Silicon Insider: R.I.P. Microsoft?

[TheDogsBed]

I happen to agree almost entirely with the author of the article. While it's true I am no MS supporter, equally, I don't put great support in other areas either. Open-Source? Take it or leave it. Firefox? Just another browser to me. Linux? Fine for those who like it. You can't even begin to read an article like the author wrote unless you are prepared to read it subjectively.

MS is no longer the company that it once was, even five to ten years ago. Far from it. I remember only too well being almost instrumental in converting a major International Co. to MS products. At that time I believed in the products, the brand, the company, and the ethos behind all three.

These days I even seek out new and viable (Linux readers note: "viable") ways to get MS off my desktops as much as possible. Why? It boils down to two issues for me personally.

1. Trust. This is the defining factor above all else for me. I simply don't trust them any more. In fact, I stopped trusting them the moment that it became apparent that their core motive is not to make computing easier, but to make computing and data easier to control -- from Redmond.

2. Etchics. I find it hard to view a company which are constantly dragged through the courts for monopoly practises and other such devious ills as ethical. I don't care if X, Y and Z does it too. X, Y, and Z does not dominate the marketplace. X, Y, and Z are not in a position to have such a broad impact, in an area of life which encompasses so much of what we do and is growing daily.

3. The empty rhetoric. As the Opera letter recently highlighted, you can release as many press-releases and mails about embracing open-standards, meeting consumer needs, securing your products, etc, etc as you like. But when the actions don't match the words, it's just comedy, and very stale comedy at that. Less words, more action.

The list of "going to's" seems to grow ever longer while the list of "have done's" grows ever shorter in relative terms.

The first thing they could do for me personally, to show their committment to the customer and the interests of open computing, would be to stop "forcing" me to use IE to use my Hotmail fully. Allow me to easily remove all traces of WMP, and even IE. These would be steps that I could see as tangible efforts to help me, the consumer and not steps to help bolster their market dominance.

However, experience tells me that the chances of that happening voluntarily are close to zero. And that, ultimately, I believe, will be their downfall -- overestimating the patience, needs and wants of the very people they rely on, while underestimating their ability to seek out alternatives from those who will listen.

The way I see it is that if they believed in their products then they would let me choose to use them and not need to force them upon me. That, again, would show that they believe their products are so solid and worthy that my choice would be a no-brainer. The fact that they don't concerns me and rings alarm bells.

Of course, I fully expect to read flame after flame from this, mainly from those who think the sun rises and sets from Redmond. I can live with that. Who knows, maybe I'm completely wrong. In this case I'd be happy to be wrong but I have a sneaking suspicion.....

Edited February 12, 2005 by SniperX

[Mike Frett]

It is true. They won't last forever, as won't Neowin or you and me. If they want to live, they have to evolve. I've noticed also that once a company gets too big, it starts to collapse. It's pretty much common sense.

[Nelsinho]

:hmmm: I don't agree with this guy, because several people's complain Microsoft but them continue always using your o.s LOL :laugh: each one with your pathetic excuse for example: I need use windows because my client also use it or my favorite program run only in windows then :laugh: :laugh:

Go Microsoft (Y) (Y)

[g-n-t]

sniperx, i pretty much agree with you except for "it doesnt matter if xyz do it too." i assume you are talking about apple, which is an even worse monopoly than MS. whats the difference between either one? you stop buying hteir products because you disagree with them.

its kind of ironic. on one side of the spectrum you have two multi-billion dollar companies that attempt to take complete control over the user(and their wallet) and then on the other end of the spectrum you have a non-profit free operating system that can not only give the first two a run for their money but but do it while being faster and more secure at the time.

my question is, have you tried linux or did you just get the idea that it wasnt a viable alternative from random fud all over the internet?

[Matt T]

Interesting article... I think they will die, but not anytime soon. Hopefully Apple will be the murderer :)

[g-n-t]

apple cant murder anything. their products are overpriced. noone will buy a mac as long as there is a pc next to it at best buy that costs half as much.

the only reason they got anywhere in the portable media market is because they got there first. in time, they will be put in their place. again, noone will buy an ipod when there is a portable media center next to it that costs just as much.

[scoobydoobie]

If and when Microsoft falls, it will be so far past your desire to care that what you say at this point means nothing.

I'm gonna assume a great deal of you are still very young, let's say 18. If it takes 15 years for Ms to fall, you think when your 33 you'll really care? Do you think you'll be tweaking and playing those video games as much as you do now? Think about it. All the ranting and crying you are doing won't mean much to you 15 years from now. I hope by then you'll have grown up some and decided that there are more important things to do and talk about other than Linux or Windows...If not, then I guess you'll be one of the few still living at home in the same bedroom you grew up in.

[mFC_]

microsoft is too large and too influential to the everyday user to fade away.

certain projects were delayed, is it that important to have them promptly aside from bragging rights? sp2 was delayed bigtime but its here now and it was worth the wait. i could care less about msn7, its just a messenging program. and longhorn, i would rather see it come by late with more mature code.

but back to my point, microsoft isnt going to go anytime soon... they have too much money and no real competition. i like linux, but the average user will never switch over since its still too complicated to do tasks which are watered down in windows. the mac mini might have helped apple with getting users acquainted with osx and other technologies, but apple still owns a very small portion of the market.. and its been like that for years.

comparing microsoft to the roman empire is kind of pointless. the events that built up to the collapse of the empire has no seriously considerable analogy in terms of software development. so there.

for the record, i'm not a die hard microsoft fan... theyve had more than their share of mistakes in the past and i'm sure they'll make more in the future. but whoever thinks theyll go away shouldnt have access to a keyboard.

