[joseph_grobbles]

A lot of people here are too young to remember the overwhelming influence Microsoft had on the industry. As such they can't grok the intention of the essay.

If Microsoft introduces a new product today, a new browser, a new toolset, a new standard -- even a new OS -- it Just Doesn't Matter to most people. You can be perfectly content ignoring them entirely and if it eventually rises through the market naturally, maybe then give it a bit of attention.

In Microsoft's halcyon -- smaller revenues but exponentially more influence -- Microsoft's every move shifted industries. You'd sign up to every beta program and read every tea leave to know what they'd do before it kills your product or renders your work futile.

That Microsoft is very much dead and buried.