This is a long term game, (enterprise computing). MSFT doesn't give up easily.
(Remember Windows 2.0 and 3.0?) MSFT continues to erode the Unix and NOVL
server base, though not as fast as the most enthusiastic MSFT bulls believed. IMO,
MSFT will eventually dominate the enterprise computing market. It may be another 2-5
years, but there has been no reversal of their encroachment. MSFT has the will and the
resources to continue to improve NT until it overcomes its weaknesses.
As far as directory services are concerned, same story.
This has been a paid political messages brought to you by the "Save the MSFT Server marketshare" campaign!
OK Downsouth, now explain how this all is "MSFT will take over the world" can be acomplished with Linix picking up steam on Unix side and NOVL now holding its marketshare and actually picking up new customers again with NetWare5.
And as for Directory Services. Dream On Buddy! Active Directory will grab some marketshare but it will never dominate anything. MSFT is WAY too late in the market to take it over. And with open LDAP protocol standards, people can live with the DS that does the most work for them and still interact with other DS systems.
Then there is the Industry that has clearly ganged up on MSFT and are bound and determined to put MSFT back in its place. Sorry, DownSouth but that is simply too much for even your precious MSFT to hold back.
Then there is the very lasting delays in NT5. While the bloating NT5 continues to sit in the starters block, all its competitors are out with their OS code and are winning back customer base. With Java becoming more mature and open-standards finally becoming a serious issue, IT customers are finally seeing the NT bag starting to deflate. By the time MSFT ever gets NT5 out the door, its competitors will be well on the way to releasing their next generation of OS code - putting MSFT even further behind. IT customers are not stupid - they will realize that MSFT will never catch up on Enterprise solutions.
Then there is the strong likelihood of dramatic organizational change which may be forced upon it by the DOJ. That would further throw wrenches into the MSFT machinery. Add this to the fact that Mr. Gates and company know they are being very closely watched for anti-trust violations on a daily basis. They will not be able to easily abuse their monopoly on the desktop like the industry all knows they have been doing for years.
MSFT has bitten of much more than it can chew!
As the "Birth of the Internet" PBS show mentioned, MSFT is now where IBM was in the early 80's. They are too big & arrogant, and they will be put in their place very shortly.
So DownSouth, please tell me IN THE LONG TERM how MSFT will accomplish these goals with the above listed hurdles in its way? We are talking long term objectives now. Or are you only wishing on a star and putting all your investment hopes on MR. Gates' past abilities (much of them illegal or unethical)?
Toy |
