5 ms·

I find the "iPhone killed Microsoft" story to be unconvincing, despite its popularity. Yes, the iPhone is wildly successful beyond anything Microsoft has inven

I find the "iPhone killed Microsoft" story to be unconvincing, despite its popularity. Yes, the iPhone is wildly successful beyond anything Microsoft has invented in the 21st century, but its a smartphone- whereas, as this article itself states, Microsoft was in the business of peddling a Windows/Office bundle. So its not as if Apple and Microsoft are competing on that front; no one buys an iPhone to replace their computer (or at least, I've yet to see a single example of such), much less their word processor. I mean, yes, Apple also handily outmanoeuvred Microsoft in those areas where they do compete, and has beaten back Microsoft's forays into mobile. But Microsoft's problems are much more mundane- office software became a commodity, and they've failed to produce a new OS that's a clear-cut improvement over Windows 95. One could imagine a Microsoft that found a way to meaningfully innovate purely on the good old PC platform and be successful without any of this mobile devices tomfoolery.

skrebbel 13y ago
> no one buys an iPhone to replace their computer No, but many people buy tablets to replace their computer and tablets happened, effectively, because the iPhone happened.
wvenable 13y ago
Ask a teenager if they'd rather give up their iPhone or their laptop; I guarantee they'll say laptop. The real problem for Microsoft and PC makers is that everyone has a PC and they don't need a new one. Whatever PC almost anyone has is now good enough. People are spending their money on the latest phones and tablets.
- throwawaykf 13y ago
  True, a teenager would say that, but that's because teenagers are pretty shortsighted. Just wait until they get home and have to type up a school report. A few attempts on the touchscreen and even the most headstrong teenager will be ready to swap it for a laptop. And while it's true that the PC market is sort of saturated, the tablet market too will suffer the same fate. In the end the only thing that will continue to sell is services.
  - wvenable 13y ago
    > Just wait until they get home and have to type up a school report. I speak from experience, they will just use whatever PC is laying around or stuffed in a corner.

skrebbel 13y ago

> no one buys an iPhone to replace their computer No, but many people buy tablets to replace their computer and tablets happened, effectively, because the iPhone happened.

wvenable 13y ago

Ask a teenager if they'd rather give up their iPhone or their laptop; I guarantee they'll say laptop. The real problem for Microsoft and PC makers is that everyone has a PC and they don't need a new one. Whatever PC almost anyone has is now good enough. People are spending their money on the latest phones and tablets.

throwawaykf 13y ago
True, a teenager would say that, but that's because teenagers are pretty shortsighted. Just wait until they get home and have to type up a school report. A few attempts on the touchscreen and even the most headstrong teenager will be ready to swap it for a laptop. And while it's true that the PC market is sort of saturated, the tablet market too will suffer the same fate. In the end the only thing that will continue to sell is services.
- wvenable 13y ago
  > Just wait until they get home and have to type up a school report. I speak from experience, they will just use whatever PC is laying around or stuffed in a corner.