OTOT..Thanks, I'll check it out. The recent trial, even if it has been less than perfect in demonstrating that MSFT is a monopoly, has shown that they are not very nice people, and that they tend to bully partners and allies. (This is in rather market contrast to Intel ) The wireless remote access space is so new that MSFT doesn't have an edge, and I doubt if many of the big players ever want to be under Microsoft's thumb. They have more power in this space than MSFT, and even if they are competitors most are probably united in their feelings about MSFT. MSFT doesn't do small, elegant, efficient software well, and that's what appliance, PDA, and cell phones makers want. . They also need software that uses minimal memory because of expense and space problems.They want to control their own destiny. As you suggest, Windows CE isn't exactly setting the world on fire.. MSFT will try, but will fail to dominate the space. I think they will have too be lucky to be more than a bit player.. While I must admit that my crystal ball sometimes crashes, I feel fairly confident about this prognostication. It just makes sense. OTOH, they probably will be successful in taking market from UNIX and mainframes. Big clunky software is OK at this level a long as it works, and multiple features that few use become an asset rather than a liability.
Concerning the lion lamb relationship, in this case I think the lion needs the lamb and vice versa. The relationship isn't that murky - CTXS and MSFT jointly developed part of the software in Terminal Server for Windows NT 4.0. Products from both companies are needed for a solution, and since only they know the code this tends to shut out competitors. Anybody seeking a thin client solution with Metaframe has to involve Microsoft's most profitable products as well as Citrix products. good investing |
