Microsoft mudslide
In recent months, it would seem, Microsoft has been losing ground on many fronts. Perhaps the ground being lost isn’t as much as one would like, but it’s ground none-the-less.
World Browser War II
Internet Explorer is an absolutely horrible browser. Not because it’s unusable, or that it crashes as much as it did in the late 90’s - but rather because it doesn’t support the latest technologies in Web development. Updates to this browser are sporadic, and empty. Most updates to this browser are security fixes, prompted by those in the industry yelling that there is another big hole in IE.
With Mozilla, Firefox, Camino, Opera, OmniWeb and Safari coming of age, Internet Explorer is being left in the dust. There are a few advantages to using these browsers over IE which have nothing to do with security holes or standards support. Having the ability, built-in, to block pop-up ads, banner ads and other harmful goodies that many malicious Web sites would have you infected with.
Internet Explorer’s strangle hold on the browser market is loosening each and every time a new user downloads one of these alternative browsers. It’s only a matter of time before one, or all, of these browsers make it to prime time. At that point, Internet Explorer’s share of the browser market will level-off somewhere just below the monopoly level.
Online Music
Yesterday, Mr. Ballmer accused just about everyone of being thieves. Takes one to know one, no doubt. Yet, Apple is clearly winning in the online music arena, which makes Steve mad “Rrrrr”. Microsoft released what they call an Online Music store, which I’ve tested, and I think it’s absolutely atrocious. Talk about stealing! It looks like the iTMS with an incredibly bad hairdo.
The fact that they are losing the battle for online music really doesn’t fit into my mudslide theory - but it shows that they’re grip on the entire industry has been loosened - and many opportunities have slipped through their fingers.
Office suite
Microsoft Office is clearly the most popular office suite available to both Mac and Windows users. But this could change too. With OpenOffice and StarOffice receiving some much needed attention, these two (relatively free) open source suites might be able to contend with the Office giant. I don’t think they will be able to do to Office what Firefox is doing to Internet Explorer, but I’d like to be wrong on that. I do think, however, that they have the ability to capture the usage of businesses which have a mildly savvy IT department. If they win over the Admins, than they can suggest it to management and so forth.
Conclusion
I see a mudslide happening. Definitely not enough to take out the foundation of a company like Microsoft, but it will weaken their walls slightly. Nothing but good can come from this. Competition creates stronger products and lower prices. Simply having the ability to compete with huge corporations would be a godsend for developer and user alike.
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