MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft never symbolized the future to anyone who even partially understood what they were witnessing. Microsoft symbolized “oh, look, I can get something that I delude myself is close to a Mac because I’m too cheap and/or ignorant to get the real thing.”
Goldman continues, “Microsoft has been late to the game in crucial modern technologies like mobile, search, media, gaming and tablets. It has even fallen behind in Web browsing, a market it once ruled with an iron fist.”
MacDailyNews Take: Illegally.
Goldman continues, “It’s not like Microsoft didn’t foresee the changes ahead. With a staff of almost 90,000, the company has many of the tech world’s smartest minds on its payroll, and has incubated projects in a wide range of fields that later took off.”
MacDailyNews Take: We, of all people, could run the company better than Ballmer with 1/10th the staff. Imagine what a real CEO could do. (May Ballmer remain Microsoft CEO for as long as it takes!)
Goldman continues, “Experiments like Courier (tablets), HailStorm/Passport (digital identity), and Windows Media Center (content in the cloud) show the company was ahead of the game in many areas — but then it either failed to bring those products to market, or didn’t execute.”
MacDailyNews Take: Courier was total vapor intended to distract from Apple’s real tablet. Obviously, it worked for the easily distracted. That Goldman includes it as an example of being “ahead of the game” is a joke and ought to be embarrassing to him. Ignorance is bliss.
Goldman continues, “‘In this age, the race really is to the swift. You cannot afford to be an hour late or a dollar short,” says Laura DiDio, principal analyst at ITIC. “Now the biggest question is: Can they make it in the 21st century and compete with Google and Apple?’ Some influential analysts think not. Several have downgraded Microsoft’s stock in recent weeks, as PC sales continue to slow and Microsoft struggles with its tablet strategy. The company’s stock is down more than 17% this year.”
“As Apple has proven, success in consumer products can fuel explosive growth. Apple surpassed Microsoft’s market value earlier this year, and is on pace to eclipse the company in sales for 2010,” Goldman reports. “And if Microsoft cedes consumer ground, it risks its enterprise stronghold. Businesses are becoming more willing to allow employees to use their personal devices for work purposes, and a growing number of those gizmos are Macs, iPads, [and] iPhones…”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: It’s telling that even people who are as confused about what Microsoft was/is as Goldman are beginning to see the end. People are finally waking up. The one true innovator will win the war, not the bloated, slow-footed imitator whose only real “win” came when Apple was being run (into the ground) by incompetents.
CreditDue,
[I seem to remember something about microsoft loaning/investing in a dying company some years ago called “Apple”.]
Here we go, again. That ‘investment’ from MS was because Bill Gates wanted Internet Explorer to be the default browser for Mac OS 8. Problem was, that Mac OS 8 CDs and packaging were already printed and pressed, ready to go. I guess throwing $150 million fixed BG3’s problem.
[At the time this Apple company was about to go under]
Yes, they were. Could have been due to a spineless sugar-water salesman, that gave away Apple’s crown jewels to MS — for an assurance that MS would continue to make Mac software. (see below)
[and needed cash.]
Apple had, at the time, $2Billion in liquid assets.
[Maybe Apple should now help it’s struggling benefactor.]
Hmm. Benefactor, eh? Does any of the following sound familiar:
– ‘knife the baby’,
– stalling on the release of Office ’97 only to release Office ’98 and try to look like a hero at a certain Macworld event,
– never releasing Access database software for the Mac
– never releasing Virtual Basic for the Mac
– never releasing non-feature crippled mail software for the Mac
– always releasing the Mac versions of MS Office software without feature parity to the Windows versions
– expect EVERY Mac user to buy MS Office software (for full price, I might add). Yet, publicly announces that none of Microsoft’s employees or their families are allowed to own an iPod or iPhone.
Yeah, that sounds like the behavior of a benefactor.
CreditDue,
[I seem to remember something about microsoft loaning/investing in a dying company some years ago called “Apple”.]
Here we go, again. That ‘investment’ from MS was because Bill Gates wanted Internet Explorer to be the default browser for Mac OS 8. Problem was, that Mac OS 8 CDs and packaging were already printed and pressed, ready to go. I guess throwing $150 million fixed BG3’s problem.
[At the time this Apple company was about to go under]
Yes, they were. Could have been due to a spineless sugar-water salesman, that gave away Apple’s crown jewels to MS — for an assurance that MS would continue to make Mac software. (see below)
[and needed cash.]
Apple had, at the time, $2Billion in liquid assets.
[Maybe Apple should now help it’s struggling benefactor.]
