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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on Microsoft's tablet is a symbol of the company: Misguided, unfocused ]]></title>
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        <title><![CDATA[The Saddest Part]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3517885]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[True it died in part because of Bill Gates' myopic view of a world that he had largely left behind to pursue other interests, improving toilets world wide among other things. These were honorable and perhaps even noble things, but they did not keep him in touch with the pulse of emerging markets in particular the shift to consumerization of IT from the traditional market structure where business needs had led. The Courier story in many ways recapitulates the whole mobile phone fiasco of the previous 10 years.But the fulcrum point of this decision was defense of old fashion bureaucratic territory, much like had plagued IBM when Microsoft as an upstart contributed mightily to its decline. The Windows team (political empire) wanted total control and restriction over anything that contained any element of Windows (CE not withstanding, it never was Windows in reality). They wanted control of everything including any customization for a specialized product and they were willing to suppress any internal competition to meet their as yet uncertain and unproven long term schedule. To use a notable expression, bringing a three year product plan to a market where significant churn happens in months, was like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Top management let them win and the company got shot up badly in the mobile device market place, perhaps fatally.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[rjd@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:45:21 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Misguided, unfocused]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3352982]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[but came up with a tablet product before the market was ready to accept the input method.  Had it been released with a multi-touch screen back then the world would be different.  Too much, too really and not quite at the hardware spec needed.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3352982]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[The 'G-Man.']]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:43:52 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[The late, lamented Courier?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3352973]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Worse than vaporware, I'm afraid--the project has been killed by all accounts. One of the most innovative things MS has done is years, scuttled.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3352973]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[mpayton@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:30:26 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Have you not heard of the Courier?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3352542]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-first-details-of-microsofts-secret-tabletHowever it may be vapor ware ]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3352542]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Vern Anderson]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:37:32 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[MS Have The Anser in House - DarPoke is Right!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3347563]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Absolutely the next generation of zero maintenanace consumer pcs will be X Box like and MS has the capability to deliver such a concept. But a legacy unimaginative boss like Ballmer will never realise that and be prepared to canibalise his past revenues to create a new future with such a grand strategy, as I have written elshewhere in this thread, he is the death of Microsoft.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3347563]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[brian.catt@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:10:00 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[MS HiJacked the IBM PC's Success and Innovated Nothing]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3347357]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Every major innovation was bought in or copied from somewhere else, DOS from Seattle Micro Systems, MS mail from Network Courier, Word from I forget where, Explorer copied from MOSAIC 1.0, Excel copied from Visicalc/123, Windows was Apple's licensed GUI until 3.1. Gates was a good product marketeer at least, bought in sound products, integrated them well and used his monopoly power to bundle them and destroy any competition. He understood the market and how to monopolise using his OS monopoly to ensure MS Apps worked best once assimilated - as they could avoid the clunky limiting APIs third parties had to use.The continuity was lost when Gates left a clueless bully in charge. Ballmer is more Soprano than Gates with a better grasp of money than technology - but his lust for power and money mean he won't listen to cleverer heads in MS or let go easily, roped to the wheel of the good ship MS Windows  as he steers it unerringly onto the rocks. Live by the PC, die by the PC. Probaly the longest asset strip in IT history is about to occur as each bit of application and brand is milked for every last drop of blood by this awful accountant. But death is inevitable unless he gets out of the way while the company is still generating good cash. My guess, not long to the end of Windows PC dominance now thank god, what a time consuming crock of hobbyist bits and pieces the PC and its MS Bloatware has been, a license for techy arrogance and job creation. Roll on the zero maintenance consumer PC we can all just use.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3347357]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[brian.catt@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:28:49 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Why focus when money is comming in...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3342468]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Microsoft?s focus is on the desktop/server arena and their accompanied software; cash cows. Mobile devices were the Trojan horse that they did not expect and inadvertently writing off the mass consumer market but do not write them off, they still can do it ? if they tried/cared.With the various versions of WinCE, WMO, etc. the issues were around: battery life, COMMUNICATIONS, price points, usability factors, app screen vs. keyboard.  