5 ms·
"When Microsoft products were threatened by network computers and Web-based applications, they simply bought WebTV and Hotmail." Yep, that worked out well for
by Tyrannosaurs 13y ago
"When Microsoft products were threatened by network computers and Web-based applications, they simply bought WebTV and Hotmail."
Yep, that worked out well for them.
- seiji 13y agoHotmail is still one of the top three webmail providers. Sad, but true. WebTV was just too early. It wanted to be a tablet experience on a TV with a remote keyboard. What it should have been is modern day AppleTV/Roku (which wasn't possible back then with dialup and 1.5M DSL speeds).
- peacemaker 13y agoNot sure why it's "sad" that Hotmail is a top three provider? It works well and has a simple layout that is easy to use for most people, even those who are less technically minded. I'd say that was quite an achievement.
- Tyrannosaurs 13y agoMicrosoft's online services division (including Hotmail) has cost them millions, if not billions over the years. MS may have gained and held a foothold in assorted online spaces but they've never made money in the space as a whole and it's highly questionable whether they've gained any strategic benefit from it. From a business perspective it's very questionable whether MS really achieved anything with either purchase. Essentially the OP uses the acquisitions to suggest that you can just buy what you don't invent, but history says that that approach really didn't work out well at all for them in either the short or long term.
- mistermann 13y agoSad, because....?
- aclevernickname 13y agolearn some history, junior.
- mistermann 13y agoI'm well aware of history, and I'm likely older than you, you obnoxious little twat. I asked, why is it sad? Care to enlighten us with some words of wisdom?