What is wrong with the Zune? Granted the 1G was noting more than a brick with some glass, but the 2G isn't a bad device. There are a few things about it that aren't that smart, but it holds up well compared to - it's direct competitors - the Classic and the Nano.
With Safari, perhaps. But, I remember signing up for Hotmail before MS picked them up. The service was good, but I remember the explosion in quantity of people that signed up for addresses after. It became much easier for me to reach people over email.
I don't see MS putting a whole lot of time into Yahoo. Rather, they will treat it live a direct line of credit, with some cost-addressing managers installed to stem the bleeding. Sure MS has lost money in several areas, but when they put their minds to it, they come out greener. Additionally, this should help MS turn around their flagging divisions, as Yahoo will bring in some fresher ideas, and perhaps a stronger understanding of the markets that MS is failing to gain a solid comprehension of.
Did you ever use Yahoo in the early days? Their greatest strength was as a portal. It really was a thing of beauty. Their quick expansion into several areas has cost them money, without giving them a time to establish a strong foothold. By spreading themselves so thin, it has been hard to support their various divisions. That has led to poor management decisions on occasion, not because of stupidity, but because of a lack of preparation or willingness to set aside personal bias. What MS gives them are personnel with training and management understanding, and the resources to defend their gains while bringing in more external talent (and retaining what they do have).
