[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Microsoft, Slow and Steady Can Win Ecosystem Race here

[melgross]

Microsoft is taking a big chance with this strategy. Their growth has slowed, and isn't likely to speed up again. The reason why the xBox appears successful now is because of the major stumble of Nintendo, and that isn't something that can be expected of Apple and the Google/Samsung Android engine.

Win 8 is a reaction to the success of those companies, and not an original idea of its own. As Metro in any form has been a dud so far, they needed to get the public to use it on a large scale, and what better way to do so than to force it down their throats?

But the reaction to Metro has been very negative so far. There is no guarantee that Win 8 won't turn out to be another Vista. And Vista was supposed to halt the increasing migration to OS X, something it actually enhanced. Win 7 haven't helped in that area either, and Win 8 may very well enlarge that segment further.

This is a risky move for Microsoft. Perhaps they should give up on these losing projects and concentrate on what it does best, which is serving business. Let Bing go, and save at least $5 billion a year as well.

This could really be the beginning of the end for Microsoft.

[garak0410]

I've used "Metro" since the ZuneHD was released and I like it. However, I've stayed Android for my phone/tablet needs because Microsoft was so late to the game (at leasr from upgrading Windows Mobile).

[samirsshah]

2013 is going to be a rough year for Microsoft. More tablets, more ARM, less misery for Microsoft in 2013. After that, Microsoft has to play by how 2013 went.

[LexSteers]

melgross, on 18 April 2012 - 07:03 AM, said:

Microsoft is taking a big chance with this strategy. Their growth has slowed, and isn't likely to speed up again. The reason why the xBox appears successful now is because of the major stumble of Nintendo, and that isn't something that can be expected of Apple and the Google/Samsung Android engine.

Win 8 is a reaction to the success of those companies, and not an original idea of its own. As Metro in any form has been a dud so far, they needed to get the public to use it on a large scale, and what better way to do so than to force it down their throats?

But the reaction to Metro has been very negative so far. There is no guarantee that Win 8 won't turn out to be another Vista. And Vista was supposed to halt the increasing migration to OS X, something it actually enhanced. Win 7 haven't helped in that area either, and Win 8 may very well enlarge that segment further.

This is a risky move for Microsoft. Perhaps they should give up on these losing projects and concentrate on what it does best, which is serving business. Let Bing go, and save at least $5 billion a year as well.

This could really be the beginning of the end for Microsoft.

Except Nintendo wasn't a market leader when Xbox launched, Sony was. Sony played the PS3 perfectly for it's goals (make bluray standard). Similarly Apple and Google don't have the same goals in all areas. Nintendo if anything was in the same position MS is now with the Wii, and they launched to great sucesses in this generation and have a solid start for the next. The reaction to Metro has been good in every poll I see, the peopel who are unhappy with it are vocal. This happens every Windows release, and almlost always it revolves around modifications to the start menu or task bar, and within 3 months of release no one gives a damn.

[Vulpinemac]

"Slow and steady" doesn't mean one year--or even two, it means real time and patience in the manner that Apple has used to bring tablets to the point they are even after Microsoft's abysmal failure with the form factor 11 years ago. Apple itself has been working on its ecosystem for at least 10 years, starting with the iPod and iTunes in 2002 and slow, steady progress through the iPhone and now the iPad. We're also seeing Apple's gradual re-merging of iOS to OS X with 10.7 Lion and 10.8 Mountain Lion as they bring the appearance and functionalities cross platform. In this case, Microsoft is the hare who has let the tortoise pass it by and now has to rush to get ahead again.

Now this doesn't mean that Microsoft can't succeed in their endeavor; the hare jumps in the lead many times during the race. What Microsoft has to battle is the fact that the upcoming changes are coming too quickly--too suddenly--to really accommodate their user base. Vista showed that sudden change with minimal support only drives customers away, but Windows 8 seems headed towards the same kind of failure, at least when you consider how many testers have claimed to hate the touch-based UI. Add to this the fact that W8oA is fighting WinMob's old reputation and hasn't even slowed Windows Mobility's slide in user share only means that the mobile side of Win8 will have minimal effect on overall Win8 acceptance for at least a year, if not longer.

Yes, Microsoft does need to be patient. Knee-jerk reactions such as the Zune fiascos (both of them) only to drop them before they can even offer a realistic chance at movement merely shows that Microsoft doesn't have the level of patience required. Just like so many other traditional corporations, if they don't see a positive effect within 3 months (or let's say 1 year for technology) they fire the manager (product) and bring in someone new to start all over again. History has proven more than once that new policies (products) usually take time to show positive effects--especially if they have to first reverse the negative effects of their predecessors. Will Win8 be the massive surge so many people want it to be? In my opinion, No; it will accelerate the changeover from traditional Windows, but it's not going to be the Miracle John of OSes. Win9, maybe. Win10--if they last that long, might finally make it.

Of course, that assumes Apple hasn't extended the bar--again.