Microsoft is DOOOooooooommmed.....#

[PracticalMac]

Bill Gates was right when he saw Google (not Apple) as a threat to MS hegemony, but for all the wrong reasons, becuase when he pronounced the threat the iPhone was not on the market just yet.

A large segment of the US population, and I guess it is a reflection of our capitalist world, look at the price of a product of service, not at the quality. The Android looks just as good as iPhone, but much cheaper, so it quickly rose to #1 smartphone OS.

The war for this highly lucrative and explosively growing segment between Apple and Google has laid waste to other cell phone makers, Noika and RIM (BlackBerry) as examples. Did you know that Microsoft was the leading "smartphone" maker in 2007? Don't hear much of that now do you?

Then came iPad.

Even though today the iPad is the leading tablet, the recent Droid selection is very high quality with some highly appealing features to certain customers.

What is critical to note is the astounding sums spend for iOS and Droid advertising, very likely more then MS gross income total, and certainly more then the 2012 POTUS campaign. MS is simply being drowned out.

So, who will likely buy the very late MS smartphone and tablets?
1. MS/Windows lovers
2. Apple haters
3. Cheapskates (mainly, even a $200 Fire too expensive).
(the others are too insignificant to list)

After years, decades, of the falling price of PC's, many have an expectation of really cheap computers, and poor performance (I did a custom built upper mid performance Win7 computer that costs $1500), and the opinion of MS is rather poor, and after Vista it only got worse. The now radical interface change in 8 will mostly make it worse, and the price they want is certain to make people run for the hills.

Bottom line, Android is the platform of choice for a majority of users. Not only can you get dirt cheap ($70 now), it has a huge eco system (Nook, Amazon, and Google of course), and for some its not Apple (nor MS).

Now you have Samsung heavily advertising a Google Chrome OS Ultrabook for the price of a Amazon Fire, $200.


What I expect to see is MS aligning closer to Apple, releasing iOS only products including MS Office to hold off Google deluge. This year has already seen a number of such actions by MS, expect it to increase.

[Renzatic]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

After years, decades, of the falling price of PC's, many have an expectation of really cheap computers, and poor performance (I did a custom built upper mid performance Win7 computer that costs $1500), and the opinion of MS is rather poor, and after Vista it only got worse.

Firstly $1500 for a custom built PC would get you a screaming performance, not just upper-mid. Not unless you spent a whole chunk of change on 3-4 SSDs

Secondly, people's opinion of MS isn't poor anywhere except on Apple sites.

[MonkeySee....]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

Bill Gates was right when he saw Google (not Apple) as a threat to MS hegemony, but for all the wrong reasons, becuase when he pronounced the threat the iPhone was not on the market just yet.

A large segment of the US population, and I guess it is a reflection of our capitalist world, look at the price of a product of service, not at the quality. The Android looks just as good as iPhone, but much cheaper, so it quickly rose to #1 smartphone OS.

Mostly free

The war for this highly lucrative and explosively growing segment between Apple and Google has laid waste to other cell phone makers, Noika and RIM (BlackBerry) as examples. Did you know that Microsoft was the leading "smartphone" maker in 2007? Don't hear much of that now do you?

Then came iPad.

Even though today the iPad is the leading tablet, the recent Droid selection is very high quality with some highly appealing features to certain customers.

Yeah, they're cheap.

What is critical to note is the astounding sums spend for iOS and Droid advertising, very likely more then MS gross income total, and certainly more then the 2012 POTUS campaign. MS is simply being drowned out.

So, who will likely buy the very late MS smartphone and tablets?
1. MS/Windows lovers
2. Apple haters
3. Cheapskates (mainly, even a $200 Fire too expensive).
(the others are too insignificant to list)

After years, decades, of the falling price of PC's, many have an expectation of really cheap computers, and poor performance (I did a custom built upper mid performance Win7 computer that costs $1500), and the opinion of MS is rather poor, and after Vista it only got worse. The now radical interface change in 8 will mostly make it worse, and the price they want is certain to make people run for the hills.

Bottom line, Android is the platform of choice for a majority of users. Not only can you get dirt cheap ($70 now), it has a huge eco system (Nook, Amazon, and Google of course), and for some its not Apple (nor MS).

because its cheap/free

Now you have Samsung heavily advertising a Google Chrome OS Ultrabook for the price of a Amazon Fire, $200.


What I expect to see is MS aligning closer to Apple, releasing iOS only products including MS Office to hold off Google deluge. This year has already seen a number of such actions by MS, expect it to increase.

meh. Not even sure why I replied to be honest. Sorry.

[jessica.]

Originally Posted by Renzatic

Firstly $1500 for a custom built PC would get you a screaming performance, not just upper-mid. Not unless you spent a whole chunk of change on 3-4 SSDs

Secondly, people's opinion of MS isn't poor anywhere except on Apple sites.

