Strange Bedfellows:
Bill Gates once declared that Rupert Murdoch was the man he feared most in the world, commenting on something about the latter's principles and ruthless business tactics. The latest news is that Murdoch's News Corporation might join with Gates and company in a hostile takeover of Yahoo, which has been resisting Microsoft's bid for the company.
As The New York Times puts it such a joint venture "would create a behemoth that would upend the Internet landscape." Precisely in what direction the landscape would tilt, however, isn't exactly clear. Microsoft, in large part, has become monolithic by buying out competition. When it couldn't buy out competition, it created imitations and built them into its operating systems, which is decidedly different from giving software away. (Note: When software is built into the operating system and you have to buy the operating system, the software is not given away; you pay for it along with the operating system.)
Microsoft itself, like the rest of the western world's economy, is in a dangerous place. It's newest operating system has had mixed results. Revenue from sales has generally been good, but adaptation by business and government has been sluggish, with most sales coming from new computer sales. In the meantime, it appears that Microsoft will rush to put out its latest operating system (currently called "Windows 7"). Google has placed enormous pressure on Microsoft, along with the advent of "social networking."
So is Microsoft betting the ranch?
Bush Reduces Length of Duty:
The White House announced tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan will be reduced from 15 months to 12 months, corresponding more or less to the amount of time Bush has left in office. However, the White House also stated that there would be no reductions in the number of troupes in those two regions.
What the great man had to say six years ago: "And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours." — George W. Bush, Bridgeport, Connnecticut, April 2002. (Will we learn that this man, like Reagan, has Alzheimer's, after he leaves office?)
Bill Gates once declared that Rupert Murdoch was the man he feared most in the world, commenting on something about the latter's principles and ruthless business tactics. The latest news is that Murdoch's News Corporation might join with Gates and company in a hostile takeover of Yahoo, which has been resisting Microsoft's bid for the company.
As The New York Times puts it such a joint venture "would create a behemoth that would upend the Internet landscape." Precisely in what direction the landscape would tilt, however, isn't exactly clear. Microsoft, in large part, has become monolithic by buying out competition. When it couldn't buy out competition, it created imitations and built them into its operating systems, which is decidedly different from giving software away. (Note: When software is built into the operating system and you have to buy the operating system, the software is not given away; you pay for it along with the operating system.)
Microsoft itself, like the rest of the western world's economy, is in a dangerous place. It's newest operating system has had mixed results. Revenue from sales has generally been good, but adaptation by business and government has been sluggish, with most sales coming from new computer sales. In the meantime, it appears that Microsoft will rush to put out its latest operating system (currently called "Windows 7"). Google has placed enormous pressure on Microsoft, along with the advent of "social networking."
So is Microsoft betting the ranch?
Bush Reduces Length of Duty:
The White House announced tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan will be reduced from 15 months to 12 months, corresponding more or less to the amount of time Bush has left in office. However, the White House also stated that there would be no reductions in the number of troupes in those two regions.
What the great man had to say six years ago: "And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours." — George W. Bush, Bridgeport, Connnecticut, April 2002. (Will we learn that this man, like Reagan, has Alzheimer's, after he leaves office?)
Labels: Iraq War, Technology
posted by Jim | 9:28 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home