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<i>From some of the questionable business practices RCA had in its heyday, it sounds like they finally got what they deserved. Wasn't RCA the Microsoft of its day?</i>
Yeah. Billy boy can only dream of the power Sarnoff had, though. Back in the 30's 40's 50's, you couldn't make anything with a tube in it without bumping into an RCA patent...
Sarnoff's screwing of FM, TV, color, etc is well documented. It's a shame the FCC was such a pushover back then, we could have had FM sooner (none of the switcharoo hanky panky), better TV standards (Dumont at least was pushing for a far better standard that the 525 system we got socked with). Not to mention, had RCA not gone out and claimed 100% credit for a color system they were only partly responsible in creating...
I look at MS the same way I see RCA - once Bill goes, the company's on borrowed time. RCA basically died with Sarnoff...
As far as GE? Ever read that Pittsburgh area paper story on the rise/fall of Westinghouse? GE's rumored to be looking into dumping Appliances and a few other things... IMHO, Welch and Immelt's chase for the almighty dollar is going to kill them inside 20 years...
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