“The word according to Microsoft, Part 1: platforms chief Jim
Allchin, circa October 1997: We are going to “bet the company” on
Windows NT 5.0. The word according to Microsoft, Part 2: Chairman
and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates, June 22: “You could call
[Microsoft.Net] a ‘bet your company’ strategy.”
“It’s not a bug; it’s a little bit of history repeating.”
“Even though Microsoft has suffered a brain drain, a
credibility drain and a stock price drain, there’s one thing that
isn’t in short supply in Redmond: Hackneyed sound bites and
vaporware.“
“What’s up with this “betting the company” refrain? Aren’t all
projects vital to any company’s well-being? Are we supposed to care
more just because it’s Microsoft’s latest big thing? It’s all part
of Microsoft’s larger strategy, which is to buy our emotional
investment so that we will hold off on competing products, tolerate
long delays, stick with Microsoft and ultimately buy its
products.”