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The Deal That Makes No Sense

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Re: The Deal That Makes No Sense

#161
post #91

The Deal That Makes No Sense - Was Apple Forced Into Buying NeXT?

Thing is, Apple got a great OS and a great CEO. WTF did MS get that is at all comparable?

Maybe Stephan Elop will be the successor to Steve Ballmer?

I'll let you know if I see any pigs flying.

Re: The Deal That Makes No Sense

#162
post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft seems to avoid competing on even playing fields. It would rather own the platform and dictate terms than try to be the best in a crowded market. There's one notable area where Microsoft has competed and thrived: Microsoft does quite well on the Mac platform, possibly making more money from each Mac sold than it does from each Windows PC sold. And there are in fact more viable word processor, spreadsheet, an…

> There's one notable area where Microsoft has competed and thrived: Microsoft does quite well on the Mac platform I wouldn't call it a level playing field. They've had a lot of time to make inroads into the market by not documenting the office file formats for as long as possible, so people had no choice but to buy their software. The formats are documented now, but it's very hard for the competition to get people t…

Good point, but at one point when the dominant WP on DOS was WordPerfect, Word won its position against MacWrite, WriteNow, and several other very solid products.

Re: The Deal That Makes No Sense

#163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plus it's a prize Microsoft probably feels it can't afford to lose. This whole post reads like a warning about the sunken cost fallacy!

Admitting defeat would destroy the value of their stock, so maybe it's not such a fallacy after all.

Not admitting defeat could also destroy the value of their stock.

Re: The Deal That Makes No Sense

#164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about having the resources, it's knowing when you understand you don't have the devices to compete. Then myth that Microsoft has "unlimited runway" is just pure market BS at this point. Microsoft is not invincible based on its former pedigree. We also know that they're likely being funneled money via programs that spy on Americans and are likely helping float products that should have failed (speculation, bu…

I don't think it's "pure market BS". Microsoft has "total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments standing at $77.02 billion as of June 30."[1] For a company that's still in the black, that's a pretty long runway. And I have trouble understanding why the NSA stuff is relevant here. Believe me, I'm as upset as anyone here about it, but I really don't think that Microsoft is propped as a company by some cash…

I think the recent revelations reveal my point re: NSA. A significant amount of that NSA budget is being used to buy into product steering and development. This was rather obvious as details started coming to light. I never said Microsoft was "propped", but that is artificially stimulating a company based on a flawed reality of market and investment (i.e. consumers are not buying a product to increase this margin - and in fact these funds are making the product less viable from the consumer standpoint).

Re: The Deal That Makes No Sense

#165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not about having the resources, it's knowing when you understand you don't have the devices to compete. Then myth that Microsoft has "unlimited runway" is just pure market BS at this point. Microsoft is not invincible based on its former pedigree. We also know that they're likely being funneled money via programs that spy on Americans and are likely helping float products that should have failed (speculation, bu…

"The crux of it is Microsoft is not good at R&D today." Where on earth did you hear that? Both Nokia and Microsoft are known for producing high quality products and investing heavily in R&D. The don't have a technology problem, they've got a branding, positioning and strategic problem.

Great R&D produces innovative and market stimulating products in my book. Microsoft hasn't impressed me, personally, for quite a long time. I realize this is a subjective idea to discuss - but neither Nokia or Microsoft are leaders in the mobile space (trying to create a bit of focus here since Microsoft has many facets). If you're not a leader in a segment you're not developing new and innovative products. Granted I think Apple and Google are coasting a bit right now, this comes back to innovators dilemma - which is what Nokia has grappled with going from a market innovator to irrelevant respectively (to the US market anyway). Just my $0.02, but trying to provide context.
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