On the Microsoft-Yahoo Deal

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As I was reading Michael Arrington’s update post on the Yahoo-Microsoft deal, I recalled another post from Steve Jobs (the fake one).  Steve calls on Ballmer to give up on Yahoo and focus on Windows.

I’m with Steve here.  It confuses me that Microsoft is this worried to compete with Google, while they’ve just releases what’s possibly the worst operating system since Windows ME.  Linux is gaining popularity, with Ubuntu at the forefront, and Apple’s computer sales aren’t slowing down.  Shouldn’t Microsoft be worried about their largest revenue generator, the product that they’ve spent so many years developing, the product that made them the world’s largest software company?  The product I’m referring to is Windows.

  • http://www.agoodreed.com Barry

    Just like Nike and snowboarding…. Why do people deem it necessary to over extend and compete on every playing field?\

    Spreadin it thin. I don’t know about you but I like a ton of butter on my two pieces of toast than no butter on four pieces.

  • http://dontexplain.com Clint

    Yes, Linux is gaining. Yes, Apple isn’t slowing down.

    But, sadly, Windows isn’t going anywhere in the next twenty years at least. It’s just too much a part of businesses and personal lives. The sheer cost for either businesses or individuals to transition all their software (legally!) is too much to justify the switch in most cases (especially businesses here specifically).

    Unless all their software is on the Internet.

    The Internet is the great equalizer. Google Docs is becoming better and better (Sunil and I use it all the time), Yahoo and Google Mail are increasingly powerful (you can even use GMail as a POP3 client itself!), and people are spending generally more and more time on intranets and the internet than they are on their desktop.

    And that’s why Microsoft is worried: the Internet runs on more than just Windows.

  • http://www.alexloddengaard.com Alex Loddengaard

    I think you have a great point, Clint. I suppose if you look at it that way, the Microsoft-Yahoo deal is somewhat justified. Thanks for the input.

    I like a bunch of butter, but my favorite is butter and Parmesan cheese. Mmmm.

  • http://www.agoodreed.com Huckleberry Hart

    Don’t you think that it is funny that both Barry and I talk about buttering breakfast dishes?

    That is pretty sweet.

    Today, at my coffee hacienda, I ordered a croissant, and I put some jelly on it. Hell yea.