[TheBattman]

An executive in Microsoft’s entertainment and games division Tuesday hinted that Microsoft may be developing its own rival to Apple’s iPhone, based on Windows Mobile OS.

So - what is the deal - it seems that MS is always trailing others in technological ideas - from the first consumer GUI, to office software, to the media player (iPod vs. Zune), and now to the mobile phone.

It truly makes one wonder how they got to be so big and powerful... I guess on everyone else's coat tails? Let everyone else take the risk, then steal/copy their ideas and use your huge economic power to force the others out of the way?

[MrsEmmaPeel]

It truly makes one wonder how they got to be so big and powerful

Truly no mystery. I've been doing some consulting for a *very* large company, whose methods are very archaic. "King of the Command Line" is the dubious honor I grant to those who run the day-to-day business. Make no mistake. They are exceptional with the command line interface to any application. I would have though that in the 21st century, we might have evolved beyond that.

Many, many companies are simply not willing to go beyond their 8 bit universe. Pay M$ more fees = Linus' security blanket. = (in their mind) smart business.

[IncPen]

There's definite appeal in being 'the safe choice' But MS got so big by swiping their initial product from Gary Kildall. There's a sad story, if you've never heard of it...