Microsoft cleans house, pays billions

Microsoft is busy settling a whole basket of legal entanglements. While this is chewing into its very large pile of cash, it will free up management to focus on what really matters: attacking Linux, tying in users, preparing for a Google war, and preening for SAP customers.

Microsoft has recently settled a number of huge lawsuits. The biggest of these was with Sun, over antitrust issues and patent disputes. Although the settlement was huge, at almost $2 billion, many observers were dismayed by the decision on Sun`s part. Wrote long-time Microsoft critic The Register: "Why Sun threw in the towel in Mankind vs. Microsoft: Mankind couldn`t afford the legal fees."