From <https://www.computerworld.com/article/4033846/microsofts-real-ai-challenge-moving-past-the-prototypes.html>:
Historically, Microsoft seems cursed: It’s often early to big
technological shifts, and it’s great at prototyping them. But
then, after a hype-filled launch where Microsoft celebrates its
lead, the company seems to lose interest — while competitors pull
ahead and release more polished products.
That’s what appears to have happened with Microsoft’s generative
AI (genAI) plans. After a huge push with Bing Chat where Microsoft
was the leading consumer AI company at an important moment, the
company started moving much more slowly. Copilot use now appears
far behind ChatGPT and other competitors.
Other examples from the same article:
* Microsoft pioneered its HoloLens “mixed-reality” headset, and even
built special AR/VR support into Windows 10, only to lose interest
and cede the market to other players.
* Mobile devices -- Windows CE pretty much controlled this market,
until its clunky Windows-style interface was outshone by Apple’s
Iphone and Google’s Android.
* The World-Wide Web -- after killing off Netscape with Internet
Explorer 6, Microsoft sat on its hands until open-standards-based
competitors like Firefox and Chrome/Chromium had established an
unassailable lead.
And now, Bing Chat is being eclipsed by competitors, as history
repeats itself.
To those, I would also add the nascent handheld-PC-gaming market,
currently dominated by the Linux-based Steam Deck. I think Microsoft’s moves are too little, too late here as well.
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year
history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they
are laughing all the way to bank every day.
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:25:55 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they are
laughing all the way to bank every day.
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a
company by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much money
it is able to take off customers), rather than how good its products are (i.e. how useful those products are to the customers) ...
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:25:55 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year
history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they
are laughing all the way to bank every day.
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a company by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much money it is
able to take off customers), rather than how good its products are (i.e.
how useful those products are to the customers) ...
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:25:55 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year
history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they
are laughing all the way to the bank every day.
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a company by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much money it is
able to take off customers), rather than how good its products are (i.e.
how useful those products are to the customers) ...
On 2025-08-12 10:52 p.m., Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:25:55 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year
history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they
are laughing all the way to the bank every day.
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a company >> by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much money it is
able to take off customers), rather than how good its products are (i.e.
how useful those products are to the customers) ...
I've been burned a number of times by Microsoft, enough to know that
there is no good reason to invest in any of their revolutionary products anymore. They're abandoning the Xbox line I invested into, they
abandoned Microsoft Films & TV, they abandoned the Windows Phone, they abandoned Microsoft Groove, etc..
On 8/13/25 4:10 PM, Tyrone wrote:
On Aug 13, 2025 at 8:26:39 AM EDT, "CrudeSausage" <[email protected]> wrote: >>
I've been burned a number of times by Microsoft, enough to know that
there is no good reason to invest in any of their revolutionary products >>> anymore. They're abandoning the Xbox line I invested into, they
abandoned Microsoft Films & TV, they abandoned the Windows Phone, they
abandoned Microsoft Groove, etc..
All consumer products, which is not Microsoft's core business. And never will
be. BTW these were the "stupid products" I mentioned above.
I personally moved to Apple when Windows phones died 8 years ago. I still have
a couple Windows phones and they still power on and work, but they are
basically useless today.
I have some news for you. Are you sitting down? Microsoft does not care about
you or me or anyone else reading this. They care about businesses. Azure
alone pulled in $75 billion in fiscal 2025. Azure was up 40% in the most
recent quarter. So, how much Azure do you use? I certainly have no use for >> it.
But clearly lots of companies DO find it useful.
You're right, M$ is a disaster when it comes to supporting consumers,
On 8/13/25 3:55 PM, Tyrone wrote:
On Aug 12, 2025 at 10:52:57 PM EDT, "Lawrence D'Oliveiro" <[email protected]d> >> wrote:
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:25:55 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year
history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they
are laughing all the way to the bank every day.
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a company >>> by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much money it is
able to take off customers), rather than how good its products are (i.e. >>> how useful those products are to the customers) ...
Always interesting, isn't it, when someone attacks a company by trying to
point out that being successful is a bad thing.
Many people MUST find the products useful, else why would Microsoft be making
so much money? In fact, Microsoft is now the second $4 trillion company in the
world. NVIDIA was the first. Is NVIDIA evil also?
M$ keeps making money because people feel they have no choice but to use Winblows. This is why Apple stays in the game, some suckers who can't
stand Windows support them instead. Lucky people, who have
comprehension of computers, can use Linux, and be free as in freedom of either of the corporate world's platforms.
Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
Always interesting, isn�t it, when someone defends the state of a
company by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much money
it is able to take off customers), rather than how good its products are
(i.e. how useful those products are to the customers) ...
So you're not a believer in the free market where customers vote with
their pocketbooks? afaik there is no government mandate to buy Microsoft >products. The forces were obviously at work when the phone failed.
Note: I may be playing devil's advocate. You can never tell.
The situation is a hell of a lot better than it used to be, that's for
sure. 25 years ago, the only real alternative to Windows was a Mac.
