MS has never been good at turning research into products. I think they are starting to retrench and put resources into their platform businesses. These have really been suffering. They need to shore up the platform business, as this is where they make most of their money. I think it is healthy that they are killing off distractions and concentrating on their core competencies. On the down side they still have boatloads of distractions, money losing dead or dying products to put out of their misery.

When i studied computer science I was told to focus on the code and only the code. This is what achieves the greatest result. When my friend did business studies they taught him that the code was a generic part and to concentrate only on the end result, forget about bloat as such. Thus they use bloated languages and have slow performance. This is the path microsoft have been going down since the advent of the Vista project hence the c# language. If this corporate culture of saying code is only generic then they will never invent anything worthwhile ever again as their code will let them down, see Vista and 7 and Office and silverlight as proof.

If microsoft want to invent something really great and have everyone admire it, then they need to forget about c# and managed languages and start again writing predominately in just C and bits of assembly to gain speed and technical superiority so people who actually USE their software can appreciate the idea. I know the arguement about it takes longer and cost more but software development isnt about how long it takes but how good it is when you use it.

Someones love child just died. lol.
I dont see anything new coming out of Microsoft anyway so who cares , its probably the right decision so they can just continue to buy stuff instead of develop anything. And bye the way, they only had the research division to buy stuff then modify it to be windows only , they werent actually inventing anything. Telecscope? thats only a business app anyway, nothing new or innovative there. You guys need a lesson in NEW.

You cant hide Ballmer, Your living out your last days on Earth right now.

8 Billion for development? lol

Too bad MSFT wasn't a open source OS, all they needed to do was to look to the open source community....

My guess is that they have seen the sales figures for the next quarter and desperately need to shed some fat to remain profitable.

It is only natural that when their profits come down to something more normal that they will not be able to throw money at a problem like they have in the past.

Microsoft is like a star, once their fuel runs out, they cannot support their own mass and they start to collapse internally.

They must have spent 50 billion over the last 10 years trying to find the next cash cow. What else could mankind have spent that money and resources on?

It is very sad to see all those resources squandered by Bill and Steve's greed.

To put things in perspective, the iPhone cost $150 million to develop, both of the Mars Rovers cost 'only' $800 million, the LHC cost $8 billion.

Instead we have the XBox, a machine that can barely survive the temperatures of the average living room. Thanks Bill and Steve for managing our scarce resources so well.

I have worked for companies that have a exceptional R&D and other companies that don't. I can tell you from experience that the companies with robust R&D are stronger and more stable than the ones that don't have it.

I'd just like to add another example to billybob's statement:

The Large Hadron Collider's documentation is 1,600 pages. This is the world's most advanced high energy particle accelerator we are talking about.

The specification for Microsoft's OOXML format is 6,000 pages.

The specification for the Open Document Format is around 800 pages.

No wonder even Microsoft hasn't yet been able to implement their new format as it is currently specified.

Kitkat: You basically contradict your entire argument in your last sentence. When did you learn to code, in the 1950s?

Also, when we paid for the LHC, we got the WWW for free! That has to be the best investment of last century. Microsoft spent most of last century and a lot of this trying to kill that innovation.

While I know then WWW was basically invented at CERN, I'm not aware that the LHC specifically has anything to do with its beginning. (That said, the demands of the LHC in terms of data processing and storage are driving networking technologies forward in exciting ways.)

This is where I heard it, the WWW story starts at about 7 minutes, and the scientist explaining it was for the LHC at around 10 minutes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002mbt8

@Joe Wilcox and Goblin:

Maybe Joe would like to respond to this Boycott Novell article about Ziff-Davis/eweek, since they own this blog that Joe writes on:

Microsoft Pays Ziff Davis to Promote Windows Vista

http://boycottnovell.com/2009/04/10/aaron-goldberg-microsoft-payola/

I would be interested in knowing Joe's take on this, but I doubt he will respond, as he did not respond on the one about eweek serving up windows malware either. Now I admit I have been critical of Joe in the past for some of his pro-ms Vista/7even articles, but I think he deserves a chance to reply.

