Summary: Microsoft continues to lag behind in portable devices, which will further extend the losses

BACK in August we wrote about Microsoft's utter failure when it comes to gadgets [1, 2]. Microsoft refuses to give up and even those to whom it gives Vista 7 laptops are underwhelmed by the Zune HD, which their IDG colleagues say has "No Reason To Live". Yes, even familiar friends of Microsoft don't believe in it, so why does Microsoft carry on trying? There is serious loss of money in Zune land and Microsoft does similarly poorly at mobile platforms, which are related to the Zune (originally a Windows Mobile gadget from Toshiba).

Windows Mobile is now being dumped by Palm, which moved exclusively to WebOS/Linux [1, 2, 3]. Here is another new article from IDG, claiming that Microsoft's mobile browser (Internet Explorer) is far behind the competition, calling it "one of the most underwhelming browsers available on smartphones today." To quote in context:

Internet Explorer Mobile (formerly known as Pocket Internet Explorer) has been on Windows Mobile devices for a long time now--and it shows. Based on a proprietary layout engine that Microsoft designed from scratch, the current Internet Explorer Mobile is one of the most underwhelming browsers available on smartphones today.

Some people live with their heads in the sand. Windows Mobile is seemingly being promoted by loyal fans like Joe Wilcox (formerly of Microsoft Watch), who also does the obligatory 'Apple comparison' to draw a crowd. Windows Mobile, just like Zune, has been a total disaster (financially, not just as measured in terms of market share).

There is relevance here other than the fact that Linux gains at Microsoft's expense. It shows that Microsoft is a lot more fragile than people are led to believe, especially because few of its products are actually profitable. Microsoft knows how to hide this. ⬆

"If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good."

--Bill Gates, Microsoft