Is Microsoft attacking Microsoft?

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I saw something the other day on TV that had me in stitches. It was a commercial in an avante garde style with music listing off a to-do list with feed the dog type items... then the music became discordant and the text was "Check to see if the web site is up". Well this was too rich for me. I began to laugh hysterically. I mean who could they be talking about? My wife saw it and began to laugh too. She said something to the effect that someone was really slamming Microsoft. Who else could they be talking about. According to IDC Linux is their biggest competitor in the server arena, but Sun and IBM would be two other candidates to run an ad like this. Still something in the back of my mind said... look out for the punch line.

Make sure the web site is up... Look out indeed. The ad was for Microsoft Windows 2000. It made sense in that they are spending a fortune for advertising to try and recoup the fortune they spent on development. I personally believe that, given their development time tables and incremental bloat ratios that this is the last iteration of the core system we will see in the typical Microsoft format. Still... why run that ad?

Obviously there are a few reasons for that ad.

1. Microsoft knows that existing customers are the first place to look for new sales. This makes me feel really sorry for Microsoft customers. Well, some of them anyway. They are trapped in whatever revenue generating scheme Redmond throws at them.

2. While it is typical look for business in the other guy's camp this doesn't seem to be the case here. Microsoft doesn't seem to be putting anything in that commercial to attract Linux users. Maybe it's because they know they won't have any luck there.

OK, bottom line here. Saying "You better get rid of that garbage I sold you last week, it's no good. Here, take a look at what I've got this week" takes amazing arrogance and total disregard for decency. It begs the question "Why wasn't reliability important in your last product? Couldn't you do it?"

I predict that little will be made of this hubris, but that the writing is on the wall and Microsoft knows it. They're not getting those customers back without strong arm tactics. In fact their entire marketing program has revolved around strong arm tactics. I guess they figured they'd fix it later, put XYZ company out of business first. Linux was a broadside that they would have preferred a few more years to prepare for. Too bad. What I believe will happen here is that Microsoft will continue to lose market share... and they know it... and that is why they are advertising. That is why they are looking to get IT shops over extended in Windows 2000 so they have to justify their expenditures, and buy even more software. An evil game to be sure, but the reality is... no one is really sure how much time Microsoft has left to rule the marketplace... but the major players all know it's coming down to being only a matter of time.

Everyone is snubbing Microsoft and looking for an edge to get their market. Being astute marketers, even Microsoft is taking swings at Microsoft. Get the popcorn... this one is gonna be funny!