A little more then a week ago Microsoft released its much anticipated and extremely overdue Operating System called Microsoft Vista. It has been the longest lag time between releases of Windows operating system. The new OS has promised to include numerous enhancements, better security, graphics and computing over the Web. However, it seems that Microsoft may have missed the boat a long time ago and I suspect that there is a major shift coming soon. More and more users around the world are using the web as their main source for tools and productivity applications. In some ways the web as a whole has become the OS. Items such as Web-based AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) applications may eventually become the technology of the future. The majority of users still need an Operating System to connect to the Internet, however the lines are starting to become greyed somewhat. Microsoft’s focus on Vista, unfortunately, has kept them from focusing on the real threat to their business model.
More and more we are seeing small snippets of web-based applications and tools pop up. They are not taking over, by any means. For example, Google offers tools that allow you to create ‘documents and spreadsheets’ online. Moreover, email has virtually become on online tool. Firefox has become a substantial player on the web. And Apple is no longer “small fries”. So, what does this mean for Microsoft? Not a whole lot, at the moment. The danger is if they do not anticipate the changes coming that may affect them, and how quickly they may occur. Microsoft may opt to force users to change, in order to protect their base. However, this is an extremely “risky” way to ensure that the money continues to roll in. Users at the moment, already have little reason to change their OS, if most of the work they do is online. In addition, why do I need a Microsoft OS? I could use Linux, BSD, MAC OS X, or a host of others. They are not mainstream at present; however the cost of Microsoft Vista has definitely caused many to take a second look. Albeit, Microsoft does have plans. The Microsoft-Novell pact may just be an alternative plan. Microsoft no longer sees Linux as sub par. Who knows what Microsoft may do in the future? If the tide turns back to a “Linux”, “UNIX” world, then who’s to say that Microsoft may simply just take another path. However, I gather that maybe Microsoft will take the GM approach and just diversify. But that again is just speculation.
There are definitely some big choices at Microsoft. I wonder if the fact that Bill Gates has stepped aside is actually just some type of strategy. Maybe he has learned a bit from Steve Jobs? Maybe, as protection, if Microsoft does tank he will come back as its “knight in shining armour”? Time is ticking for Microsoft and I assume that there are a lot of nervous onlookers at Microsoft, watching their back and anticipating the “pink slips”. But who’s to say! Changes are coming soon and it will be interesting to see what Microsoft actually morphs into? “Resistance is no longer futile!”
http://www.vistabuzz.com/archive/2005/12/31/6093.aspx
http://crunchgear.com/2007/02/07/apple-vs-the-world-os-x-or-vista/
http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/comments/1827/
http://www.digitmag.co.uk/blogs/index.cfm?blogid=1&entryid=226
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