This is a superior merger because it makes more sense strategically. Qwest is also a more substantial company -- larger in terms of size, employees, revenues and fixed assets.

The reason for doing this would be that the Qwest merger would take a shorter time period to close from a regulatory approval process standpoint.

Bell Atlantic gains, first, and foremost, a national footprint for wireless, and this will enable it to match up against AT&T and Sprint PCS, which are the two other national wireless players. That would make really three companies that could offer their subscribers the ability to use the wireless network anywhere in the country.

We're all sitting here waiting for this company to produce earnings from the changes Chuck Conaway has initiated. These changes are going to make a substantive difference. The market believes it. We do too. But it won't start being reflected until we see the hard numbers.

It's almost like a flat tax. It doesn't matter if you are small company, SOX costs a set amount. That generally means you have to generate a lot more revenue to offset that cost.

If you really needed a floppy drive, that could be added through the USB ports, and a company could use one floppy between a number of people to save costs.