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Why is this a worry for Microsoft, but not Google and Apple? This isn't really tackled until the last sentence of the article, and even then, they say that Goog

Why is this a worry for Microsoft, but not Google and Apple? This isn't really tackled until the last sentence of the article, and even then, they say that Google and Apple are more focused. Is that correct? or do Google and Apple just have one larger profit maker with many smaller profit-makers or loss-leaders?

Aloisius 13y ago
There really is no comparison between the number of products and divisions Microsoft has compared to Google or Apple. For goodness sakes, Microsoft Studios probably has more video games that it developed than Google has products. Put another way, Microsoft makes alternatives for all the products that both Google and Apple combined make plus a gaming division and enterprise software.
runn1ng 13y ago
As a matter of fact, yes. Apple has a very few products and is quite famous for that. Google is focused on selling ads. Yes, it has a lot of other products, but in the end, most of them are about selling ads (and getting more information about the user, so they can sell ads better). What is Microsoft focused on?
- bigdubs 13y ago
  Microsoft is focused on selling windows licenses. The xbox and its ecosystem is the exception.
  - rdl 13y ago
    "Windows licenses" alone probably include more distinct SKUs than Apple has total products. A lot of that is just inherent to enterprise vs. consumer, but even then, Microsoft has lots of complexity, seemingly on purpose, while Apple tried to be minimalist.
    - nightski 13y ago
      There are only 2 SKUs of Windows 8 that I know of. Standard and Pro. (At least that you purchase directly, not already on a device).
      - FigBug 13y ago
        In my MSDN Account there are 38 versions of Window 8 and 12 of Window 8 Enterprise.
        MichaelGG 13y ago
        You're counting N and KN versions, 32+64 bit, checked/debug? Or what exactly? I'm sure Apple has SKUs for other countries, where they need different power adapters. The core Windows licensing is down to 4 now, right? 2 on desktop, 2 on server. SQL Server on the other hand...
        DominikR 13y ago
        Why is there even a distinction between 32 and 64 bit versions? Why does a customer have to know anything about it? Maybe just to f* customers which: a) bought the wrong one and now have to buy another one, because conveniently, they can't just return it. (at least in Europe that's the case) b) want to upgrade their hardware at some point in the future from 32 to 64 bit, without having to buy the exact same software again
        noinsight 13y ago
        > b) want to upgrade their hardware at some point in the future from 32 to 64 bit, without having to buy the exact same software again Retail copies contain both versions, OEM versions only contain the one and those aren't transferable to other systems anyway. Of course, if you upgrade some parts in your current build you might get shafted with the OEM version.
        MichaelGG 13y ago
        On 32/64, because downloading an extra 50% (?) meaning a GB or two more is sorta pointless? (Just speaking for MSDN.)
- pedalpete 13y ago
  Apple makes phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, media player (apple TV), keyboards, mice, touchpads, itunes music, itunes movies & tv, app store, a collection of retail stores, headphones, wifi routers, iOS, OSX, Objective-C, iCloud and a medium selection of software titles including FinalCut, X-code and Works. They are FOCUSED on iOS, OSX, phones, tablets, laptops and the app stores. I think when you start listing out everything that Apple has, it isn't that much less than Microsoft. On top of the things that Apple makes, Microsoft has SQL Server, Exchange, Azure, Skype, Sharepoint, Bing, X-Box, Kinect, and a bunch more software titles. Microsoft isn't focused on a single product as much as industry verticals. They are focused on Enterprise customers with a lot of their tools, Gamers with X-Box and are growing (or trying to grow) in the consumer space where they haven't been as successful over the last few years.
WildUtah 13y ago
The article is fingering the wrong problem. The trouble isn't in Microsoft's reach but in the nature of its profit center. Microsoft makes billions each year on a monopoly. The rest of the company stagnates because it has to help defend the monopoly. Companies that make their money in competitive markets can't afford to prop up uncompetitive projects, but a monopoly has to. And Microsoft is looking less prosperous because the market it monopolizes, desktop OS and document prep, is a smaller and smaller part of the industry.
netcan 13y ago
Google are getting more complicated. If MS get into trouble, Google will probably come under pressure. A lot of Google's stuff seems to be almost side projects though. If Chrome/ChromeOS or Gmail fell off the end of the world next Tuesday Google would probably be fine. If self driving cars or glass never get to the commercial stage, that'd be ok too. It would be bad PR having high visibility failures, but nothing fatal. Apple are the counterexample. They have very few big things. Mac hardware, OSX. iPhone & iPad, iOS. Those are most of Apple and there are very few products there, compared to other hardware companies. Then some mac apps. Some iOS apps. Again, not very many. Not very critical either (does it matter if the next iLife sucks)? iCloud, I guess and some other bits and bobs. Apple TV. iPods. Basically though they make like 5 flavours of PC, 3 flavours of tablet/phone, Two flavours of OS. Fewer products than most hardware/electronics maker 1/10 their size.

