advalorem
In the past (and currently) you seem to have placed weight on MS's "technical edge" in their products.
I'm not saying that features *don't* matter, but I think that what MS thinks is the edge isn't.
Take memory and color: Wince devices have had more memory AND color for far longer than Palm, and it hasn't helped a lick. They had those "advantages" pre-PocketPC.
And in PocketPC they still have the color and memory edge, yet again, their market share has shrunk to single digits.
What do users want out of a PDA? I'd say, and this is fully anecdotal and supported only by a survey of one:
(all of the following important but in no particular order)
Access to personal information
Instant-on
Access to timely information (weather, quotes, etc.)
Ability to organize and schedule
Ability to keep track of items and thoughts
Quick, flawless backup process
Anytime, anywhere
Light and convenient
Image (status, not screen)
What most users don't particularly care about
Integration with MS Office
Web browsing
Processor speed measurements
What users can't stand
Bulk
Crashes
Painful backup process
and (here I admit I'm fully biased)...
MSBully using monopoly profits to pick fights in other school's playgrounds and make others the guinea pigs for buggy products.
These lists go along way (in my mind, at least :) in explaining why Palm OS now appears to have over 90% share. And I believe my last point is also telling: Half the country may own MS stock, but the other half hates MS and buy their products only because they have no real alternative (fractions not indicative of reality, just thrown out for illustrative purposes).
So in order to win, MS has to have not only a better product, but a *dramatically* better one.
Andre |