Hmm. Benefactor, eh? Does any of the following sound familiar:
– ‘knife the baby’,
– stalling on the release of Office ’97 only to release Office ’98 and try to look like a hero at a certain Macworld event,
– never releasing Access database software for the Mac
– never releasing Virtual Basic for the Mac
– never releasing non-feature crippled mail software for the Mac
– always releasing the Mac versions of MS Office software without feature parity to the Windows versions
– expect EVERY Mac user to buy MS Office software (for full price, I might add). Yet, publicly announces that none of Microsoft’s employees or their families are allowed to own an iPod or iPhone.
Yeah, that sounds like the behavior of a benefactor.
Forgot to add:
– Stealing Quicktime code for Windows media.
Forgot to add:
– Stealing Quicktime code for Windows media.
@do tun.o,
So Microsoft designed the motherboard on that reliable HP you have? While you may have very stable systems that doesn’t mean you are very representative of PC users in general. And of course there is the issue that you give Microsoft credit for that which they did not do.
There are certainly apps that exist only for Windows just as there are significant apps that exist only for Mac. But more and more developers are seeing the Mac market as too big to ignore, like Autodesk.
Hollywood runs more and more on the Mac. Finalcut is all but an industry standard, if not de facto. That would be a files of content creation.
Apple has also been very successful in Soho and small to medium size business where the real economic growth is. While it is true that while most in business will not replace their laptop with an iPad, the ease of use of that iPad will and is having many think that their next computer might be a Mac.
As far as the myth that Apple once dominated the desktop, the fact is that Apple never had much more than 10% of the desktop market.
Finally, you might want to reread the title of the article which makes the assertion the Microsoft is dying as a consumer company. it doesn’t assert that Microsoft is dying as a company altogether.
We are all guilty of mistaking our own ignorance and prejudice for the truth.
@do tun.o,
So Microsoft designed the motherboard on that reliable HP you have? While you may have very stable systems that doesn’t mean you are very representative of PC users in general. And of course there is the issue that you give Microsoft credit for that which they did not do.
There are certainly apps that exist only for Windows just as there are significant apps that exist only for Mac. But more and more developers are seeing the Mac market as too big to ignore, like Autodesk.
Hollywood runs more and more on the Mac. Finalcut is all but an industry standard, if not de facto. That would be a files of content creation.
Apple has also been very successful in Soho and small to medium size business where the real economic growth is. While it is true that while most in business will not replace their laptop with an iPad, the ease of use of that iPad will and is having many think that their next computer might be a Mac.
As far as the myth that Apple once dominated the desktop, the fact is that Apple never had much more than 10% of the desktop market.
Finally, you might want to reread the title of the article which makes the assertion the Microsoft is dying as a consumer company. it doesn’t assert that Microsoft is dying as a company altogether.
We are all guilty of mistaking our own ignorance and prejudice for the truth.
NCG598:
Sorry but as much as I love my iPad and iPhone…it cannot replace a desktop or laptop in the $400 range. Cant Access my jump drives. LAN storage. Try booking a vacation with a flash site. Try saving an online statement. We want it to be there… But just not quite there. Easy tiger!
NCG598:
Sorry but as much as I love my iPad and iPhone…it cannot replace a desktop or laptop in the $400 range. Cant Access my jump drives. LAN storage. Try booking a vacation with a flash site. Try saving an online statement. We want it to be there… But just not quite there. Easy tiger!
$499+tx and $70+tx keyboard is already $600 and it can’t print to all printers or grab my excel file from USB or dVD media without some serious engineering.
Still a place for $400 systems. Still need a system to convert to iPad.
It accesses content. It doesn’t create.
Not it’s intention.(let me not get preachy… It does whatever u intend it to do)
$499+tx and $70+tx keyboard is already $600 and it can’t print to all printers or grab my excel file from USB or dVD media without some serious engineering.
Still a place for $400 systems. Still need a system to convert to iPad.
It accesses content. It doesn’t create.
Not it’s intention.(let me not get preachy… It does whatever u intend it to do)
Apple has already shown us what a super low cost computer could be for the masses.
No, not the Mac Mini or iPad or even iPod Touch. They’ve already given us a glimpse of a possible future with the new $99 AppleTV.
Imagine if Apple extended some iOS Apps like Safari, email, iWork, VNC, etc. to work on the AppleTV. Then added support for low cost USB devices such as keyboard, mice, trackpads, webcams, card readers, and external drives. HDMI adapters are pretty cheap as are USB hubs. 15″ 720p LCD monitors are around $100. So it’s conceivable that Apple can offer a standalone iOS based computing device that included a wired keyboard, wired mouse and non-touch LCD monitor for around $199-249.
