GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
The images of computer software giant Microsoft and its founder and CEO Bill Gates have apparently not been affected by the Justice department lawsuit now being tried in a Washington, D.C. courtroom. Microsoft and Gates maintain strongly positive images among both the general public and those who use personal computers. Additionally, Microsoft's position in the trial has a higher level of support than the Justice Department's.
Americans' image of Microsoft is 55% favorable and 17% unfavorable, down only slightly down from last March, when it was 58% favorable to 13% unfavorable. Among computer users, who presumably know more about the company, its products, and business practices, the company's image is even more positive, at 69% favorable and 17% unfavorable, again only slightly less positive than last March.
As for Gates, his image is almost the same as the company he heads: 56% favorable and 18% unfavorable – essentially unchanged from last March. Among computer users, Gates' image is 65% favorable and 20% unfavorable.
When asked specifically whose side they take in the lawsuit, Americans say that they side with Microsoft over the Justice Department by a 44% to 28% margin. Among computer users, who might be expected to be more familiar with the Justice Department allegations of monopolistic practices, support for Microsoft is 51%, compared to 30% for the Justice Department.
Survey Methods
The results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly
selected national sample of 1,039 adults, 18 years and older,
conducted November 13-15, 1998. For results based on samples of
this size, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the error
attributable to sampling and other random effects could be plus or
minus 3 percentage points. Results based on likely voters include
interviews with 519 adults and have a margin of error of plus or
minus 5 percentage points.
