incrediBILL - 7:08 am on Dec 27, 2012 (gmt 0)

Microsoft is kind of where Lotus was in the early 90s. Due to some stupid moves MS is at risk of losing the home consumer market and already has in devices that aren't traditional desktop or laptop computers, except for XBOX. So far they're still keeping a grip on the corporate environment but is anyone really trying to unhinge their stranglehold on office computing?

Home consumers buy a computing device like they buy a toaster, it's an internet appliance. It browses the web and sends email, and you don't really need MS for any of that including office productivity tools. Data compatibility is the real issue as people don't really care what they use as long as they can access their data and it looks the same no matter what device they use.

Microsoft has almost no presence in devices like DVRs, TVs, GPS, etc. unless you're using your XBOX or desktop PC for those functions as it's pretty much a Linux world so they're already pretty irrelevant at that level.

The point is you don't need MS already but it's already preloaded on the machines which is why it maintains it's dominance IMO. However, if they don't regain the hearts and minds of consumers with the Win 8 one-size-fits-all-devices strategy they could end up an increasingly irrelevant niche market.

MS obviously went upscale with Surface to compete with Apple while Google aimed squarely at the mass market sweet spot with Nexus so they've already fumbled the mass market with Win 8, it's just a matter of how many scraps can they take from Apple at this point.

However, MS is tenacious and they will just keep hammering at this problem until they get it right. The destroyed Netscape, Lotus, Novell, Digital Research, Word Perfect and put a dent in Intuit's market, and many more. They're in it for the long haul, unless they lose their way, this is just a temporary blip. The real question is, will consumers keep drinking the MS kool-aide while they wait for MS to get it right this time?