Calling Bill's Bluff upside.com
Sort of old article off the last Upside story about Bill's attempted cable coup, not exactly new stuff but worth keeping up on.
But "FUD" (fear, uncertainty and doubt) is a limited weapon, and Microsoft may find that blunt instrument to be a stumbling block in the future. Take its moves into the cable television industry, for example. Its reputation precedes it. "There's no way the cable companies will let Bill Gates control their industry the way he has the computer industry," says Christopher Dixon, a media analyst at Paine Webber in New York. "They want his money, but they also want to keep him at arm's length."
The cable guys may be scum too, but they ain't dumb scum. Except, of course, in Windows World, where everybody outside of Bill's inner sanctum is dumb, by definition. Brilliant Microsoft versus dolts of the world, to repeat myself. Too bad the dolts are starting to catch on and stick together.
"For as crafty a company as it is, Microsoft just doesn't seem to get it when it comes to cable," Envisioneering's Doherty says. "It's cable that's the real gatekeeper. They're the ones that say 'give us a cut or we're going to shut off your datacast.' Then everyone but Worldgate's plans would be dashed."
Ironic, isn't it? For all its billions and amazing marketing smarts, Microsoft still hasn't figured out that instilling fear isn't always the best tactic for getting its way.
Yeah, but it's a pretty good tactic for making friends and influencing people, especially in the executive and judicial branches. Sorry guys, I'll calm down in a bit, that article from the 3d company guy sort of broke through my bemused detachment. The reification of Joker will return shortly.
Cheers, Dan. |
