Nate vs. CNN.MONEY

I know I promised some NaNoWriMo news, but first, did you know -

Microsoft is a dying consumer brand

http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/27/technology/microsoft_pdc/index.htm?

Fascinating article.  It's such a shame that Microsoft doesn't have some sort of "system" that could operate some sort of "magic box" that was presently the most important device in the world, if not in the HISTORY OF TIME.  Sure, we all love refrigeration and the internal combustion engine, but imagine infinite porn (actually, don't imagine that - your head might explode).

And what if this "system" was on 92% of these "magic boxes?"  Even on all the ones that consumers buy?  I mean, if they had something like that, then "Wow."

(gets a tap on the shoulder)

What?  What's that?  Huh?  Really?  They have something like that?  Are you sure?

Well then I guess you're just a bunch of fucking idiots who try to get a lot of page views with scary titles.

In all honesty, attacking Microsoft because it's getting its ass kicked in the tablet market and social network market is a lot like saying that Walmart is going down the tubes because its back-to-school fashion line is a bust, while ignoring the fact that half the US population buys every single basic necessity from it.

Moreover, for an article which purports to focus on Microsoft's failings in the consumer realm, it dismisses the XBox with this paragraph -

"With Xbox, Microsoft succeeded at innovating: It created a competitive video game brand for hardcore gamers. But even Xbox was outdueled by Nintendo with the Wii, which outsold Xbox by appealing to casual gamers."

Sure.  The Xbox hasn't sold as many units as the Wii.  Which is the greatest selling video game console of all time.  But that's a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG (you know it's long because I added a bunch of O's) way from saying that it is in any way a disappointment as a video game console.  It's easily the second most popular video game console in the world.  And it's the one that has half the population of under-40 guys shelling out $60 bucks every year for a new Halo game.  Let's see how Nintendo is doing once the novelty of the Wii has worn off and old people go back to croqueting and lawn darts [Editor's Note: Lawn darts?]  Remember, Nintendo has had some serious downturns during its long history, including that entire stretch of time between the Super Nintendo and the Wii.

Wait, why did I post a picture of a guy smoking out of a bong fashioned from an N64 controller?

Finally, while lamenting Microsoft's future, the article asks, "So is this Microsoft's Waterloo? Will it become the next IBM?"

Will it become the next IBM?

Are you talking about the International Bank of Miami (actually a real thing) or are you talking about International Business Machines, that little company whose revenue exceeds Microsoft and Apple's combined?  That IBM?  Will they become that IBM?

God, let's all hope not.