Aloisius 13y ago

There really is no comparison between the number of products and divisions Microsoft has compared to Google or Apple. For goodness sakes, Microsoft Studios probably has more video games that it developed than Google has products. Put another way, Microsoft makes alternatives for all the products that both Google and Apple combined make plus a gaming division and enterprise software.

runn1ng 13y ago

As a matter of fact, yes. Apple has a very few products and is quite famous for that. Google is focused on selling ads. Yes, it has a lot of other products, but in the end, most of them are about selling ads (and getting more information about the user, so they can sell ads better). What is Microsoft focused on?

bigdubs 13y ago
Microsoft is focused on selling windows licenses. The xbox and its ecosystem is the exception.
- rdl 13y ago
  "Windows licenses" alone probably include more distinct SKUs than Apple has total products. A lot of that is just inherent to enterprise vs. consumer, but even then, Microsoft has lots of complexity, seemingly on purpose, while Apple tried to be minimalist.
  - nightski 13y ago
    There are only 2 SKUs of Windows 8 that I know of. Standard and Pro. (At least that you purchase directly, not already on a device).
    - FigBug 13y ago
      In my MSDN Account there are 38 versions of Window 8 and 12 of Window 8 Enterprise.
      - MichaelGG 13y ago
        You're counting N and KN versions, 32+64 bit, checked/debug? Or what exactly? I'm sure Apple has SKUs for other countries, where they need different power adapters. The core Windows licensing is down to 4 now, right? 2 on desktop, 2 on server. SQL Server on the other hand...
        DominikR 13y ago
        Why is there even a distinction between 32 and 64 bit versions? Why does a customer have to know anything about it? Maybe just to f* customers which: a) bought the wrong one and now have to buy another one, because conveniently, they can't just return it. (at least in Europe that's the case) b) want to upgrade their hardware at some point in the future from 32 to 64 bit, without having to buy the exact same software again
        noinsight 13y ago
        > b) want to upgrade their hardware at some point in the future from 32 to 64 bit, without having to buy the exact same software again Retail copies contain both versions, OEM versions only contain the one and those aren't transferable to other systems anyway. Of course, if you upgrade some parts in your current build you might get shafted with the OEM version.
        MichaelGG 13y ago
        On 32/64, because downloading an extra 50% (?) meaning a GB or two more is sorta pointless? (Just speaking for MSDN.)
pedalpete 13y ago
Apple makes phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, media player (apple TV), keyboards, mice, touchpads, itunes music, itunes movies & tv, app store, a collection of retail stores, headphones, wifi routers, iOS, OSX, Objective-C, iCloud and a medium selection of software titles including FinalCut, X-code and Works. They are FOCUSED on iOS, OSX, phones, tablets, laptops and the app stores. I think when you start listing out everything that Apple has, it isn't that much less than Microsoft. On top of the things that Apple makes, Microsoft has SQL Server, Exchange, Azure, Skype, Sharepoint, Bing, X-Box, Kinect, and a bunch more software titles. Microsoft isn't focused on a single product as much as industry verticals. They are focused on Enterprise customers with a lot of their tools, Gamers with X-Box and are growing (or trying to grow) in the consumer space where they haven't been as successful over the last few years.

WildUtah 13y ago

The article is fingering the wrong problem. The trouble isn't in Microsoft's reach but in the nature of its profit center. Microsoft makes billions each year on a monopoly. The rest of the company stagnates because it has to help defend the monopoly. Companies that make their money in competitive markets can't afford to prop up uncompetitive projects, but a monopoly has to. And Microsoft is looking less prosperous because the market it monopolizes, desktop OS and document prep, is a smaller and smaller part of the industry.

netcan 13y ago

Google are getting more complicated. If MS get into trouble, Google will probably come under pressure. A lot of Google's stuff seems to be almost side projects though. If Chrome/ChromeOS or Gmail fell off the end of the world next Tuesday Google would probably be fine. If self driving cars or glass never get to the commercial stage, that'd be ok too. It would be bad PR having high visibility failures, but nothing fatal. Apple are the counterexample. They have very few big things. Mac hardware, OSX. iPhone & iPad, iOS. Those are most of Apple and there are very few products there, compared to other hardware companies. Then some mac apps. Some iOS apps. Again, not very many. Not very critical either (does it matter if the next iLife sucks)? iCloud, I guess and some other bits and bobs. Apple TV. iPods. Basically though they make like 5 flavours of PC, 3 flavours of tablet/phone, Two flavours of OS. Fewer products than most hardware/electronics maker 1/10 their size.