Is Microsoft worried about its future?
470558
Yes - definitely worried.\n\nIt's trying to fight many David's and definitely is worried of taking a hit sooner or later. A Few examples:\n\nLinux becoming mainstream server software supported even by IBM\nMany Open source software eating into Microsoft pie\nEnterprise Development largely has moved to Java\nApple lowering price for Macs and taking on Wintel combo\nMany Governments forming a significant chunk of users moving to Open source\nX-box has stiff competition from PSP, and several others
146051
The above answer is Dependant on Microsoft acctually doing what it says......a chancy proposition at best...[wink]
620457
The latest published date is "First Quarter 2007" delayed from late this year... but even that is up for debate.  The following article was published a couple days ago.\n\nVista’s Outlook Gets Cloudier\n\nGartner predicts Microsoft will ship its upcoming Vista operating system later than the January 2007 target.\n\nMicrosoft’s upcoming operating system Windows Vista is unlikely to ship until the second quarter of 2007, research firm Gartner said Wednesday, suggesting another potential delay that would be profoundly embarrassing for the software giant despite having little long-term impact. \n\nGartner said it now expects Vista to hit the shelves anytime between April and June of next year, instead of January, which is when the company last said it would roll the OS out. Microsoft still has plenty of work to do on the product, said Gartner. \n\nMicrosoft is expected to release Beta 2, or the second test version of the product, next month. Analysts estimate it will take another nine months to turn that into a final product. \n\nVista is the first major operating system to come out of Redmond in nearly five years and is regarded as the most important one since Microsoft released the Windows 95 OS nearly a decade ago. \n\nVista has been through multiple delays. Microsoft was initially supposed to ship Vista in 2005, but moved it to 2006 after it failed to meet internal targets for test releases. In April, Microsoft said Vista would be out in January 2007, instead of fall 2006 as was expected (see Microsoft Clouds Tech’s Vista). \n\nMicrosoft responded to Gartner’s report, saying it will stick to its schedule this time around. “We respectfully disagree with Gartner’s views around timing of the final delivery of Windows Vista,” said the company in a statement forwarded by its public relations company, Waggener Edstrom. “We remain on track to deliver Windows Vista Beta 2 in the second quarter and to deliver the final product to volume license customers in November 2006 and to other businesses and consumers in January 2007.”
609126
The world will likely want more than it can get by 2020.\n\nGood! Maybe someone will finally get serious about a workable alternative!
187885
It's very difficult. You can go to www.microsoft.com to find out.
14975
Becuase Google's strategic direction is a step ahead of where Microsoft planned to be.  At some point your computer will be completely driven through web services, and Microsoft wants to be the host of those services.  Google is competing to beat them to the punch and has been successful.  If you pay close attention to their product releases Microsoft is right behind Google's coat tails on features and functions.  In addition to that Google is starting to take further interest in desktop applications that will compete with Microsoft.
1019776
Soon? No - I do like their chances of doing that someday though.  The new bootcamp that allows windows to be installed is a great leap in that direction.\n\nThe biggest hurdle for them now is their prices.  Macs are too expensive right now to do anything more than trickle growth in market share.
94810
Yes I believe it will. Just look at the advances in computers over the last 50 years. 50 years from now, I think they (computers) will be able to think on their own.
1037075
It's due out in the second half of 2007 (over a year from now).  Note - this is Microsoft and they have been known to change their minds, either failing to release it at all or pushing it back.\n\nAs for Vista - It's not due out until next year (for home users) and THAT could be delayed.  (Microsoft, again, is KNOWN for pushing back their release dates).  I wouldn't run it until the first service pack is released - or a year.  Whichever is first.  Unless you WANT to be a guinea pig for Microsoft.  I mean more than most people.
837941
nope cause the competitors also will use IT but not doing so spells disaster\n\nthe problem is deciding HOW MUCH to invest and where the company that gets the formula correct will be ahead in five years ( if the rest of the business model is correct )
154276
microsoft is your answer
705607
in the future will Y/A still exist?
15522
neither will :)\n\nwait till 2010 - expect newer and more powerful entities compared to the current ones mentioned by you!
1106967
I wouldn't mess with a Microsoft product that much.  You're liable to kill everything.  What is the end result you are trying to accomplish?
428280
Wouldn't doubt it. As soon as better technology comes to surface.
1165946
not just yet. only the second beta test software is out for the public to test.\nit's launch date should be close to the Windows Vista launch date, early 2007.
937606
In Washington state it likely depends a great deal on whether they embezzled from Microsoft.