[Sigia-l] Microsoft way vs Apple way

[Listera]

Karl Fast:

> Wouldn't Apple be facing the same conundrum?

No, that would be an anticipated blessing for Apple as it's Apple's way.
Apple sees nothing wrong with vertical integration, is not out to create a
platform for others, doesn't depend on commoditized hardware, etc.

> Their strategy seems to be largely based on a tight coupling of hardware and
> software. 

Bingo.
 
> I know you cited the iPod, but historically Apple has shown a much
> stronger tendency to link hardware and software than Microsoft has.

It's not a tendency but a goal.
 
> I'd suggest that the xBox is Microsoft's big exception.

So far it is.

> In many ways it doesn't follow the standard Microsoft model.

Therein lies the conundrum: to provide the best user experience you need to
integrate hw/sw/services and yet MSFT's way has been to segregate them. Ray
Ozzie realizes this, and said so in the article. So does MSFT continue its
segregated way and fall pray to others or integrate and threaten its
platform strategy and erstwhile partners?

---- 
Ziya

Best Practices,
For when you've run out of your own ideas and context.