Few of the companies that did create the devices focused on end user usability ? unless you were one of the specialized device makers; Intermec/Norand, Symbol, Teltronkics, etc. MS Reader and the 5 or 6 of us that have read complete books using it was great! The mobile devices at the time when there was focus were not ready for prime time; and win based tablets/pda type solutions have been around for a very long time --- check out some of Fujitsus or the other players listed.Ubiquitous communications supported by battery life helped with the general population reach. Not everyone is a computer engineer ? ask the general population to configure a _wireless network connection_ forget at the time special adapters, if they were not embedded in the device, were required for the networks of the time they first came out: CDPD, CDMA, ARDIS, MOBITEX, etc.Software were written like desktop apps; it can not be done that way (keyboards, mice, etc.). The logical step was to start from a smaller footprint and work up which worked for Apple (e.g.: iPhone to iPad). Let us also put some of this hardware in perspective; Newton was a failure due to similar issues. The difference is that Apple, consumer focused, and their ability to fail allowed them to succeed. The iPhone/iPad interface made it easy for users to approach the media focused device. The price point is still expensive but it is a premium device.Microsoft has brilliant people working for them; their size, in touch points with computing, prevents them being nibble. If the FTC did break them up, I would have been scared of the mini-softs. As for the win7 mobile the sdks look like they have promise and the hardware is definitely out there.Good luck MS.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3342468]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[rporrata@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:35:02 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Does MS REALLY need a stripped down OS?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3342295]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I don't think so. They have had a perfectly usable Tablet OS for years. Windows 7 improves that and does allow it to run quite fine on slate devices. I'm running it on an 8 year old TC1100. Of course it can't do everything owing to the age of the hardware, but it runs fine and performance is good.Slashgear has a video showing the Hanvon slate running Windows 7 beside an iPad. The results are telling:http://www.slashgear.com/windows-7-takes-on-ipad-and-holds-its-own-0696865/Here is an artist's take on Windows 7 on a slate device as compared to the iPad, too:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrA9UvZtRFA&amp;feature=player_embedded I should add that her slate is a three year old model and she prefers it to the iPad.A lot of folks talk about a &quot;mouse oriented OS&quot; or words to that effect. Really, the main difficulty with Windows 7 and your finger is the size of the OS widgets. That is easily rectifiable by simply using the built-in OS capabilities to make them larger.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3342295]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[mpayton@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:29:45 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Dude Apotheosis...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3341575]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Why do you sound so aggrieved when you are doing exactly what you complain the article is doing. Your post makes no point whatsoever and there is &quot;really no actual information in&quot; it besides confusing verbiage. If you don't agree on how MS is being depicted w.r.t its slate strat then inform us by giving us your point of view this is why we are allowed to post replies throwing tantrums is not going to change anything.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3341575]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[stewartngandu@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:04:08 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[The issue is....]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3341557]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Firstly, the problem is that besides some people claiming to have seen a page on the HP site they hasn't been any official communication from HP with specific timelines as to when things are going to happen. I guess this is why your URL points to electronista.com. This being mid-August already I don't think anything is going to happen end of October. What is needed is an official indication from HP stating their intentions, without such an indication the HP Slate is at best vaporware.Secondly, yes am sure we all know that MS is not a hardware company but the point is; hardware companies like HP can't make hardware without an OS this is why people are pointing the finger at MS. If MS, instead of trying to have the ultimate PC/Slate OS had come-up with a scaled down Slate ready OS HP - the hardware company would have responded by making - ah well the hardware/slate.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3341557]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[stewartngandu@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:38:03 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[This article is an apotheosis of Tech Republic]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3340788]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[This article rather is an apotheosis of Tech Republic - polemic and somewhat one-way slanted misinformation.There is really no actual information in the article, and who agrees will be the ones who already had the same viewpoint as the author. While I will not join the apologetists of Microsoft, I vote for more informative and objective articles on Tech Republic. There are examples of that too, but I think there are too many of this type recently.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3340788]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[pschulz@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:05:24 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[MS Lack of Vision - From Leader to Follower]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3339161]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[The Question is can MS catchup.  Appple did it once but they had to bring Jobs back - perhaps Gates can help out his old friend.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3339161]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[rpluciani]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 06:02:25 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Why not use the Xbox &quot;operating system?&quot;]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3339077]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I don't understand why MS don't use the X-box operating system to drive a tablet device.  It's a simplified interface that's designed for a limited control input system (handheld controller), so it could surely be adapted very easily for a touch interface.  