MSFT
pirate_200 - you said:
"2. If Microsoft didn't get NT right after all these years, what is the likelihood that they can produce a simple, reliable, scalable system like NTAP's *and* be willing to attack their own software and license stream of NT?"
I respectfully submit that you're missing the point.
Microsoft knows it doesn't have to "get NT right" (or any of their other products); they merely have to get them "good enough". Look at their history.
Specifically regarding NAS, please refer to my post Message 16949757 wherein you'll see the headline Microsoft pulled support for all NAS devices last spring because it couldn't guarantee the integrity of information that came through its own common Internet file-system protocol, which all NAS devices support. The article goes on to mention that MSFT granted Procom Technology approval for their NAS product...so once again, MSFT has positioned themselves as the gatekeeper, and will decide whether they wish to allow other NAS vendors to compete with them, or not. In any event, notice that as a NAS vendor (of sorts) they've now positioned themselves back into the revenue stream.
Finally, you mention "Everyone thinks producing a data appliance is easy, history shows it isn't so. ". I'd again have to disagree. A "data appliance", which I take you mean "NAS appliance", can be built to any number of different performance and feature levels. For some cheap NAS storage, check out: snapserver.com. Of course, NetApp filers are top-notch in both features and performance, but there are times that a customer will not feel that level of sophistication is necessary.
With so many players attacking the same sector from so many different angles, it seems to me that it will be a vicious fight for all involved.
Not as wild as Olympic figure skating, though. :-((
Best,
Steve |