On Aug 12, 2025 at 10:52:57 PM EDT, "Lawrence D'Oliveiro"
<[email protected]d> wrote:
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:25:55 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year
history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they are
laughing all the way to the bank every day.
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a
company by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much
money it is able to take off customers), rather than how good its
products are (i.e. how useful those products are to the customers) ...
Always interesting, isn't it, when someone attacks a company by trying
to point out that being successful is a bad thing.
Many people MUST find the products useful, else why would Microsoft be
making so much money? In fact, Microsoft is now the second $4 trillion company in the world. NVIDIA was the first. Is NVIDIA evil also?
I have some news for you. Are you sitting down? Microsoft does not care about you or me or anyone else reading this. They care about businesses.
Azure alone pulled in $75 billion in fiscal 2025. Azure was up 40% in
the most recent quarter. So, how much Azure do you use? I certainly
have no use for it.
On Aug 12, 2025 at 10:52:57 PM EDT, "Lawrence D'Oliveiro"
<[email protected]d> wrote:
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a
company by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much
money it is able to take off customers), rather than how good its
products are (i.e. how useful those products are to the customers)
...
Always interesting, isn't it, when someone attacks a company by
trying to point out that being successful is a bad thing.
Many people MUST find the products useful, else why would Microsoft
be making so much money?
In fact, Microsoft is now the second $4 trillion company in the
world. NVIDIA was the first. Is NVIDIA evil also?
On Aug 13, 2025 at 8:26:39 AM EDT, "CrudeSausage" <[email protected]> wrote:
On 2025-08-12 10:52 p.m., Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:25:55 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year
history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they
are laughing all the way to the bank every day.
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a company >>> by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much money it is
able to take off customers), rather than how good its products are (i.e. >>> how useful those products are to the customers) ...
I've been burned a number of times by Microsoft, enough to know that
there is no good reason to invest in any of their revolutionary products
anymore. They're abandoning the Xbox line I invested into, they
abandoned Microsoft Films & TV, they abandoned the Windows Phone, they
abandoned Microsoft Groove, etc..
All consumer products, which is not Microsoft's core business. And never will be. BTW these were the "stupid products" I mentioned above.
I personally moved to Apple when Windows phones died 8 years ago. I still have
a couple Windows phones and they still power on and work, but they are basically useless today.
I have some news for you. Are you sitting down? Microsoft does not care about
you or me or anyone else reading this. They care about businesses. Azure alone pulled in $75 billion in fiscal 2025. Azure was up 40% in the most recent quarter. So, how much Azure do you use? I certainly have no use for it.
But clearly lots of companies DO find it useful.
On Aug 13, 2025 at 3:58:34 PM EDT, ""Joel W. Crump"" <[email protected]> wrote:
On 8/13/25 3:55 PM, Tyrone wrote:
On Aug 12, 2025 at 10:52:57 PM EDT, "Lawrence D'Oliveiro" <[email protected]d>
wrote:
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 01:25:55 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
Microsoft has never been in better shape in its entire 47 year
history.
Yes, they have tried to sell stupid products that failed. But they
are laughing all the way to the bank every day.
Always interesting, isn’t it, when someone defends the state of a company
by trying to point out how profitable it is (i.e. how much money it is >>>> able to take off customers), rather than how good its products are (i.e. >>>> how useful those products are to the customers) ...
Always interesting, isn't it, when someone attacks a company by trying to >>> point out that being successful is a bad thing.
Many people MUST find the products useful, else why would Microsoft be making
so much money? In fact, Microsoft is now the second $4 trillion company in the
world. NVIDIA was the first. Is NVIDIA evil also?
M$ keeps making money because people feel they have no choice but to use
Winblows. This is why Apple stays in the game, some suckers who can't
stand Windows support them instead. Lucky people, who have
comprehension of computers, can use Linux, and be free as in freedom of
either of the corporate world's platforms.
Windows is not even a blip on Microsoft revenue today. "People" don't personally use Windows at home much these days. Phones and iPads take care of
that.
Businesses use it because vast amounts of business software run only on Windows. That is changing, as now even where I work Macs and iPads can be chosen instead of a Windows laptop.
People who have "comprehension of computers" are a VERY small minority of the general population. OTOH, I have been using/programming/fixing computers since around 1980. Linux does not appeal to me at all. I don't give a damn about "software freedom". Linux just does not run what I want to run. I don't
buy computers/phones/iPads to run Operating Systems.
Does Harley/Davidson sell cars?
Microsoft does not care about you or me or anyone else reading this.
I don't give a damn about "software freedom".
OTOH, I have been using/programming/fixing computers
since around 1980. Linux does not appeal to me at all.
On Wed, 13 Aug 2025 20:24:38 +0000, Tyrone wrote:
I don't give a damn about "software freedom".
Think of it as a purely business issue, namely that of compliance costs. Consider companies like Oracle, who want to audit you to make sure you
are not exceeding the usage terms in your licence. But who’s to judge whether you are or not? Why, they are the ones who interpret their own licence to suit themselves, of course, not you. So they always find a
way to squeeze more money out of you, even when you thought you were
fully compliant.
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