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Microsoft and OEMs: New game, new rules
By Ed Bott | June 29, 2012, 8:20am PDT
Summary: PC makers and Microsoft have enjoyed a mostly stable relationship that has lasted for some three decades. But times, and competition, have changed. Microsoft?s latest moves are a sane reaction to partners that have drifted away.
Every relationship changes over time. That?s true of friendships, love affairs, and business partnerships.
In business, at least, it should be possible to keep emotions out of the equation. But that?s not always as easy as it sounds.
And that?s where the tension comes in with Microsoft?s decision to cross the line into PC design and begin competing with its OEM partners.
...
My colleague Jason Perlow is livid at Microsoft for that decision. The announcement of Surface, Microsoft?s distinctive new line of tablet devices, marks the resurgence of the Evil Empire, he argues, and a return to Microsoft?s monopolist roots.
I beg to differ.
Yes, PC makers and Microsoft have enjoyed a mostly stable relationship that has lasted for some three decades. But times, and competition, have changed.
More: http://www.zdnet.com...-new-rules/5180
By Ed Bott | June 29, 2012, 8:20am PDT
Summary: PC makers and Microsoft have enjoyed a mostly stable relationship that has lasted for some three decades. But times, and competition, have changed. Microsoft?s latest moves are a sane reaction to partners that have drifted away.
Every relationship changes over time. That?s true of friendships, love affairs, and business partnerships.
In business, at least, it should be possible to keep emotions out of the equation. But that?s not always as easy as it sounds.
And that?s where the tension comes in with Microsoft?s decision to cross the line into PC design and begin competing with its OEM partners.
...
My colleague Jason Perlow is livid at Microsoft for that decision. The announcement of Surface, Microsoft?s distinctive new line of tablet devices, marks the resurgence of the Evil Empire, he argues, and a return to Microsoft?s monopolist roots.
I beg to differ.
Yes, PC makers and Microsoft have enjoyed a mostly stable relationship that has lasted for some three decades. But times, and competition, have changed.
More: http://www.zdnet.com...-new-rules/5180
