Microsoft tops forecasts on Office sales, but weak Windows PC sales hurt

[Hellhammer]

We've seen the predictable results of MS' thinking: Excel on tablets. And it wasn't pretty.

There is Numbers for iPad as well.

iOS is designed to run on the devices it runs on. This is obvious. This is why it's succeeding beyond wildest expectations. There's a reason it's the highest iteration of a mobile OS.

So are you saying that Windows 8 isn't designed to run on multiple devices?Why is Microsoft advertising it for tablets if they did no work to optimize it for tablets?

 

[*LTD*]

So are you saying that Windows 8 isn't designed to run on multiple devices?Why is Microsoft advertising it for tablets if they did no work to optimize it for tablets?

I, and I'm sure others as well, tend to have a difficult time believing that what Microsoft says about their product(s) in this new market has any basis in reality.

 

[Steve121178]

I, and I'm sure others as well, tend to have a difficult time believing that what Microsoft says about their product(s) in this new market has any basis in reality.

Use the Alphas & Beta like me, then you will see for yourself.

 

[KingCrimson]

I, and I'm sure others as well, tend to have a difficult time believing that what Microsoft says about their product(s) in this new market has any basis in reality.

You know all you do is spew hatred at Microsoft. Did they steal your lunch money?

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I was pretty much thinking the same thing. If that is the biggest damage this apparent 'post-PC' era can do, then I'd say Microsoft are pretty much guaranteed to survive it when Windows 8 is released.

add to it I know a lot of businesses and even consumers have put replacing computers on hold and had them push their life span a few more years causes sales to drop. as things get better MS will get a pretty good run up on from the backlog.

 

[benzslrpee]

table market currently is segmented similar to the mobile handset market: iOS and Android. in business, you either have a complete monopoly, very few duopolies and frequently, a third player. it actually makes more sense for Apple, Google and hardware companies to let Microsoft enter the competition for these reasons:

1. being over exposed to Android is a risk. hardware guys need MS (or a 3rd player) to have some bargaining power their respective competition otherwise low margin hardware married to the latest and greatest specs with 3 month product life cycles will be the best they can hope for. ask Acer to see how they feel about that...
   
2. Microsoft's default competitor in this case is Google as both company's business model (licensing OSes) are more similar. Apple basically gets a free partner against staving off Google.
   
3. by keeping Microsoft in a weaker position* in the licensed OS-tablet-market, Google and Apple have less to worry about new entrants crashing the party as MS makes a potent buffer against the next likely entrants: HP and RIM.

basically all players can benefit from a 3rd... of course HP and RIM will try their very hardest to cement that position before Microsoft does. long story short, MS will be fine in the post-pc era. keep in mind that the battle of ecosystems means differently for those involved. Apple's battle is directly influencing customers**. Google/Microsoft have to court the hardware makers who then impacts the end user. the hits and misses from Android and Windows is highly dependent on the Acers/Dells/Motorolas of the world being successful in marketing and understanding consumer trends*** which... well... is a another topic.



*note: this is assuming the tablet landscape plays out like smartphones
** from Apple's 2010 annual report
*** from Microsofts 2010 annual report and assuming Google faces similar risks due to same business model

If they plan on shoving an unoptomized OS onto each device that isn't designed for that device they might as well pack up and get out. What we actually saw of their Windows 8 plans for tablets was painful.

The market is already handing the tablet segment to Apple in part due to this woeful strategy.




Not, yet. But it's quite telling. Just like they're in Apple's rearview. Very, very telling. And who would have thought that possible a few years ago.

 

[jav6454]

Yeah, step into a discussion about Sandy Bridge-EN. Now that is what I call fun.

Oh... someone say Sandy Bridge-EN?!