Steve Jobs Medical Leave

X · January 17, 2011, 10:06:38 PM

Quote from: Bryancd on January 17, 2011, 07:01:48 PM
Quote from: RickPeete on January 17, 2011, 06:55:05 PM

But by the same token, people used to think that Microsoft couldn't be led by anyone other than Bill Gates. And look, it is still there and still earning billions.

Actually, that's the worst example! Balmer is not well respected by investors and I think MSFT has suffered innovation stagnation since he assumed control. Besides XBox and an update to Windows that's just an Apple OS clone, he's failed at everything. Just look at the stock price since Balmer took over...DEAD MONEY. The chance that that might happen to Apple will send investors to the sidelines. I'm selling some in the morning for sure., I can manage business risk, and in that Apple is way ahead of the competition as I have always said. But I can't manage the health of one man.

As much as I love my PC, when has windows not been a clone several generations behind of the Mac OS? I think the last two Windows OS are perhaps the most forward thinking the company has ever been.

KingIsaacLinksr · January 17, 2011, 10:37:29 PM

Quote from: X on January 17, 2011, 10:06:38 PM
Quote from: Bryancd on January 17, 2011, 07:01:48 PM
Quote from: RickPeete on January 17, 2011, 06:55:05 PM

But by the same token, people used to think that Microsoft couldn't be led by anyone other than Bill Gates. And look, it is still there and still earning billions.

Actually, that's the worst example! Balmer is not well respected by investors and I think MSFT has suffered innovation stagnation since he assumed control. Besides XBox and an update to Windows that's just an Apple OS clone, he's failed at everything. Just look at the stock price since Balmer took over...DEAD MONEY. The chance that that might happen to Apple will send investors to the sidelines. I'm selling some in the morning for sure., I can manage business risk, and in that Apple is way ahead of the competition as I have always said. But I can't manage the health of one man.
As much as I love my PC, when has windows not been a clone several generations behind of the Mac OS? I think the last two Windows OS are perhaps the most forward thinking the company has ever been.

Indeed. I mean Vista is a complete change compared to Windows XP. Ofc it didn't work very well, but at least they tried. I've heard some joke that Vista was the open Beta of 7. xD lol

King

Rico · January 18, 2011, 05:07:39 AM

Without spinning this topic too far off base, I'm currently running Vista - it works just fine. The issue with Vista was it required a pretty steep hardware upgrade for most people. When they initially tried to put it on some underpowered laptops it had issues. Similar to putting the updated iOS on an iPhone 3. Always keep in mind there is a bit of a symbiotic relationship between software and hardware. Microsoft and Windows have it somewhat harder than Apple since their software gets used on a VERY wide range of hardware. If you have the right gear Windows works just fine. But it certainly requires you to be a little more tech savvy than say a Mac. Both companies and their products have their uses.

X · January 18, 2011, 05:30:45 AM

Quote from: Rico on January 18, 2011, 05:07:39 AM
Without spinning this topic too far off base, I'm currently running Vista - it works just fine. The issue with Vista was it required a pretty steep hardware upgrade for most people. When they initially tried to put it on some underpowered laptops it had issues. Similar to putting the updated iOS on an iPhone 3. Always keep in mind there is a bit of a symbiotic relationship between software and hardware. Microsoft and Windows have it somewhat harder than Apple since their software gets used on a VERY wide range of hardware. If you have the right gear Windows works just fine. But it certainly requires you to be a little more tech savvy than say a Mac. Both companies and their products have their uses.

I totally agree with this.

Bryancd · January 18, 2011, 06:16:38 AM

Microsoft's stock price is at the same price it was 10 years ago, about $28/share. Apple has gone from $10 to $331 this morning. That's what I am referring to as the failure of Blamer and Microsoft to show they can grow and innovate. I own MSFT stock, it pays a nice little dividend and occasionally do large cash distributions to shareholders. I also think Windows 7 is very good, their best yet. But every effort they have made to broaden their business beyond software and gaming has failed. Zune? Now they want to make their own phone. Anyone want to guess how that's going to play out?

Rico · January 18, 2011, 06:33:51 AM

Bryan - I don't care about stock prices. I care about products that do what I need them to do.

Bryancd · January 18, 2011, 06:37:45 AM

Quote from: Rico on January 18, 2011, 06:33:51 AM
Bryan - I don't care about stock prices. I care about products that do what I need them to do.

Which is fine, but it is an indication of how the market place is feeling about the companies products and innovation, that's all. And the markets have been correct in discounting Microsoft while bidding up Apple. The stock market is the ultimate buisness arbitor.

And I wouldn't be so dissmissive of the market, you likely own MSFT somehwere in a mutual fund in your 401(k).

Rico · January 18, 2011, 06:43:44 AM

Nope - still don't care. In spinning this topic even more off course the stock market is a game. It has little or nothing to do with the products or real value a company brings to the world and it's people.

Bryancd · January 18, 2011, 07:32:46 AM

It's funny that the old Microsoft vs. Apple rivalry still exists. It's always been based solely on operating systems but for all intent and purposes, Apple is a consumer electronics company now and Microsoft is still primarily a software company. So the comparison is a bit stretched. I do believe Microsoft wants to move beyond XBox and have a broader product portfolio of consumer devices but they have failed at making those inroads. I lay that on Steve Balmer's doorstep. The guy is not Bill Gates or Steve Jobs and leadership does matter.

Bromptonboy · January 18, 2011, 09:06:16 AM

Quote from: Bryancd on January 18, 2011, 07:32:46 AM
It's funny that the old Microsoft vs. Apple rivalry still exists. It's always been based solely on operating systems but for all intent and purposes, Apple is a consumer electronics company now and Microsoft is still primarily a software company. So the comparison is a bit stretched. I do believe Microsoft wants to move beyond XBox and have a broader product portfolio of consumer devices but they have failed at making those inroads. I lay that on Steve Balmer's doorstep. The guy is not Bill Gates or Steve Jobs and leadership does matter.

I quite agree. Their new tablet will be doomed - they should be putting a version of Win 7 phone on it, not a full clunky OS.