Comments

• Stephane Rodriguez

  2008-01-24 07:57:42

  I think it's premature to follow this Windows 7 shit stream.
  
  This is pure PR and aimed to IT people who have to take a decision to go for Vista or non-Microsoft OSes.
  
  Have you noticed the Vista SP1 is just around the corner, and it's known that IT people never consider operating systems before SP1 ships ?
  
  Perfect timing, heh!
  
  As for the coupling of their Live services with Windows, I would also suggest to not worry too much about it. The stupid game that Microsoft is trying to play with their internet enabled services that require all the latest Microsoft software in order to work, will fall back on their face since people out there could not care less.
  
  Internet is so little in their DNA (for them it's just a marketing channel) that they will manage to screw themselves with their bloated crap.

• Roy Schestowitz

  2008-01-24 08:16:02

  Have you noticed the Vista SP1 is just around the corner, and it’s known that IT people never consider operating systems before SP1 ships ?

  
  
  There's that factor too, of course.
  
  

  The stupid game that Microsoft is trying to play with their internet enabled services that require all the latest Microsoft software in order to work, will fall back on their face since people out there could not care less.

  
  
  I really don't believe we should underestimate Microsoft in that regard. Watch some Comes vs Microsoft exhibits to remind yourself of how far they are willing to go (even breaking laws) in order to gain market share and crush competitive threats. Then, look back at Google's complaint to the DoJ. It pretty much backfired because the DoJ couldn't care less (an insider defended Microsoft).
  
  I have just read about another staff exodus at Microsoft. On the face of it, at least 15% of the XBox team 'ran away' in 2007. This is part of a broader trend (we don't cover this here because it's considered "bashing") and the more threatened Microsoft feels, the more aggressive it will become. Prepare for Microsoft to boast some high figures this week, backed by its broad buybacks plan and some bucket-shuffling. I really think we should beat the ODF/OOXML as loud as possible because it's only that one cash cows that saves Microsoft from sinking along with many of the other failures (e.g. Windows Mobile, Zune, XBox360, Soapbox, MSN/Live search, WHS).

• Stephane Rodriguez

  2008-01-24 10:57:55

  "I really don’t believe we should underestimate Microsoft in that regard. Watch some Comes vs Microsoft exhibits to remind yourself of how far they are willing to go"
  
  The big difference now is that Microsoft's biggest enemy is themselves. They have to force their install base to move but that install base does not care anymore. We are not living in the 1995-2000 days anymore.
  
  Sure, Microsoft is threatening democracy daily. In France, every single week, you can read about Microsoft France investing in this and that (places, people, orgs that sometimes have nothing to do with IT). You can smell there is a huge political lobbying going on. But the return on investment is less guaranteed than in the past.