I think that if you look at M$ objectively, you cannot deny that they have oodles of money and resources. You can't deny that they they control 95% of the world computer market with their OS. (Doesn't matter that it sucks.) And most people (Even the most loyal Gates lovers), would agree, that if you merged M$ with Apple, and put Jobs in control, that you would have a very powerful company. So with all of this, you would think that a resurrection of M$ is VERY possible in a whim, should you get someone with enough influence, innovation, vision and control as Steve Jobs in power at M$, that it would have NO PROBLEM of dominating everything.
But..... there is Gates. I doubt that even when he steps down from the day to day operations at M$ that he will EVER TOTALLY release the reigns of M$. This is one of Apple's saving graces. The other is an old problem. This is apparent with Governments, companies, and even relationships. This has to do with problems that are SO, SO imbedded into the core, that there is no solution. That these things cannot be fixed with just a few adjustment, or personnel, or different systems. They must simply end. And with that a new takes it's place. This has been the pattern of all of history. And that is the ultimate fate of M$. Whether it is now, 5 years from now, or even later than that. I personally think that they have been living on borrowed time for quite some time now.8)
By the way GMac, nice rendition of the M$ "True" video ipod. M$ will surely steal this idea from you.
Soooo if Microsoft starts making hardware, could we be looking at a spin off division by the name of Microhard?
They have been making joysticks, mice, keyboards, and game consoles with accessories for years now...they work hand-in-hand with their mobile partners like HP/Compaq on windows mobile and smartphone editions, working with Dell and creative and so on for Windows Media DRM, and I am sure that I am forgetting one or two things here...
MS may not be commonly recognised as a hardware brand, but make no mistake, they know what they are doing -- most of their hardware is really great stuff, the software is where it falls apart.
I'm sure they'll use their monopoly to get quite a few people to buy it. Having ads for it popup in Windows Media Player (which is installed on all Windows machines) is bound to achieve that.
But it is unlikely to have much street cred. It'll be about as cool as the Dell DJ Ditty.
Aside from keyboard, game controllers, and mice, and possibly Xbox...
Glad you said 'possibly' because the Xbox is a gray area...it isn't exactly an amazing seller and it was a huge loss leader. The whole project would have been scrapped long ago if MS wasn't absolutely determined to try and take over the gaming console market.
I'm nervous. I thought the XBox would fail too. And PocketPC. And MSN. I'm nervous. On the other hand...this will probably kill AAPL for a bit, then perhaps I'll buy and it'll turn out to be untrue and it will rebound and I will be rich I tells ya, rich! One can hope...
I don't think people are taking this seriously enough. Microsoft could kill the iPod if they really, really wanted to. They have 80 billion just sitting in the bank they could eat. For our and Apple's sake I hope this rumor isn't true. On the other hand, I hope we don't find out for a while and the stock tanks so I can buy some right after I get a salaried job. 8)
I don't think people are taking this seriously enough. Microsoft could kill the iPod if they really, really wanted to. They have 80 billion just sitting in the bank they could eat. For our and Apple's sake I hope this rumor isn't true. On the other hand, I hope we don't find out for a while and the stock tanks so I can buy some right after I get a salaried job. 8)
Agreed.
I think that is the reason why Jobs is holding back the real iPod video.
I don't think people are taking this seriously enough. Microsoft could kill the iPod if they really, really wanted to. They have 80 billion just sitting in the bank they could eat. For our and Apple's sake I hope this rumor isn't true. On the other hand, I hope we don't find out for a while and the stock tanks so I can buy some right after I get a salaried job. 8)
It is entirely possible that the barriers to entry in the MP3 market are already so high that the market is effectively closed to new competitors. You can trade your Motorola phone in for a Nokia, but you can't exactly change MP3 platforms when none of your iTunes tracks are going to work on the Microsoft player.
I don't see any competitor knocking a serious dent in Apple's MP3 market power unless Apple opens up its track licensing to competitor players.
It is entirely possible that the barriers to entry in the MP3 market are already so high that the market is effectively closed to new competitors. You can trade your Motorola phone in for a Nokia, but you can't exactly change MP3 platforms when none of your iTunes tracks are going to work on the Microsoft player.
I don't see any competitor knocking a serious dent in Apple's MP3 market power unless Apple opens up its track licensing to competitor players.
very good point.
And besides, this IS microsoft we're talking about. They couldn't design a simple interface to save their life. That's why they're drowing.
Porchland you're dead wrong. M$ could and WOULD crush Apple like a BUG if we didn't have antitrust laws. If they cancelled Office, Macs would shrink to a 1% or less market share and NEVER recover. Period. They could and would do the same with an iPod clone. I think that is probably the ONE reason they have not done so with the iPod. The DoJ might get on their case. And especially considering the big-business Republicans are most likely on the way out soon, hence a new DoJ.
Nevertheless, I'm nervous. Just because Vista is late doesn't mean MS is going out of business. I'm watching this closely. I'm sure this is the reason AAPL is tanking now, at least in large part.
Porchland you're dead wrong. M$ could and WOULD crush Apple like a BUG if we didn't have antitrust laws. If they cancelled Office, Macs would shrink to a 1% or less market share and NEVER recover. Period. They could and would do the same with an iPod clone. I think that is probably the ONE reason they have not done so with the iPod. The DoJ might get on their case. And especially considering the big-business Republicans are most likely on the way out soon, hence a new DoJ.
