[Cicero]

I think you're right. The record shows that Microsoft sometimes starts behind, makes an inferior product, and takes a few years to catch up, but in the end they usually produce a better product. It happened to Netscape, Realplayer, dBase, and a host of other niche companies.

IBM has done a pretty good job of coming back from the abyss, but other than their core businesses they haven't shown much creativity.

[RightOnline]

"IBM has done a pretty good job of coming back from the abyss, but other than their core businesses they haven't shown much creativity."

I must respectfully disagree.....and wholeheartedly. I'll try not to sound too much like a "home team boy" here.......ahem........but I can tell you that Big Blue has done a remarkable job of converting itself into a services/hardware company rather than just a purveyor of heavy iron. Its Linux push has been incredibly successful (I have been smack in the middle of it, and I've seen the results).......its increased emphasis on services resulting in its becoming the largest computer services company in the world (and that's just one of its divisions)........grid computing.........e-business on demand.........emphasis on middleware over "applcations software".........you name it. IBM has the ability to throw its guts on the table, take a good hard look at its talent/product pool/expertise, and redirect on a dime........with competence, profitably, and with some terrific people. For a company that big to do what I've seen them do up close and personal has been eye-opening.