This. I do not have anything against MS. As far as the OS goes, I prefer Mac now. If I were still a PC gamer I would prefer Windows hands down. There are a lot of benefits for me in owning a Mac. The up front cost is greater but I find myself living with my machines a hell of a lot longer now. With PCs, I was buying new CPUs and GPUs every year; again, I was heavily into gaming and photography.

MS is not doomed.

[B777Forevar]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

3. Cheapskates (mainly, even a $200 Fire too expensive).
(the others are too insignificant to list)

I'm sorry that there are poor people who can't afford iPhones or Android phones.

[spykthomas]

MS have just been slow on the uptake of selling an ecosystem. But they are getting there. The most powerful weapon in their arsenal at the moment is the Xbox 360, with the next one expected to be out Christmas next year.

I am watching the Windows phones with great interest to see how they mature over the next 2yrs, when I can upgrade again. At the moment, they are looking good and I expect great things over the next couple of years.

[PracticalMac]

Originally Posted by Renzatic

Firstly $1500 for a custom built PC would get you a screaming performance, not just upper-mid. Not unless you spent a whole chunk of change on 3-4 SSDs

Secondly, people's opinion of MS isn't poor anywhere except on Apple sites.

Nope, mid upper.
i5 instead of i7
$250 Nvida card, instead of the $500 one.
8GB of RAM, on sale
128GB SSD, on sale. Not a 256, or even 512GB.

And the motherboard, well, about 1/2 that of top of line, yet still powerful (best or near best Z77)

Still much cheaper then Alienware.

As to MS opinion, why do many on MS sites blast Win8?
Hows about Fight sim community now that MS killed MS Flight sim, a gold standard?

Of course XBox is solid, give them that.

[roadbloc]

OP. Microsoft are not doomed. But thanks for your opinionated, misinformed, ad-hock 'reckon' none the less.

[noisycats]

Originally Posted by Renzatic

Firstly $1500 for a custom built PC would get you a screaming performance, not just upper-mid. Not unless you spent a whole chunk of change on 3-4 SSDs

Secondly, people's opinion of MS isn't poor anywhere except on Apple sites.

Just to be complete, let's add nearly all financial sites as well.

[PracticalMac]

Originally Posted by jessica.

This. I do not have anything against MS. As far as the OS goes, I prefer Mac now. If I were still a PC gamer I would prefer Windows hands down. There are a lot of benefits for me in owning a Mac. The up front cost is greater but I find myself living with my machines a hell of a lot longer now. With PCs, I was buying new CPUs and GPUs every year; again, I was heavily into gaming and photography.

MS is not doomed.

Obviously the title is sensationalist, but it can happen if MS/Ballmer does not change the company quickly.

Very likely you will see reduction in home OS products and more effort on cross platform applications, enterprise OS and XBox

----------

Originally Posted by roadbloc

OP. Microsoft are not doomed. But thanks for your opinionated, misinformed, ad-hock 'reckon' none the less.

Guess you did not read the post.

[Renzatic]

I wouldn't buy an Alienware if you paid me. :P

I dunno, man. It's been a bit since I've built a PC myself, but I remember pricing an i7 machine with a high end consumer graphics card, top of the line motherboard, nice case, a goodly amount of brand name ram, and a stout PSU for around $1400 or so.

It had an oldschool magnetic drive, which is probably the one biggest thing that drove down the price. Depending on when you got it, that 128GB SSD might've cost you $3-400 not even 2 years ago.

As to MS opinion, why do many on MS sites blast Win8?

Cuz Windows 8 is MS' most divisive release since Windows 3.1. It's not so much that it's good or bad or not, it's that it's different. Computer geeks are a weirdly conservative bunch of people. They screamed about the introduction of the GUI, and are now screaming that we're all moving towards a touch based paradigm. The real opinion of Windows 8 will come 3-4 years from now, once Win9 is out and the fervor has settled down a bit.

[VenusianSky]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

Obviously the title is sensationalist, but it can happen if MS/Ballmer does not change the company quickly.

Very likely you will see reduction in home OS products and more effort on cross platform applications, enterprise OS and XBox

----------



Guess you did not read the post.

Why don't you perform more research on what the company does before posting nonsense? For example, can you name Microsoft's hosting platform that Apple are using to serve iCloud from? Or can you name Microsoft's progressive application platform built around the concept of Internet application services, which many Internet websites and applications are using today?

[m00min]

LOL Microsoft is not doomed. The Chromebook is in no way going to take over the non-cloud based laptop space.

MS's dominance isn't just about Windows, it's the Office suite that keeps people tied in too, you only have to look at the Surface RT to see that, they're giving Office away with it. Android will never get Office and Apple's Pages isn't even close. Microsoft will be fine.

