Is Microsoft Really a Dying Consumer Brand?
CNN is running a story with the headline "Microsoft is a dying consumer brand."
That's a bold statement, considering the strength that Microsoft has right now in the technology sector. The huge majority of the world's computers run on some kind of Windows, and much of the world's businesses rely on some kind of Microsoft productivity software.
That, however, is just in the realm of desktop computing. Businesses may still be in Microsoft's hands, but what about consumers?
In contrast, Apple has incredible strength with consumers, but doesn’t have a hold on businesses. Consumers are snatching up the iPhone and iPad to go along with their iPods, but businesses aren't running Mac OS X.
Even though Microsoft has done well with the Xbox, the Zune failed to take off, and now Windows Phone 7 has a battle ahead of it against the iPhone and Android.
Check out CNN's opinion here, and let us know if you agree or disagree!

1) No web browser or the ability to play most media files on the xbox360?
2) Didnt bother to come out with a touchscreen OS for phones until 2 other options were fimrly established
3) They still use NTFS for a file system... holy crap.
4) Who owns a zune? oh wait why would you, your not allowed to do anything on it.
5) Windows 7/ excellent OS. Windows VISTA just another way to steal your money on something that just doesn't work. End result, people don't trust microsoft.
6) Hey microsoft, your web browser sucks... for the eighth time...
7) Why can't we just boot windows off of a flash drive again? Why did XP require a floppy disk for raid drivers?
I have more but... those are good enough for now.
^^^
by the way.. who or what is CNN?... I thought they were a dying brand.. doesn't everyone just watch fox?
Brand upon the brain!
If we talk about "making technology", I don't remember anything in the last decade made by MS being something actually "new" to the consumers. Not in bling bling, not in functionality.
Even in OS (business+desktop+mobile) share they're staggering quite fast. They can't even position their new OS'es quite well because they DO NOT BRING ANYTHING NEW to the table. Win7 has seen the light thanks to loads of cash in marketing and being better than Vista. But like 99% of the needs are pretty much covered by XP and the much "humble" (no gaming thanks to DirectX) Linux distros out there, where Ubuntu shines and excels in user experience (ease of use, features, UI, etc).
Hope MS takes this as a wake up call FAST. They're not a bad company, but they're not making anything amazing these days either.
Cheers!
The problem isn't all Microsoft's. PC makers need to start selling better laptops and tablets like the MacBook Pro and the iPad. These devices are far more than fashion statements. Apple's hardware is very appealing to consumers. The high prices give Apple more R&D dollars to design the next generation of exciting products. PC competition has produced low-cost designs and shrunken margins with low R&D budgets, now PC laptops look old, because they are old. PC makers are selling the same old notebook designs they did 8 years ago, and consumers know it.
Bottom line - PC makers need to raise prices to produce premium products with premium margins to fund new R&D to complete against Apple. If they just wait for Microsoft to solve their Apple problem, it will be too late, and they too will suffer Microsoft's fate.