If Apple doesn’t do this and the jailbreakers can, I’ll be buying another AppleTV just to experiment with.
Apple has already shown us what a super low cost computer could be for the masses.
No, not the Mac Mini or iPad or even iPod Touch. They’ve already given us a glimpse of a possible future with the new $99 AppleTV.
Imagine if Apple extended some iOS Apps like Safari, email, iWork, VNC, etc. to work on the AppleTV. Then added support for low cost USB devices such as keyboard, mice, trackpads, webcams, card readers, and external drives. HDMI adapters are pretty cheap as are USB hubs. 15″ 720p LCD monitors are around $100. So it’s conceivable that Apple can offer a standalone iOS based computing device that included a wired keyboard, wired mouse and non-touch LCD monitor for around $199-249.
If Apple doesn’t do this and the jailbreakers can, I’ll be buying another AppleTV just to experiment with.
@ Digitlal Mercenary,
Of course Microsoft did not design the hardware; but their OS runs on it doesn’t it? And system stability is due to hardware and software integrity, isn’t it? You know, it’s really not a big deal to admit if Microsoft did something right; when a Windows PC crashes, critics blame Microsoft, but when it is solid, suddenly everyone remembers MS never built the hardware anyway.
And yes, Apple has been successful in its own way (which I did acknowledge in my previous post). SOHO and medium size has seen a rise in Mac use, yes, but they are still overwhelmingly Windows PCs. And in large businesses, until Apple offers mid-level machines at mid-level prices, they will always be kept to the art department and maybe CEO’s office; nonetheless, Apple should still remain profitable because a niche presence still turns in a healthy profit (for one thing, overhead costs are also smaller when you focus on a market segment); my emphasis is that it gives no indication of a death for Microsoft.
Indeed, Apple itself keeps Microsoft alive: since MacOS isn’t (legally) available for non-Mac hardware, Windows is pretty much default. Ask yourself: if Microsoft suddenly collapsed (yes, even in the consumer market only), could Apple keep up with the global demand of computers? No, unless their OS can be installed on 3rd party hardware (one of the very criticisms against Windows platforms by the Mac base).
Apple does dominate in certain fields, just as MS does in others. Yes, Final Cut is pretty much industry standard; like I previously stated, computer usage is driven first by application usage (then cost where multi-platform options are available). A Final Cut user will use a Mac; so will most iTunes developers. A 3ds Max user will use Windows PCs; so will a Visual Studio developer.
[Finally, you might want to reread the title of the article which makes the assertion the Microsoft is dying as a consumer company. it doesn’t assert that Microsoft is dying as a company altogether.]
Exactly my point; my response states that Microsoft is far from dying (not even as a consumer company); the article body subtly suggests otherwise from its own title (just look at the last “MacDailyNews Take” on the article), and certainly the multitude of comments here.
No company is too big to fail, but Microsoft would have to work very hard to actually collapse; the enterprise presence alone is huge. And remember, these companies run more on long-term contracts with one another than anything else. Many companies and Government offices have volume discount deals with Microsoft and, say, Dell, populating their office cubicles with Windows clients cycle after cycle.
I’m not sure you really read my comment unprejudiced; it never sided with either company, rather a justification for respective consumer purchases (remember I started with the accusation of stupidity against Windows users). I also addressed the one-sided emphasis on mobile computing. People have a tendency to gush over novelties and trends; mobile computing won’t kill traditional computing but coexist with it. I don’t see how this kills MS, even in the consumer market – Windows PCs are still 96% or so globally; Macs are at about 2%. Yet somehow, because I have a Mac and so do my friends around me, MS is doomed?!
In the foreseeable future, I still see MS and Apple being players; Apple seems to have positioned itself into mobile computing primarily now (good for them, really; mobile computing was hitherto an Wild West); MS continues to dominate work machines. Neither kills the other, now or in the future.
I’m not sure any of these points are based on ignorance or prejudice as much as a realistic view of the computing landscape without the obligation to wear either team’s jerseys.
@ Digitlal Mercenary,
Of course Microsoft did not design the hardware; but their OS runs on it doesn’t it? And system stability is due to hardware and software integrity, isn’t it? You know, it’s really not a big deal to admit if Microsoft did something right; when a Windows PC crashes, critics blame Microsoft, but when it is solid, suddenly everyone remembers MS never built the hardware anyway.
