Mark,
MSN sponsers a internet appliance. I detect a little marketing department confusion a Microsoft.
nytimes.com
With the introduction this week of MSN Web Companion, Microsoft has put its spin on the network computer concept of an appliance-like device for Web access. But unlike that ill-fated scheme, observers are cautiously optimistic that Microsoft's device will find a niche. ****break****
In other words, MSN Web Companion is "an Internet appliance that looks an awful lot like a network computer," according to a report from Merrill Lynch vice president Chris Shilakes. *****break****
"Technically it's not that much of a stretch for them, but it's certainly one of the first actual information appliances to hit the market," said Kevin Hause, an analyst with International Data Corporation, who hailed the announcement as a sign of things to come in the computing industry. "What we're going to see in the future is a continuum of computing devices--it's not going to be one size fits all."
In addition, Microsoft is testing more applications to connect users to the Internet, including more typical Office programs like Word and Excel, sources have said. The testing has occurred on the WebTV platform, which will eventually be based on the Windows CE operating system.
I get the impression that this division of Microsoft isn't really sure "where it wants to go, today".
Paul |