[NetRyder]

This article is just as stupid as the ones that predicted Apple's demise a few years ago. :sleep:

When these news sites have nothing substantial to talk about, they resort to posting sensational garbage like this because it draws in readers in large numbers. There's nothing more to it.

[ZeeTX]

Linux challenging Windows?  That's like saying Kia will challenge a Bentley.

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More like saying a Honda (Linux) will challenge a Subaru 360 (Windows).

Consumer Reports called the Subaru 360 "The Most Unsafe Car in America."

[TheDogsBed]

sniperx, i pretty much agree with you except for "it doesnt matter if xyz do it too." i assume you are talking about apple, which is an even worse monopoly than MS. whats the difference between either one? you stop buying hteir products because you disagree with them.

I was hoping to combat the usual responses of Company A does it, Company B does it. What I should have perhaps stated is, "for the purpose of this post it doesn't matter..."

my question is, have you tried linux or did you just get the idea that it wasnt a viable alternative from random fud all over the internet?

tsk. tsk. Now you're lumping me in with other brainless morons. I'm a unique brainless moron. :) I actually spoke with MarkJensen a wee while back in the forums and looked at some Linux options and yes, even installed them. At that time, they just weren't right for me. That's not to say they are not getting better all the time, and I was stunned at how much they had improved since my previous look at them. But as I say, at this present time, not quite for me.

My hope is that there is a viable alternative before Longhorn, because there is no way on this Earth that that software will ever get near my machines. I refuse to donate my privacy and my freedom to Redmond Science.

I must be the only person who breathes a sigh of relief each time I read that it's delayed. :)

Edited February 12, 2005 by SniperX

[evostrata]

Hopefully Apple will be the murderer :)

585460008[/snapback]

I don't. The whole reason PCs have became part of our "world" so quickly is because companies adapt to competition and continually improve. Apple control their OS and hardware, they would have a huge monopoly - if Microsoft really was to fall, then Linux would have to take over, I can build my own computer to my own specification, at a low cost, not have to buy a uniform system the same as everyone else.

I mean, they only use one type of graphic card, so why should 2 companies make one. If theres only 1 company making graphics cards, then there wont be any advancements, because they will still get the contract, there is no other choice.

[mac15]

Apple use graphics cards from Both ATI and Nvidia...

[ichi]

I think chances are Microsoft will die some day in the future, but maybe not because of any of the threats it's facing today. The company is big enough to evolve and even switch to opensource if that happened to be the only way to survive (just an example :whistle: )

Anyway I don't think MS will keep leading the OS market, as the rival is not just linux but the OpenSource as a whole. Open standards will take the place of current Microsoft's defacto standards and therefore MS will lose the advantage of locking users into it's own platform. That would allow a situation with no clear winner where the platform you choose is nowhere near as relevant as it's today (just look how OpenSource projects are usually ported to most platforms now).

Open standards and crossplatform stuff, that's how I see the future, and it's up to MS to make their place in there or give up and go into retirement. No matter if MS dies or not, it's a fact that nothing can stay the same for ever.

[todd]

I don't think it'll ever die, though it may be forced (or force itself through its rapid expansion) to split up into smaller companies.

[ZZOOzzoo]

If by any chance Microsoft dies, it would be Linux that caused it, not Apple.

People started to realize the advantage of having softwares open-source, and that's Apple isn't exactly open to others.

[Argote]

After Dominating the Technology Industry for Years, is Microsoft Poised to Collapse?

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LOL... don't make me laugh; Microsoft will continue dominating for the forseeable short and mid term futures, and most likely in the long term as well

[jbarcus81]

Microsoft isn't out until we are cooking with a Microsoft Powered range... er maybe a microwave by Microsoft?? I don't think they will be gone until they are in all aspects of our daily lives... but that's just my opinion.

[Elliott]

Microsoft will probably die. That's not to say Microsoft won't be reborn, but it may have to have an Apple-like experience. As for when Microsoft will die, it probably won't be for a while. Who will bring on the demise? I'm sure open source will be the catalyst, but frankly, Microsoft will bring on its own demise.

[L3thal Veteran]

More like saying a Honda (Linux) will challenge a Subaru 360 (Windows).

Consumer Reports called the Subaru 360 "The Most Unsafe Car in America."

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:rolleyes:

[mircleman]

oh yeh of little faith....prepare it's coming

[Chode]

My opinion of this article:

If microsoft collapses within the next 12 months, I will forcibly insert my computer into my anus (full tower case, and also included monitor) and take photographs of it. That is how confident I am that Microsoft are here to stay for at least the next 12 months.

(yes, people can quote me on that)

[b0m8er]

My opinion of this article:

If microsoft collapses within the next 12 months, I will forcibly insert my computer into my anus (full tower case, and also included monitor) and take photographs of it. That is how confident I am that Microsoft are here to stay for at least the next 12 months.

(yes, people can quote me on that)

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(Y) :D :rofl:

That was the funniest thing I heard today :p :rofl:

[islanq]

I'm going to higher a private army to take out microsoft just for the pictures :laugh:

[g-n-t]

My opinion of this article:

If microsoft collapses within the next 12 months, I will forcibly insert my computer into my anus (full tower case, and also included monitor) and take photographs of it. That is how confident I am that Microsoft are here to stay for at least the next 12 months.

(yes, people can quote me on that)

585461886[/snapback]

an lcd doesnt count.

full tower and at least a 19" crt.