Windows 7 Activation Is Microsoft still worthy of

Overlook programmer Paul Graham's "Microsoft is dead" headline. It got the desired effect: He's gotten links on TechMeme, Slashdot and a lots of other news-starved sites this weekend. But don't dismiss Graham's question as to who (if anyone) is afraid of Microsoft any more. It wasn't that long ago that a decision by Microsoft to enter a market spelled death — sometimes sooner, sometimes later) for other vendors in the same space. Microsoft has browbeat PC makers,Windows 7 Activation, competed with its "beloved" software reseller/integrator partners; and stuck it to its customers. I know of several companies who claim to have showed their products and technologies to Microsoft only to find themselves squeezed out of a market by the Redmond software vendor sporting an almost identitcal solution. (VOIP vendor Agere Systems is only the latest in a long line.) But in 2007: * A "simple" lawsuit — or even just a threat of one — can get Microsoft to rethink its positioning and/or packaging plans in a heartbeat. * Many new startups are more cautious about entering a market if Google,Microsoft Office Professional 2010, not Microsoft, is the already in it. * Even in cases where Microsoft fielded a first or superior solution (think Outlook Web Access in the Ajax world in the first case; Microsoft Live Maps/Virtual Earth in the latter), many analysts, partners and customers dismiss Microsoft in favor of other,Windows 7 64 Bit, hipper players. Does this mean Microsoft an irrelevant $50 billion pushover now? Or is it still worthy of its "Evil Empire" moniker? Make no mistake: Microsoft is still The Evil Empire. Just when you're ready to count Microsoft out,Office 2007, company officials do something so ruthless/dastardly that it reminds you why Microsoft is still around after more than 30 years. You'll never see Microsoft backing a "Don't Be Evil" platform. After all, CEO Steve Ballmer IS Dr. Evil…. And if my arguments don't convince you,Windows 7 Serial, check out Softie James O'Neill's list of the "Top 10 things people thought would kill Microsoft and haven't."