Why should Joe respond to that Boycott Novell piece accusing Ziff-Davis of being secretly in the pocket of Microsoft?

I mean, scroll through the Boycott Novell site. What do you see? Gartner bribed by Microsoft, another one bribed by Microsoft, another one and another one ... etc.

Is there anyone who isn't, in their conspiracy theory minds, on the secret payroll of MSFT?

I haven't seen this sort of mindless assigning of conspiracy motives to all those who disagree since the post-9/11 "truthers" claimed that the government secretly "bribed" dozens of demolition experts to go inside the Trade Towers and blow them up -- and then keep it secret!

That's right, the same government that can't even keep a secret between 2 people.

Puh-lease!

Don't take the bait, Joe. You could hold up the proverbial burning bush and Boycott Novell would still accuse you of being secretly bribed by Microsoft to help the company monopolize fire.

Hi chips:

Interesting article that you are linked
Sincerely, I would like read the Joe's opinion about that.
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Well, this time I am something busy, but reading the Joe's articles (section comments) I have noticed an unusual shill activity. Are they preparing the arrival the Windows Seven 'the corrupter' (due the amount of money used to buy good review)?

I'm a member of the LiveLabs team that got moved into the mobile team. The move was disappointing given the great work & culture we had at the labs. People were pretty down for a day. But, then in the macro perspective we are needed to fight the bigger challenges. It is time for us to give our best to the frontline where we are competing the fiercest. So, its not just cool things we can produce, but things that can help Microsoft thrive in business and become a leader in the future businesses. When you do firefighting your Piano lessons can wait.

Hopefully we will get Microsoft back on top in the mobile market, and when the economy also returns back to thriving mode, the labs will restart.

Good advice:
http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3542&p=7
System Buyers Guide: $800 to $1800
Quote:
Certainly, processors and DDR3 memory represent the biggest price drops in the last three months. The always competitive GPU or video card market has also brought us lower prices compared to 3 months ago. Monitors are also getting cheaper, higher resolution, and larger to the point that you will be truly surprised at the low prices if you haven't shopped for monitors in a while. Hard drives also seem to be caught in competitive pricing squeezes and seem to drop a little every time we prepare a new system buyers guide

Not surprisingly, THE OS COST ALWAYS SEEMS THE SAME IS YOU CHOOSE MICROSOFT. That could change a little when Windows 7 launches in the future but we could end up with an even more expensive Windows 7 in the future. There is the option to go to Linux, Ubuntu, or some other OS instead, but many will not seriously consider this option. PERHAPS THEY SHOULD AS THE NO-COST OPERATING SYSTEMS DO CONTINUE TO GET better and easier to use with each new incarnation.

Every now and then I hear slurs about the Boycott Novell site being a bunch of conspiracy theorist tinfoil hat paranoia.

I'm not going to defend the site or write it off here. What I will do is say this:

Judge the site and its credibility by the evidence that it cites to back up its claims in its stories. Read that, and judge for yourselves, one way or another, whether or not the site is full of mindless conspiracy paranoia.

@Will
Sound advice for any site.
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@Schlubb
Quote "Is there anyone who isn't, in their conspiracy theory minds, on the secret payroll of MSFT?"
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Yes, many, I cover them on my site (and Boycott Novell has mentioned it aswell). I personally believe WindowsObserver and Windows7theme.net are places/people of integrity, there are more.
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I was insulted, called mad and a conspiracy theorist when I was challenging the fake Optionetics. It turned out I was right, and it was indeed a dubious individual who had stolen the identity of a legitimate firm to promote Microsoft stock. What do you think the motives were of the fake Optionetics and are you saying that people who present information to the public as fact shouldnt be accountable?
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Schlubb, maybe then you could answer this. Why has nobody ever filed a civil case against Boycott Novell? If what youre saying is correct then BN is bordering on libel is it not? If BN is so wrong, it will be a simple case.
Are you disputing any of the court exhibits Roy places on the site in the Comes V Microsoft?
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Quote "I haven't seen this sort of mindless assigning of conspiracy motives to all those who disagree since the post-9/11 "truthers" claimed that the government secretly "bribed" dozens of demolition experts to go inside the Trade Towers and blow them up -- and then keep it secret!"
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Very good little example there (in that you try to use a very emotive subject to put your point across). Of course in respect of BN is completely irrelevant, and if you have never seen any other mindless conspiracy motives, then youve obviously never gone to a site reporting about aliens in Area 51.
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Boycott Novell is a site which IMO backs up its reasoned argument with sources and external links. Its informed and interesting, and the reason why it hasnt been dragged through the courts is because IMO it hits upon some painful nerves for some.