Nevertheless, I'm nervous. Just because Vista is late doesn't mean MS is going out of business. I'm watching this closely. I'm sure this is the reason AAPL is tanking now, at least in large part.
Mmm ok I went a little to the hyperbolic extreme. Nevertheless I think they could make a dent in the iPod but they'd have to cheat, by making Vista "break" iTunes all the time with "updates" and use WMP to tie in to their player. But I think even this current DoJ might give 'em a little call if that were to occur.
Comments
Originally posted by trailmaster308
Soooo if Microsoft starts making hardware, could we be looking at a spin off division by the name of Microhard?
...or Megahard.
Originally posted by trailmaster308
Soooo if Microsoft starts making hardware, could we be looking at a spin off division by the name of Microhard?
Originally posted by SpamSandwich
...or Megahard.
But..... there is Gates. I doubt that even when he steps down from the day to day operations at M$ that he will EVER TOTALLY release the reigns of M$. This is one of Apple's saving graces. The other is an old problem. This is apparent with Governments, companies, and even relationships. This has to do with problems that are SO, SO imbedded into the core, that there is no solution. That these things cannot be fixed with just a few adjustment, or personnel, or different systems. They must simply end. And with that a new takes it's place. This has been the pattern of all of history. And that is the ultimate fate of M$. Whether it is now, 5 years from now, or even later than that. I personally think that they have been living on borrowed time for quite some time now.8)
By the way GMac, nice rendition of the M$ "True" video ipod. M$ will surely steal this idea from you.
Originally posted by Gmac
No worries.
If MS builds it, it will be 5 years late and look like this:
and sell in the hundreds of millions
Originally posted by trailmaster308
Soooo if Microsoft starts making hardware, could we be looking at a spin off division by the name of Microhard?
They have been making joysticks, mice, keyboards, and game consoles with accessories for years now...they work hand-in-hand with their mobile partners like HP/Compaq on windows mobile and smartphone editions, working with Dell and creative and so on for Windows Media DRM, and I am sure that I am forgetting one or two things here...
MS may not be commonly recognised as a hardware brand, but make no mistake, they know what they are doing -- most of their hardware is really great stuff, the software is where it falls apart.
But it is unlikely to have much street cred. It'll be about as cool as the Dell DJ Ditty.
Which is not at all.
Originally posted by filburt
Aside from keyboard, game controllers, and mice, and possibly Xbox...
Glad you said 'possibly' because the Xbox is a gray area...it isn't exactly an amazing seller and it was a huge loss leader. The whole project would have been scrapped long ago if MS wasn't absolutely determined to try and take over the gaming console market.
stick with the xbox and drop everything else
MICROSOFT SUCKS! THE MICROiPOD WILL SUCK!
muah ah hahah haha hah hahha
sorry peoples, that's the best i came up with today
and yes, great pics posted on this thread
and nice that user blackbird is providing the laugh track,
hence legitimising our jokes.
Originally posted by sunilraman
...nice that user blackbird is providing the laugh track,
hence legitimising our jokes.
Originally posted by Aquatic
I don't think people are taking this seriously enough. Microsoft could kill the iPod if they really, really wanted to. They have 80 billion just sitting in the bank they could eat. For our and Apple's sake I hope this rumor isn't true. On the other hand, I hope we don't find out for a while and the stock tanks so I can buy some right after I get a salaried job. 8)
Agreed.
I think that is the reason why Jobs is holding back the real iPod video.
Originally posted by Aquatic
I don't think people are taking this seriously enough. Microsoft could kill the iPod if they really, really wanted to. They have 80 billion just sitting in the bank they could eat. For our and Apple's sake I hope this rumor isn't true. On the other hand, I hope we don't find out for a while and the stock tanks so I can buy some right after I get a salaried job. 8)
It is entirely possible that the barriers to entry in the MP3 market are already so high that the market is effectively closed to new competitors. You can trade your Motorola phone in for a Nokia, but you can't exactly change MP3 platforms when none of your iTunes tracks are going to work on the Microsoft player.
I don't see any competitor knocking a serious dent in Apple's MP3 market power unless Apple opens up its track licensing to competitor players.
Originally posted by Porchland
It is entirely possible that the barriers to entry in the MP3 market are already so high that the market is effectively closed to new competitors. You can trade your Motorola phone in for a Nokia, but you can't exactly change MP3 platforms when none of your iTunes tracks are going to work on the Microsoft player.
I don't see any competitor knocking a serious dent in Apple's MP3 market power unless Apple opens up its track licensing to competitor players.
very good point.
And besides, this IS microsoft we're talking about. They couldn't design a simple interface to save their life. That's why they're drowing.
Nevertheless, I'm nervous. Just because Vista is late doesn't mean MS is going out of business. I'm watching this closely. I'm sure this is the reason AAPL is tanking now, at least in large part.
Originally posted by Aquatic
Porchland you're dead wrong. M$ could and WOULD crush Apple like a BUG if we didn't have antitrust laws. If they cancelled Office, Macs would shrink to a 1% or less market share and NEVER recover. Period. They could and would do the same with an iPod clone. I think that is probably the ONE reason they have not done so with the iPod. The DoJ might get on their case. And especially considering the big-business Republicans are most likely on the way out soon, hence a new DoJ.
Nevertheless, I'm nervous. Just because Vista is late doesn't mean MS is going out of business. I'm watching this closely. I'm sure this is the reason AAPL is tanking now, at least in large part.
Apple hardly depends on Office to survive
when google offers word processing and presentation software it's bye bye ms office.
they already have a spreadsheets app that is very cool.