4 ms·
Are you crazy? How has it not worked out for Microsoft? As of 2000 it was estimated that Microsoft had produced 10,000 millionaires. Sure, they've produced tons
by jm4 18y ago
Are you crazy? How has it not worked out for Microsoft? As of 2000 it was estimated that Microsoft had produced 10,000 millionaires. Sure, they've produced tons of crappy software too, but as long as we're measuring success in terms of money then I'd say the strategy has worked perfectly. They've been by far the most successful software company to date. They could care less about the quality of software as long as it's the best selling software. Google is no different. They see a revenue opportunity and they grab it.
- gamble 18y agoAll of MS's profits come from Windows and Office. The odd quarter excepted, everything else they do operates at a loss. For any other company, habitual 9-10 figure losses would have heads rolling on the floor.
- gaius 18y agoVisual Studio and SQL Server as well?
- cstejerean 18y agoI don't think the revenue from Visual Studio and SQL Server come anywhere close to Office and Windows. Keep in mind that pretty much every computer sold for the past decade has had Windows pre-installed and that everyone in a business or university environment is forced to have a copy of Office.
- ewanmcteagle 18y agoVisual Studio is not profitable for Microsoft (from what I've heard from MS employees) but that is also not its purpose. It's there to guarantee the success of the Windows desktop and server platforms. Microsoft knows development and ease of development has been a large contributor to the success of Windows.