Comments for Platformonomics

Comment on IBM: How Much Longer Do the Good Times Last? by trexibmer

trexibmer — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:42:09 +0000

Absolutely dead on analysis of IBM except the good times have been gone for a long, long, long time for IBM unless you are a greedy rich IBM executive! IBM purposely deep sixed RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL in favor of DO ALL TO WORSHIP AND GROW EPS.

P.S. Gosh I look so young in the photo! Extinction has it’s advantages, eh?

Comment on IBM: How Much Longer Do the Good Times Last? by fin_eng

fin_eng — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:39:35 +0000

Most tech companies eventually reach the phase of “financial engineering” .. Google is an exception. They seem to be randomly getting involved in various sectors with the hope one will click. In the interim the advertisement model of churning revenues reaps. I see nothing unusual what IBM is doing. Mature companies dont like competition and do not innovate.

Comment on Press Releases We’d Like to See: Iceland Embraces the Bitcoin Economy by Charles Fitzgerald

Charles Fitzgerald — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:13:33 +0000

Tragically, not yet. This is still just wishful thinking on my part.

Comment on Press Releases We’d Like to See: Iceland Embraces the Bitcoin Economy by berke

berke — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:05:44 +0000

Is there a link to official government program?

Comment on Time for Some New Adventures by Goodbye VMware

Goodbye VMware — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:53:36 +0000

[...] excellent 18 months, and good luck with your new adventure Pivotal team! I want to specially thank Charles Fitzgerald, who was my manager, but whom I consider more like a mentor and a friend, for teaching me developer [...]

Comment on The Rise of the Machines – A Reading List by Peter E

Peter E — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:04:36 +0000

Robopocalypse is a great read, though I should confess I did as an audible book. As you may know, audible books can be made or borken with a good narrator. This one had a great narrator. It’s fun, but though-provoking (in a light way). I’d elevate it on your list.

Comment on Time for Some New Adventures by Jody Peake

Jody Peake — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:01:58 +0000

I can’t wait to see more about your next steps.. Congratulations, Charles!

Comment on Time for Some New Adventures by Tim Harris

Tim Harris — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:50:50 +0000

Good luck Charles!

FYI – the placement of the image credit looks like the author/tagline for the article… I spent a few seconds trying to get the joke.

Tim

Comment on Consulting by Time for Some New Adventures | Platformonomics

Time for Some New Adventures | Platformonomics — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:40:56 +0000

[...] Consulting [...]

Comment on A Very Targeted Tax Cut by Charles Fitzgerald

Charles Fitzgerald — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:05:53 +0000

Zigurd,

I don’t know about the hardware requirements, but you can get a sub-$300 Windows 8 laptop that doesn’t completely suck. But it sucks for the OEM if netbook pricing is the new norm. Microsoft is hoping the next wave of OEM hardware is going to be a lot more compelling. We’ll see.

On the two OS strategy, that is the path Microsoft has gone down with Windows Phone 7 (and predecessors), but there are a ton of things pushing them to single OS/app model across PC/tablet/phone – developer leverage, economic efficiency, etc. Apple gets this efficiency today while Microsoft will spend more time getting to this as opposed to delivering customer value. I don’t think Windows’ problem is being robust and performant.

Ironically, Microsoft did the opposite of what it has historically done (Windows PC first, new market as bolt-on to Windows); with Windows 8 they optimized for the new market and undermined the traditional PC market. With no tablet traction, it is the worst of all worlds. The big question is whether Windows Blue will be pragmatic or a continuation of the previous absolutist course.

I’m less optimistic about the conglomerate model. The last ten years show management has spent its time fixing one crisis after another and not leading. I think the businesses do better without the overhead and strategy taxes, especially Office and Server & Tools which now look like the majority of MSFT market cap. These businesses get sublimated to Windows in the conglomerate model (the new MS corporate logo is exhibit one for this argument).