GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
While many computer industry leaders and the Justice Department would like to see the power and dominance of computer software giant Microsoft curtailed, a majority of Americans believe Microsoft's clout has been good for the computer industry, and a plurality take Microsoft's side in its highly publicized lawsuit with the U.S. Justice Department.
When Gallup interviewers recently asked Americans whether Microsoft has had a positive or a negative impact on the computer industry, 80% of those polled chose the positive alternative, including 89% of those who use a computer at home, work, or school.
In addition, six out of ten Americans say they have a favorable image of Microsoft. That percentage is down slightly from a 66% favorable rating the company received in early February-in the middle of the widespread press coverage of the government trial in Washington. In March, 1998, when Gallup first asked about Microsoft, its favorable rating was 58%.
The Justice Department trial is scheduled to resume on or about May 10 after a ten-week break, during which lawyers for Microsoft, the Justice Department, and several state attorneys general discussed the possibility of a settlement of the case. To the extent that they have an opinion, the American public tends to side with Microsoft in the case: Only about one in four Americans take the government's side, while 42% take Microsoft's position that it has not tried to unfairly drive competitors out of business. Among computer users, 47% agree with Microsoft's position. Support for that position generally runs consistently along age, race, and political lines, with slight increases shown for the government's case among blacks, liberals, and women.
While there has been some discussion among industry leaders that the trial should result in the breakup of Microsoft into several smaller companies, over two-thirds of Americans-69%-say the software giant should be left as is. Only 21% say that it should be broken up.
There is also significant public support for Microsoft chairman and CEO Bill Gates, widely believed to be the world's richest man. Nearly six out of ten Americans have a favorable opinion of Gates, with the percentage even higher among computer users (69%). However, his approval rating tends to fall among minorities and senior citizens, and he rates higher with college graduates and higher income Americans. As is the case for the Microsoft Corporation in general, there has been little apparent impact of the Justice Department trial on Gates' image in the eyes of the American public. In March, 1998, when Gallup first asked about the billionaire, his approval rating among the general public was 55%, very similar to what it is today.
For results based on the sample of national adults (N=1,078) surveyed March 30-31, 1999, the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Thinking about Microsoft -- the computer software company that produces Windows 95 and other products -- do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Microsoft Corporation?
| Favorable | Unfavorable | No opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Mar 30-31 | 60% | 14% | 26% |
| 99 Feb 26-28 | 58 | 16 | 26 |
| 99 Feb 8-9 | 66 | 16 | 18 |
| 98 Nov 13-15 | 55 | 17 | 28 |
| 98 Mar 6-9 | 58 | 13 | 29 |
Now thinking about Bill Gates -- the founder and CEO of Microsoft -- do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bill Gates?
| Favorable | Unfavorable | NEVER HEARD OF (vol.) | No opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Mar 30-31 | 59% | 18% | 1% | 22% |
| 99 Feb 26-28 | 62 | 16 | 4 | 18 |
| 99 Feb 8-9 | 66 | 18 | 3 | 13 |
| 98 Dec 28-29 | 66 | 16 | 7 | 11 |
| 98 Nov 13-15 | 56 | 18 | 3 | 23 |
| 98 Mar 6-9 | 55 | 16 | 3 | 26 |
As you may know, a lawsuit by the Justice Department against Microsoft is currently being tried in court. Based on what you know about the case, do you side more with -- [ROTATE 1-2]?
| 99 Mar 30-31 | 99 Feb 8-9 | 98 Nov 13-15 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The Justice Department (or with) | 26% | 28% | 28% |
| 2. The Microsoft Corporation (or with) | 42 | 45 | 44 |
| BOTH/MIXED (vol.) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| NEITHER (vol.) | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| No opinion | 26 | 21 | 20 |
| 100% | 100% | 100% |
For results based on the sample of national adults (N=1,021) surveyed March 5-7, 1999, the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Just your opinion, should the U.S. government [READ AND ROTATE 1-2]:?
| 1. Force Microsoft to break up into several smaller companies (or) | 21% |
| 2. Allow Microsoft to remain as it is (or) | 69 |
| No opinion | 10 |
| 100% |
For results based on the sample of national adults (N=1,013) surveyed February 26-28, 1999, the margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
Overall, do you think that Microsoft has had [ROTATE 1-2]?
| 99 Feb 26-28 | 98 Mar 6-9 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. More of a positive impact on the computer industry, or | 80% | 75% |
| 2. More of a negative impact on the computer industry, or | 8 | 8 |
| NEITHER (vol.) | 3 | 3 |
| No opinion | 9 | 14 |
| 100% | 100% |
Just your opinion, is Microsoft a monopoly, or not?
| 99 Feb 26-28 | 98 Mar 6-9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 49% | 43% |
| No | 38 | 41 |
| No opinion | 13 | 14 |
| 100% | 100% |
(vol.) = volunteered response
