[gesman]

Apple is after consumers with their new set of never ending, shiny, made in china toys.

That's all cool.

With Ballmer and his me-too copycatting and being always late to the party strategy gone soon, Microsoft better (and likely) will stop playing gadget and widget games and refocus on enterprise software and services department as well as cloud strategy.

[eldavido]

Remember when "cool new government technology" was a thing (in movies)? I do.

There's a huge debate going on in Redmond right now (ex-MS employee here) on whether to focus on big, rich, slower-moving enterprises, or faster-moving consumer tech.

Microsoft has rightly realized that consumer tech (not big companies/government) is setting the agenda for the path of technology, and they're going to fight tooth and nail to remain relevant to consumers. I think they have the right idea commercially.

[jinushaun]

As far am I'm concerned, there isn't even a contest. The industry should have learned from the iPhone's success and the subsequent BYOD movement: enterprises are composed of people who go home and buy consumer products. The consumer space drives the market and picks the winners.

[gesman]

There are way more profits to be made in selling enterprise services to mid-size company vs. selling to their employees razor-thin margin gadgets.

And competing in consumer market business (with millions of way faster moving, smaller companies) takes too much resources and focusing.

Apple won because they're all-in into that. Ballmer tried to play too many games at once and proved that his "compete everywhere!" stupid ego was wrong.

Google will be biting pieces from Apple, not Microsoft. Microsoft's salvation is in cloud and enterprise software and services. Once Ballmer announced his departure MSFT stock suddenly became way more attractive first time in decade.