@Will who says:

"Every now and then I hear slurs about the Boycott Novell site being a bunch of conspiracy theorist tinfoil hat paranoia.

I'm not going to defend the site or write it off here. What I will do is say this:

Judge the site and its credibility by the evidence that it cites to back up its claims in its stories. Read that, and judge for yourselves, one way or another, whether or not the site is full of mindless conspiracy paranoia."
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Well said sir! Blanket general types of attacks on the credibility of Boycott Novell would be more believable if the attacker actually could post a fact of two disproving BN, which I do not see they have done. I have found BN to be a reliable source, no doubt that our local M$ shillers do not like them. Also, Goblin posts on the BN site, and I have found him to be an honest person and a respectful poster.

But, still, I nicely asked Joe if he wanted a chance to respond to the BN article. BTW, I really did not expect Joe to respond, or anyone else at eweek. Why, because Joe writes articles, and as such, may not be a spokesman for eweek without their permission. So Joe cannot really be held accountable for these? But eweek should respond, or else people will conclude it is true. Which most likely it is.

Hi Chips! A valid question to ask IMO and one that I cant see why anyone should have a problem with you asking.
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Regardless of the motives of eweek or any of its staff, I still hold them in high regard. They have allowed free speech on their site, they have allowed an alternative view to be posted which I believe is all anyone can ask for.
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On my site or BN or indeed any true free site, comments are welcomed (just like here). I am not arrogant enough to think even open source users agree with much of what I say, thats why I try to get as much debate stimulated as possible (and in doing so get accused of baiting)
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Moving on from my self indulgent posting, I have a "Conspiracy theory" here and one which I have entertained personally (not so much on my site) that is the following:
"Why has Microsoft announced a downgrade path to XP from Win7 before its even released? Is there something about Win7 we are not aware of and Microsoft is pre-empting any Vista type civil cases by having the downgrade option from day 1?. If Windows7 is as great as we are told, why would MS need to even consider offering a downgrade path at all, or at least publically announcing pre release?"

@Goblin, who says:

"Why has Microsoft announced a downgrade path to XP from Win7 before its even released? Is there something about Win7 we are not aware of and Microsoft is pre-empting any Vista type civil cases by having the downgrade option from day 1?. If Windows7 is as great as we are told, why would MS need to even consider offering a downgrade path at all, or at least publically announcing pre release?"
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Some possibilities: Win7 really really is Vi$ta and will still have most of the same incompatibilities with software. M$ is not done adding in all the "goodies" yet that will cripple the performance before the RTM. Because it is a minor release, and is Vista, user will be turned off.
For all the talk of 7even (win7) being faster than XP3, really its not. Simply because 7even will not run on older hardware, it will not run on computers with say 128 to 256mb of ram, that XP can. Go ahead Softies, give us a comparison of XP and 7seven on a computer with 128mb of ram and tell us which one will run the fastest. Whoops, 7even will not even run on that. So 7even will be limited to new computers and for those stuck with Vista to upgrade too. Starter edition will be hated so much, that users will not want to "upgrade" to a more feature rich version of 7even. for them, XP might fit in.

However you look at it, M$ it going be forced to keep XP around for a few years. In fact, I see that someone will sue them for selling xp and discontinuing the main support. A class action suit is likely on that count and I cannot understand where M$ is thinking anymore.

I am chewing on the internals of Win7 now, tastes good, except for all that DRM tumor and there is too much FAT, (file system), as well. I hear fat causes cancer, maybe thats why cancer will win in the end.