monopolies are not inherently illegal, they argue that it is anti-competitive for firms to use monopoly power to force their way into other businesses. Netscape, which spied a commercial opportunity in Internet browsers long before Microsoft, provides a perfect test case. Moreover, regulators fear that by making Internet Explorer integral to Windows 98, Microsoft will render other browsers superfluous - effectively finishing off Netscape. In fact, Microsoft can use the same technique to vanquish competitors in other arenas, they contend. If an upstart devises successful voice-recognition software, for example, Microsoft can capture that market, too, simply by building voice recognition into an operating system for which there is no practical alternative.
Antitrust cases are notoriously complex and litigation is often protracted.
And Microsoft claims that a delayed debut of Windows 98 could not only hurt the computer industry but also the U.S. economy. Certainly the launch of Windows 95 three years ago encouraged tens of thousands of PC enthusiasts to buy new software programs and more powerful machines to take advantage of the operating system's additional bells and whistles. But Windows 95 was radically different from predecessors - the improved user interface alone made it worthwhile for most people to upgrade. Advance reviews of Windows 98 say that though it is better than Windows 95, refinements are subtle. Those features may not be enough to spark a rush to Windows 98.