Newsweek Predicts: Microsoft to Oust Ballmer in 2010
December 22, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy
The Seattle Post and Intelligencer, being the hometown newspaper, is pretty kind to Microsoft. So when its writers put pen to paper and analyze a Newsweek article which suggests that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is on the hot seat, its time to sit up straight and listen.
Newsweek’s best quote in the article:
“Ballmer is said to be a brilliant guy, but he got a black eye for the way he blundered and blustered and finally botched an attempted acquisition of Yahoo. He’s a screamer and a bit of a bully – not the easiest guy to work for. If Microsoft were any other company, this guy would be in trouble.”
Will be interesting to see it this comes to Fruition. Microsoft is still printing money hand-over-fist, has put the Windows Vista debacle behind them with a successful launch of Win 7 and its “decision engine” Bing is doing reasonably well despite the failed acquisition of Yahoo (which turned out to be not such a bad thing).
UPDATE: Just came across the following article - Ballmer fired a guy for not saying “Bing” with sufficient enthusiasm? WTF???
Microsoft Must Stop Selling Word 2007 by Jan 11: Patent Ruling
December 22, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy, Office
Ouch – this one has to hurt.
Turns out that Microsoft has been accused of infringing on a patent related to XML in its Word 2007 application. The company has been appealing rulings related to this for some time, however, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has just upheld a decision that would see Microsoft Word and Office banned from sale starting January 11.
The funny thing is the company who is suing, is not a patent troll seeking massive damages. The company, i4i, and is just looking to protect its IP.
Not sure how this will play out. Microsoft says that Office 2010 does not use the technology and seems to be scrambling to remove the seldom used feature from the software in time for the January 11 deadline.
Microsoft Dealz of the Day: 12.09.2009
December 10, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Sales & Savings
Are you a PC? Avid Xbox gamer? Love your Zune? Here’s today’s best deals for the Microsoft die-hard:
Windows PC’s:
• Dell Studio XPS 8000 Core i7 Desktop PC for $1,045.60 plus free shipping (normally $1,307 – use coupon code 6MNF26?2L63PCJ).
• Lenovo IdeaCentre K230 Intel Desktop Computer for $469.99 plus free shipping (normally $689).
• 15.6″ Dell Studio 15 Core i7 Laptop for $999 plus free shipping (normally $1,138).
• 15.6″ Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 LED Laptop for $548.25 plus free shipping (normally $1,043 – use coupon code USPHOLIDAY).
• 15.4″ Lenovo ThinkPad T500 for $662.15 plus free shipping (normally $1,254 – use coupon code USPHOLIDAY).
• 15.4″ MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz Laptop (newest model) for $1,499 with free shipping (normally $1,699.99 – use this form)
• 13.3″ MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz Laptop (newest model) for $1,049 with free shipping (normally $1,199.99 – use this form)
• 14″ Lenovo IdeaPad Y450 Dual Core Laptop with 3GB RAM for $509.15 plus free shipping(normally $699 – use coupon code USPHOLIDAY).
Xbox Gaming:
• Guitar Hero Metallica for Xbox 360, PS3, & Wii (Game + Wireless Guitar + Wired Mic) for $44.99 plus free shipping (normally $79 – use coupon code: TENOFF).
• The Saboteur (360, PS3) for $49.99 plus free shipping (normally $58.99).
• Halo 3 Legendary Edition (360) for $39.99 plus free shipping (normally $50.54).
Zune:
• Zune HD 32GB Video MP3 Player + $30 Gift Card for $267.99 plus free shipping (normally $298).
Microsoft, Prioritizing Cloud Computing, Reshuffles Units
December 10, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Company Strategy
SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)–Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), in a move underscoring the growing importance to its future revenue profile of cloud computing, said it was creating a new business unit to focus on the fast-growing new technology trend.
Cloud computing is a broad term for a range of technologies which enables organizations to have their computing operations stored off the premises, accessed through the Internet on a metered basis.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Wash., is merging two existing sub-units within its broader server and tools business: the Windows Azure group, which has driven the launch of its cloud-computing program, and the Windows Server and Solutions Group, the company said in an internal blog posting.
The new division will be called the Server and Cloud division, and will be headed by Amitabh Srivastava, who reports to ultimate server and tools unit head, Bob Muglia.
A number of companies, ranging from Internet giant Google Inc. (GOOG) to online business software provider Salesforce.com Inc. (CRM) are clamoring to offer companies tools to allow them to take advantage of cloud computing, which among other things allows customers to slash IT labor costs.
Microsoft’s challenge is to grab a greater slice of the nascent market without damaging the profitability of its products, the vast majority of which are still hosted and used on PCs or corporate servers.
Windows Azure, which Microsoft launched this fall, is the central plank of its cloud-computing strategy. Microsoft didn’t comment beyond the internal statement.
Shares closed up 0.5% at $29.71.
Smooth Move Ex-Lax: Microsoft Ends Windows 7 Family Pack
December 8, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Sales & Savings, Windows
Microsoft, facing stiff competition from Apple on its launch of Windows 7, let its Windows 7 Family Pack offer expire just when it would be to its advantage to continue the offer.
From the outset, the Family Pack was offered as a limited time discount allowing a household to upgrade 3 PC’s to Windows 7 for only $150. Each PC would regularly cost $129-200 each without the discount.
Apple markets an upgrade to its OS X for only $29 and many analysts suggested that Microsoft follow suit with lower pricing to attack Apple’s competitive position, especially since the Vista OS was such a disappointment in the PC market.
Microsoft Hosts Shareholder Meeting; Windows Sales “Fantastic”
November 20, 2009 by The Editor
Filed under Windows
Speaking Thursday at the company’s annual meeting, Ballmer said Windows 7 sales are “fantastic,” but provided no numbers to support his claim. The Wall Street Journal estimates that Microsoft has sold 40 million copies sold since the new operating system’s Oct. 22 release.
“Windows 7 is the simply best PC operating system we have ever built,” Ballmer said. “It enables people to do more of what they want to do more easily and more quickly, and customers are responding.”
