From: John Beckett 

"Geo."  wrote in message
news::
> I think you are wrong. I think when you hit a certain level of invasiveness
> which microsoft has most certainly hit with vista and office 2007 and all
> this requiring online connections or the stuff shuts down, I think you reach
> a point where the public says enough is enough and from there on out the
> downhill slide does nothing but accelerate.

Well I'm feeling a bit argumentative, so let me say that the above is
somewhat like Adam talking about using his phone for his computer.

Get back to me when your staff are all on Linux (or Mac or whatever).

Not the day after the switch, but six months after, and let me know how you
are getting on with staff issues, system reliability, updates, and
interoperability with external systems and your historical data.

I do agree that there's really nowhere for Microsoft to go except down. If
they can convince the Chinese/Indians/etc to pay for their software, then
Microsoft has a few more years of growth. Otherwise, the glory days are
over.

Of course if Microsoft can get us on the subscription model ($50/month)
then they have decades of growth ahead. Likewise if they manage to crack
the entertainment industry - $50/month for music/video/whatever.

Hmmm, I might sell the following idea to MS: They need to deal with ISPs
and have them offer an integrated service of
$X/month that includes all costs - Internet connection, software licenses,
security, updates, support.

That would need very aggressive anti-piracy measures in place, because
people are just cheap, and would pick the lowest price ISP. Maybe Microsoft
has to buy every significant ISP in the US?

Also, I don't think people are recognising the revenue potential from the
surface computing stuff (PC in a table). Assuming MS can overcome a million
problems, I guarantee that there are many wealthy people who would love to
have a $10k gadget in their living room, and several more in the guest
wings. The coolness factor would overcome any hesitation over the price ...
provided it can cope with home life and occasionaly do something useful
(like control the entertainment system).

John

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