Microsoft seems to be flailing around, looking for a new direction, but without focus their chances of unseating any established sector leader are minimal.
100 arms, each swinging hefty mallots - bound to squish a number of "competitors". Besides which, leverage is a very powerful thing - while their products are rarely top-notch, the overall fit and resulting combinations is often quite beneficial.
Remember the tens of billions they threw into broadband? Mr. Softee is far from infallible.
They have many margins for error, can many of their "competitors" claim the same? Besides, the broadband battle is just beginning...
If you owned, for example, Borland, in the early 90's, you know what I'm talking about. It is an excellent company, but sometimes that's just not enough. There will be many Borlands in the next 5-10 years - it's a time for realism, not bravery, imho.
Rob |
