[rbanffy]

> Microsoft knows how to build tools that untechnical people can use

They have a pretty hit and miss history there. They got a few things (mostly) right and leveraged them from there. Every attempt they made to replace the hierarchical file system as a way to store files on your computer failed comically, almost as comically as Microsoft Bob or Microsoft Network.

> They are the best at this; that's why they have the desktop market.

One could say they did that by suffocating the competition with legally dubious tactics until they effectively had a monopoly on corporate desktops, which gave them the push they needed to leverage it into a de-facto monopoly on all things x86. Note that for anything that's not an x86 box they have approximately zero market share.

> Microsoft isn't backed into a corner: you're resting on your laurels. They're about to Embrace everything about Linux that's awesome.

I agree with you on that - they aren't going the way of the dinosaur quietly. They'll do whatever they can to gain relevance and force other players out of the market so they can enjoy a de-facto monopoly like they did before.