Let me chime in on a few points made:
1) MSFT products as reliable as SUNW.
Simply not true. MSFT has a reputation for releasing products before they are ready. They survive this because people know they will eventually get it right. SUNW has a much better reputation in the industry for quality than MSFT. Long term, if MSFT can fix this (it is a culture issue), then they can become dominant on the high end.
2) Will SUNW become the next DEC?
My vote is no. I worked for DEC for a while, working for a small co. that was acquired by DEC. It was right at the peak of DECs size. They were like what I imagined the Roman Empire was when it started to crack; fractured, lack of focus/direction, people only wanting to do interesting things instead of what the co. needed, internal contention, lack of strong leadership, etc. I know some people at SUNW, and they are far from that. They are generally older and more mature (professionally) than their MSFT counterparts; they are 'technically religious'; they will stick with SUNW through this difficult time (if simply for lack of other better opportunities in this environment).
I have previously posted opinions on MSFT long-term; I believe their persistence will carry the day. But SUNW short-term still has the fire, the products, and the technical advantages to carry them forward for at least the next few years. When MSFT gets their quality act together, they will be hard to beat (3+ years, IMO).
btw: I am long SUNW, but lightened during the CC yesterday. I have no MSFT position, long or short. |
