In the 10 categories where Microsoft had a product, prices fell by 65 percent. So it seems clear that software prices do not always fall, and that Microsoft engenders price declines, which can be seen even more clearly in individual markets. Take the case of word processors. Another blow against the CFA claim that software prices always fall. Of course, this was the period when WordPerfect was dominant.
Spreadsheets tell a similar story.
Excel took over leadership of this market in the early 1990s, and during Excel's reign prices have fallen dramatically. Similar results were found in nonprofessional desktop publishing market. Basically, they did not comprehend some studies that they relied upon, and when constructing their own data made inappropriate comparisons. First, their charge that Microsoft raised prices is focused on Windows, and is a rigged comparison. This unequal comparison obviously overstates any price increase.