[bawolff]

These cycles have been going on a lot longer than the last 40 years. Everything eventually dies.

Rome used to rule the world; sure it took about a thousand years, but it ultimately didn't last.

[hn_throwaway_99]

I fully accept the heat death of the universe will eventually take down Microsoft, but I don't think that's what the comment I was responding to was really about.

[bawolff]

My point was that this cycle is not a recent thing, but has been present all throughout history. Bell labs fell. The hudson bay company fell. Arthur Andersen fell. All these were much more entrenched than microsoft is today. I'm not suggesting you have to wait for the heat death of the universe.