PUBLIC FORUM : READERS TAKE BYTE OUT OF RENO, MICROSOFT.

Paul B. Matthews' letter (Public Forum, Jan. 14) has some serious errors in his defense of Janet Reno's case against Microsoft. His statement that Microsoft is the only maker of operating systems for PCs is incorrect - I can think of at least four other producers of operating systems that are available for the PC user.

Since there are choices of both operating systems and Web browsers available for PC users, the government's case against Microsoft seems without merit.

Reno's case is not about unfair advantages. It is clearly about punishing hard-working and talented people for their successes, which is nothing more than an assault on the American dream.

- John R. Schlank

Granada Hills

The Jan. 12 letter by James Glass regarding the Justice Department's case against Microsoft (``Puncturing Reno's case against against Microsoft'') contained an interesting, although flawed analogy.

Glass compared Microsoft's marketing practices to that of carmakers and new cars. I would like to correct this analogy to make it more accurately reflect the case.

A carmaker builds a new car. The car is useless without an engine (operating system) and so is included with the car. Now suppose there is one engine manufacturer who controls, say, 95 percent of the market for engines.

This engine maker (Microsoft) then decides that it also wants to get into the tire business and so approaches the carmakers. From now on, a carmaker can only use the engine from this dominant manufacturer in their cars if they also purchase their tires (Internet browser) for their cars. This has the result of effectively driving the other tire manufacturers out of the market, and out of business.

This is the essence of the Justice Department's case. Is it legal for Microsoft to use its dominance in the computer operating system arena to force computer manufacturers and retailers to include their Internet browser with their systems? Is it legal for them to leverage their market position to drive rivals out of business?

The Justice Department thinks not, and the courts have agreed, ordering Microsoft to stop.

I just don't see how the Microsoft case relates to offenses committed by the Clinton administration.

- David Winterrowd

Palmdale

More time in class

In response to ``Cheat the clock,'' editorials, Jan. 6:

Forcing schools to provide more in class time is fine. Lowering the number of students a teacher will have to teach is great. Upgrading the technology in each classroom is outstanding. None of the preceding is anywhere near as important as the parent-teacher relationship.

If the child does not live in the home where education is important, a minority of them will excel in their educational efforts.

I have five children and much of my time is spent aiding them in completing homework and extracurricular studies. I am on the leadership council at Madison Middle School, and about every three weeks I attend a meeting where important issues are discussed - textbook purchases, asset allocation, student discipline and teacher training. All of these topics are extremely important, very topical and relevant to my child's better education.

I am usually the only parent attending - out of a possible 1,500. That is upsetting and chilling. Where we, as a society, need the most improvement we fail.

Wake up, parents. Get more active in your youngster's education.

Get off your duffs and do something. You can make a difference and you must make it today.

- Robert C. Litwack

North Hollywood

Re the letter of Jerome Robinson titled, ``Teachers aren't cheating public,'' Public Forum, Jan. 11:

Teachers work some 7-1/2 months out of the year, the rest of us work 11-1/2 months. Teachers are very well paid on an annual basis. However, when you consider they work only 7-1/2 months, the salary becomes outrageous for the work performed.

Who else in the work force gets two weeks off for Christmas, one week off for Easter and every imaginable holiday?

The school system in Los Angeles has become a bottomless pit for the destruction of the taxpayers. The nonresponsive and noncaring school board is a club of ex-teachers, elected by teachers for the purpose of milking we poor taxpayers and enriching themselves.

- Donald L. Mellman

Studio City

Comparing salaries

When I started reading Rick Rofman's Jan. 8 letter about public employees' salaries, in which he expressed being horrified by what $100,000 a year will buy, I was horrified by what horrified him.

It seems that a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus driver earns $41,666 a year to the Foothill Transit Zone driver's $20,000.

What horrified me was the salary equity between teachers ($32,258) and police officers ($43,478), street sweepers ($35,714) and bus drivers ($41,666) and the fact that Rofman appears more concerned with quality bus service than with quality education.

Could there be a correlation between teachers' salaries and the sad state of education? To me, these statistics speak volumes about our values and priorities.

- Jan Holle

North Hollywood

Kwanzaa commentary

Lans Bayoh's comments (``Charen's Kwanzaa column full of `hot air') in Public Forum, Jan. 9 on Mona Charen's Jan. 1 column on Kwanzaa, (``Kwanzaa born of separatism, radicalism'') deserves a response.

Bayoh recommends that Charen go to any church on Sunday to see the ``separatism, radicalism and segregation'' that is caused by Christians.

As someone who goes to church on Sundays, I have yet to observe any separatism or segregation. What I do observe are people of all races and cultures worshipping and praying in a spirit of unity.

Yes, you can observe radicalism in the church, but only because Christians are trying to make this world a better place to live for both believer and nonbeliever alike.

- Michael Pucher

Reseda