And yes, Apple has been successful in its own way (which I did acknowledge in my previous post). SOHO and medium size has seen a rise in Mac use, yes, but they are still overwhelmingly Windows PCs. And in large businesses, until Apple offers mid-level machines at mid-level prices, they will always be kept to the art department and maybe CEO’s office; nonetheless, Apple should still remain profitable because a niche presence still turns in a healthy profit (for one thing, overhead costs are also smaller when you focus on a market segment); my emphasis is that it gives no indication of a death for Microsoft.
Indeed, Apple itself keeps Microsoft alive: since MacOS isn’t (legally) available for non-Mac hardware, Windows is pretty much default. Ask yourself: if Microsoft suddenly collapsed (yes, even in the consumer market only), could Apple keep up with the global demand of computers? No, unless their OS can be installed on 3rd party hardware (one of the very criticisms against Windows platforms by the Mac base).
Apple does dominate in certain fields, just as MS does in others. Yes, Final Cut is pretty much industry standard; like I previously stated, computer usage is driven first by application usage (then cost where multi-platform options are available). A Final Cut user will use a Mac; so will most iTunes developers. A 3ds Max user will use Windows PCs; so will a Visual Studio developer.
[Finally, you might want to reread the title of the article which makes the assertion the Microsoft is dying as a consumer company. it doesn’t assert that Microsoft is dying as a company altogether.]
Exactly my point; my response states that Microsoft is far from dying (not even as a consumer company); the article body subtly suggests otherwise from its own title (just look at the last “MacDailyNews Take” on the article), and certainly the multitude of comments here.
No company is too big to fail, but Microsoft would have to work very hard to actually collapse; the enterprise presence alone is huge. And remember, these companies run more on long-term contracts with one another than anything else. Many companies and Government offices have volume discount deals with Microsoft and, say, Dell, populating their office cubicles with Windows clients cycle after cycle.
I’m not sure you really read my comment unprejudiced; it never sided with either company, rather a justification for respective consumer purchases (remember I started with the accusation of stupidity against Windows users). I also addressed the one-sided emphasis on mobile computing. People have a tendency to gush over novelties and trends; mobile computing won’t kill traditional computing but coexist with it. I don’t see how this kills MS, even in the consumer market – Windows PCs are still 96% or so globally; Macs are at about 2%. Yet somehow, because I have a Mac and so do my friends around me, MS is doomed?!
In the foreseeable future, I still see MS and Apple being players; Apple seems to have positioned itself into mobile computing primarily now (good for them, really; mobile computing was hitherto an Wild West); MS continues to dominate work machines. Neither kills the other, now or in the future.
I’m not sure any of these points are based on ignorance or prejudice as much as a realistic view of the computing landscape without the obligation to wear either team’s jerseys.
iPad is not a computer. It’s in a league of it’s own. It cannot save any docs nor reach them without int access. Let’s leave that out of this wonderful debate.
Next round.
iPad is not a computer. It’s in a league of it’s own. It cannot save any docs nor reach them without int access. Let’s leave that out of this wonderful debate.
Next round.
@ kevin why would you want a keyboard with an ipad
@ kevin why would you want a keyboard with an ipad
Ned, Ned, Ned.
I know people who have bought $400 Dell desktops. They use them for about a year to a year and a half and have them so infested with malwear that they either trash the computer or pay $150 to some Geek Patrol dude to wipe it clean and start over.
In two to three years they spend more than an iMac owner on their Dell, repeat buys, anti-virus software, photo editing software and/or pro help.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
Ned, Ned, Ned.
I know people who have bought $400 Dell desktops. They use them for about a year to a year and a half and have them so infested with malwear that they either trash the computer or pay $150 to some Geek Patrol dude to wipe it clean and start over.
In two to three years they spend more than an iMac owner on their Dell, repeat buys, anti-virus software, photo editing software and/or pro help.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
“Several have downgraded Microsoft’s stock in recent weeks, as PC sales continue to slow and Microsoft struggles with its tablet strategy.”
and Microsoft struggles with its tablet strategy….
and with its smart phone strategy….
and with its desktop “flagship” operating system Windows 7 and 8…
and with its Zune media player…
“I like our strategy I like it a lot”, said Steve Ballmer.
Me too!! I said.
“Several have downgraded Microsoft’s stock in recent weeks, as PC sales continue to slow and Microsoft struggles with its tablet strategy.”
and Microsoft struggles with its tablet strategy….
and with its smart phone strategy….
and with its desktop “flagship” operating system Windows 7 and 8…
and with its Zune media player…
“I like our strategy I like it a lot”, said Steve Ballmer.
Me too!! I said.
You can’t win a race when you start years behind with a fat ass named Ballmer tied to your waist, and pulling in the wrong direction.
You can’t win a race when you start years behind with a fat ass named Ballmer tied to your waist, and pulling in the wrong direction.