It also runs quickly and efficiently - it starts up fast and runs with very little slowdown anywhere.  Development tools are readily and widely available, even for home users through stuff like XNA.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3339077]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Witchfinder]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:18:16 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Bean Counters and Car Salesmen]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3338052]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[JCK says it all.  Organisations run by bean counters and Used Car Salesmen always seem to end up producing rubbish products. You want proof? - Vista, XBox, Windows Phone.Old Uncle Bill (Gates) at least knew what made a decent product that people would want.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3338052]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[PeterM42]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 06 Aug 2010 05:19:35 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[You're spot on, Jason]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337530]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Of course, I've been talking about what a car salesman Ballmer is for a few years.Microsoft's eventual downfall (if they don't get Ballmer out within the next 12-24 months) will be because of one thing I've seen wrong with tech in the business sector for a good 15 years now:  bean counters are allowed to tell technical people what is technically best for a company based on profitability, and not it's effect on operations.Personally, I hope Canonical is doing something wise and stepping up their staff and what not.  I think that in 2-5 years, they could definitely have their opportunity to go:&quot;We can run 32 and 64-bit Windows apps, we have an browser add-in for Flash now, and drivers for all the hardware.  Why pay Microsoft $120 for the software when we'll give it to you, and only charge you for support if you need it or a DVD if you want it.&quot;One other thing Microsoft needs to do:  Stick to doing software.  Getting into Kin and all that is a HUGE mistake.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337530]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[jck]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:03:43 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[How many devices do you have?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337429]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I, personally, have exactly one PC for work, and then an iMac for personal video, a mac book pro for iPhone/iPad development, an iPhone 1G, 3GS and 4 for development, and two iPads for development.  I have two intel machines running open solaris for media storage and backup with 15TB of space.The rest of my household, collectively, has a Mac Book Air, another iPhone 1G, iPod touch 1G and an iPhone 4, 2 Vista desktops, which go largely unused now, and are only setting there for time when the iMac or Macbook Air are in use and someone needs a computer (or they'd just grab an iPad).3 PCs2 Open Solaris Intel Boxes11 AppleIs my situation normal?  Perhaps not, but what will peoples next choices be?  PC, Apple or what?]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337429]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[greggwon@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:27:30 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[That's a wonderful analysis of the situation]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337368]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[and I agree with you completely. They are kings of the Wait-and-see mentality but I'm sure they'll bring something out eventually. I wonder if it will actually be something new or an existing product stuffed into a smaller box.Should be interesting either way!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337368]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[darpoke]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:36:10 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Ah! I see.]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337366]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[In that case I agree fully. Although, I'm not sure it's that ironic after all - Windows was never built to evolve as a product. Their marketing tactic has always to remove competition, either by bringing it in-house or silently killing it. How much actual innovation has Windows ever delivered, other than taking another company's invention and incorporating it and unveiling it to the public as the new Windows feature?Now we have a market that's free to compete on its own, as just another player at the table Microsoft are sinking as we always knew they would. I'd welcome their efforts with open arms if they brought a gamechanging product to market. I just wouldn't hold my breath waiting is all. It's actually sad, we deserved more.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337366]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[darpoke]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:32:16 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Um, here's a better question]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337365]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[- namely, what on earth *could* they do about it? Rebuild Windows from the ground up,  at last , and break compatibility with their entire market thus far?Remove some of the massive bloat from the OS and reveal the truth to the public, that it's nothing but an OS kernel and window manager? Everything else is an application and can be kept separate?  &quot;We lied to you all along when we said a photo manager, text editor, and web browser were core parts of your operating system. Truth is, we coulda sold you the bare bones for $30 and let you choose the rest for yourselves. Sorry!&quot;Fact is, the situation is such that they've got very little wiggle room left at all. It's almost enough to make me feel sorry for them. Almost.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337365]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[darpoke]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:25:28 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Surely that's just what Apple do]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337363]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[with their iPhone platform, at least.No reason at all that Microsoft couldn't do the same thing...]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-334191-3337363]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[darpoke]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:18:42 -0700</pubDate>
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