Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hideous

Re:Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hid... by mikeash on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @10:31PM (#6131550)

The problem is that MS's profitability is based on products which, while still extremely useful and popular, are clearly obsolete in the long term, and they have shown no ability to move beyond them.

MS is in fine shape for a decade or two to come, if not more. But an MS that's still based on Office in 2030 will be irrelevant, no matter how profitable. And they can't milk that forever.

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Re:Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hid... by sirkneeland on Tuesday July 30, 2013 @11:06PM (#6131680)

I'd say the same for an Apple still making iPods and iPhones in 2030.

17 years is such a distant time in the future as to be meaningless for short-term tech prognostication.

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Re:Microsoft's Surface sales figures are in, and they're hid... by mikeash on Wednesday July 31, 2013 @09:34AM (#6133510)

Yes, I'd say the same for Apple too. The difference is that I doubt Apple will still base their business on iPhones in 2030, while it seems probable that Microsoft will still be built around Office then.

17 years is indeed a distant time. But Microsoft's business 17 years ago was basically the same as it was today. Microsoft in 1996 was built around Office just like it is now. Meanwhile Apple's core business has changed two or three times in that same period.

MS has been stuck with the same major product for decades, and they show no signs of that changing.

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