Mr. Aurora77,
I am glad to see that your opinions are backed up with a fair share of emotion vs. statistical facts and data. Please define the real "facts" of your first statement other than the court cases where government agencies through PAC's (Can you say that word...I knew you could) took Microsoft to court. I find it so intersting that when someone just points out a different view in the Apple community people become so emotional.
Last time I checked, no one from Microsoft was standing there holding a weapon to anyone's head. You either buy their product or go someplace else (Theory of the free market). Enough people decided to buy their product. Too bad for them.
If you are old enough to remember the good old days of IBM being the only game in town during the 60's, 70's, and 80's (Check you license), they were once a monopoly and bully as well, and look what happened to them. The only fact in the world of technology is that all things change. Microsoft will eventually face as a company the same as well. It will only take time. Some people are too young to understand cycles......
Last but not least, if you think that Microsoft is the only game in town launching a product that they prop up through pricing and financial subsidies. Well I hope you never shopped at Wal-Mart, purchased at TV from RCA, and flew Pan Am airlines. Once again, considering your response, you probably only know 1 of the 3. The fact is that welcome to capitalism, welcome to a global economy, and if you do not like the product...just do not buy it. However, to write such things about any company without proper research just speaks for itself.
As well, your browser theory....I think you should go back to the history books and check again. Not everything was free back in "the day" unless you were a student at a university.....
How do I know...I worked at IBM back in the day talking to this really tiny and small company called Netscape about some funny web browser thingy...and wondering what the heck do you do with this thing and a mainframe!
.
Dear Mr. Stoup,
As a convert to Apple and working in the Global Supply Chain of a Semiconductor manufacturer with years of prior experience at the big five consulting firms, your analysis is somewhat biased. I think to be open you have neglected to be even handed in your analysis. Why?
1. You failed to speak to the millions of back-office licenses sold for Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server. This revenue stream is very large and many corporations today utilize this email and database system (Note, I did not judge the quality, just the quantity).
2. As well, you have failed to quote Internet Explorer. Not that I care for the product, but it did indeed change the "ball game" for the Internet browser. They at least gave it away for free....something that the competition failed to do and payed heavily for it.
3. I believe your analysis is a little off. Microsoft may be in charge of ZUNE but the parts all come from contract manufacturers similar to the Apple Ipod. They both play a major part in the design but do not think it is either Microsoft or Apple employee's building the displays, hard drives, etc and then putting them together.
4. In regards to Microsoft building a PC. I think you should think twice. A PC is a commodity and even Dell today faces long term threats from low cost providers in Asia. Remember, it is about running a global supply chain where the costs are the cheapest and Microsoft has no experience in doing this. IBM has failed, Gateway slips closer to death each year, HP is in big trouble and true PC makers know their day's are limited. So why would Microsoft enter into a market where it is low margin and little profit.
I may not like their products, but they are not for sure stupid either. They did not build a war chest of hundreds of millions on being dumb.
Ryan Rhoades
Is Microsoft Trying to Morph into Apple?
Is Microsoft Trying to Morph into Apple?