Thinking about Midoris.If Windows ends up being less important over time

Question

.........as applications become more OS agnostic where will Microsoft make it's money?

Answer 1

They could always going back to their basics of programming IDE, they are awesome nonetheless, no other product is as close to those.

They diversified their portfolio of products; Xbox, key/mouse, etc. Keeping Windows as a cash cow.

Answer 2

The thing is, Windows is already beginning to slip into irrelevance, thanks to a few different factors: the internet, which already provides web-based alternatives to quite a few desktop applications; Windows Vista itself, which has proven to millions of people that incarcerating its customers and developers with DRM and vendor lock-in are Microsoft's priorities to the exclusion of actually trying to appeal to people with good products; and Mac OS X and (to some extent) Linux, which are swiftly taking advantage of the resulting opportunity to gain ground legitimately, not by choking out competition but by attracting users with better products, the way the rest of the free markets do it. Where Microsoft makes its money once it can no longer coast along on its deflated and artificial Windows/Office monopoly position is a pretty good question; they'll likely have to learn to make do with less while focusing more on the few viable and competitive products they do have, like the Xbox (which I hear isn't hemorrhaging billions of dollars a year anymore) and possibly the Zune line.

Answer 3

dont no ... but i love your account picture its awesome!!

Answer 4

Windows & Office are evidently Microsoft's biggest cash-cows & will be for some time to come yet.

However, they have expanded into Hardware (You may have noticed!); Computer Peripherals, Xbox, Zune (Anyone?)

Also with their latest (failed, so far) venture into trying to buy Yahoo, they're going after the Internet Search/Advertising market, and there's a lot of life in those industries!

All things considered, I don't think we'll be seeing Microsoft 'down-and-out' anytime soon!