Does anyone care where MSFT if going…..?

June 13th, 2008 | by geo |

When was the last time you got excited about a new Microsoft product? I can’t remember. Now think Apple, Google. Probably had a different reaction :) The fact is, Microsoft has turned BORING.

With all the news on Microsoft and Yahoo, and now Yahoo partnering with Google, I have to comment.

  • Windows Vista has not won a popularity contest among consumers or businesses. People want XP.
  • The Microsoft Office Suite cash cow is about to take a beating from far better alternatives  such as Adobe, Google, Zoho, Yahoo, and others. Open Office hasn’t made a big impact yet but not discounting it either. These solutions are easy to use and more collaborative, and will win over the long term.
  • Nobody uses Microsoft Search except Microsoft employees - and even they cheat.
  • I’ve not seen the ad revenue, but now that Yahoo said bye-bye they MUST count on FaceBook.

Some ideas on growth: 

  • Go mobile, mobile, mobile. Make WM a contender for both businesses and consumers - they still have a shot.
  • Push Windows into other embedded systems ( cars, home appliances etc…) stick with the client approach and get there before anyone else.
  • Gaming - I think xbox can still do well.
  • Deploy a collaborative office suite before the others eat your lunch - there’s still time but it’s dwindling.
  • Put Windows in the Cloud.

Lastly, please come up with an innovative product. Quit making “me-too” copies of products (like live search) just to stay in the game.

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  1. One Response to “Does anyone care where MSFT if going…..?”

  2. By MSenne on Jun 13, 2008 | Reply

    I agree that Microsoft has gotten boring, but I’d argue that it happened a LONG time ago. Truth be told, the only exciting movements in Windows Mobile world have been cool hardware using the OS (see HTC Diamond).

    The only thing I am truly excited about is Xbox Live Arcade. It’s a damned fine distribution platform. Compared with Sony’s offering on the PS3 (for downloading Rock Band tracks, for instance) the XBLA is heads and shoulders above. The fact that you can get Visual Studio Express, XNA framework, make a game, sign up for a $100/year membership and sell you game on XBLA is a great step forward in mainstreaming independent game creation, if nothing else.

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