[PracticalMac]

Originally Posted by m00min

LOL Microsoft is not doomed. The Chromebook is in no way going to take over the non-cloud based laptop space.

MS's dominance isn't just about Windows, it's the Office suite that keeps people tied in too, you only have to look at the Surface RT to see that, they're giving Office away with it. Android will never get Office and Apple's Pages isn't even close. Microsoft will be fine.

Originally Posted by VenusianSky

Why don't you perform more research on what the company does before posting nonsense? For example, can you name Microsoft's hosting platform that Apple are using to serve iCloud from? Or can you name Microsoft's progressive application platform built around the concept of Internet application services, which many Internet websites and applications are using today?

Ahem
"Very likely you will see reduction in home OS products and more effort on cross platform applications, enterprise OS and XBox"

If you read it you would understand that is exactly what I said.

[Renzatic]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

Ahem
"Very likely you will see reduction in home OS products and more effort on cross platform applications, enterprise OS and XBox"

If you read it you would understand that is exactly what I said.

Everyone talks about this, but there is no proof its actually happening. You can look at Apple and everything they're doing now to see that they're going in the completely opposite direction of open, platform independent applications.

[VenusianSky]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

Ahem
"Very likely you will see reduction in home OS products and more effort on cross platform applications, enterprise OS and XBox"

If you read it you would understand that is exactly what I said.

So how is Microsoft "DOOOooooooommmed"? Or was that just a sorry attempt to rally a bunch of Microsoft haters to your side?

[960design]

Secondly, people's opinion of MS isn't poor anywhere except on Apple sites.

... and Linux ( ubuntu, redhat, ect ) sites, Solaris OS... pretty much leaves only.... MS fans.... which makes sense.

MS fans like MS... sheesh. MacOS fans like MacOS... guess SolarisOS fans like chicken nuggets, but that's just a guess.

just filling in the gaps

[m00min]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

Ahem
"Very likely you will see reduction in home OS products and more effort on cross platform applications, enterprise OS and XBox"

If you read it you would understand that is exactly what I said.

I did read your original post. That quote wasn't in it.

[Renzatic]

Originally Posted by 960design

... and Linux ( ubuntu, redhat, ect ) sites, Solaris OS... pretty much leaves only.... MS fans.... which makes sense.

MS fans like MS... sheesh. MacOS fans like MacOS... guess SolarisOS fans like chicken nuggets, but that's just a guess.

just filling in the gaps

Eh. When you get into that hardcore inner circle of anything, it starts getting pretty dumb.

[PracticalMac]

Originally Posted by m00min

I did read your original post. That quote wasn't in it.

It was a last minuet add-in, 6 min after posting.

[roadbloc]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

Guess you did not read the post.

Trust me. I did. And its rather sweet how you think you know more about the tech industry than Bill Gates.

Don't worry, I'm not urinating on your bonfire. Continue your thread. I mean no harm and I am not here to argue. I'm just expressing my belief that you are totally wrong. Hence the words, 'misinformed' and 'opinionated'.

[boss.king]

Originally Posted by PracticalMac

Nope, mid upper.
i5 instead of i7
$250 Nvida card, instead of the $500 one.
8GB of RAM, on sale
128GB SSD, on sale. Not a 256, or even 512GB.

And the motherboard, well, about 1/2 that of top of line, yet still powerful (best or near best Z77)

Still much cheaper then Alienware.

As to MS opinion, why do many on MS sites blast Win8?
Hows about Fight sim community now that MS killed MS Flight sim, a gold standard?

Of course XBox is solid, give them that.

You must have bought one hell of an overpriced case to bring the cost of that up to 1500.

[aarond12]

Originally Posted by boss.king

You must have bought one hell of an overpriced case to bring the cost of that up to 1500.

Agreed. However, his post makes me believe he may not be in the United States.

The last PC I assembled was a Core i7, 4GB RAM, Gigabyte MB, BFG (!) 9800 GTX OC 512MB video card, 500GB hard drive, Coolermaster case/PS, Sony DVD burner... all for $700.

[boss.king]

Originally Posted by aarond12

Agreed. However, his post makes me believe he may not be in the United States.

The last PC I assembled was a Core i7, 4GB RAM, Gigabyte MB, BFG (!) 9800 GTX OC 512MB video card, 500GB hard drive, Coolermaster case/PS, Sony DVD burner... all for $700.

Yeah, I'm not in the US either, in NZ a computer of the specs the OP posted would be about NZ$1600, but a 21" iMac starts at NZ$2000, so it's still be best price for performance option.

[ixodes]

Microsoft
Google
Apple

Are but three high profile names in the tech industry. There is an ebb and flow to business over the long haul, that sees them succeed then struggle, and so on and so forth, it's the nature of business. At the present... no one is doomed.