[Arkinsaw]

Microsoft makes its money off of tools to create and deliver content. They make no money off of the device that displays the content.

We got it. Having IE remain the dominant browser is worth nothing to Microsoft and they would be just as happy if Firefox/Mozilla took an 80% share. They would be very pleased if Firefox/Mozilla expanded its content delivery to an astounding level that left IE in the dust. Because the expanded content delivery is all Microsoft had IE for in the first place. They could just drop all browser efforts and let Mozilla handle it and be ecstatic.

Okay, whatever.

[Last Visible Dog]

We got it. Having IE remain the dominant browser is worth nothing to Microsoft and they would be just as happy if Firefox/Mozilla took an 80% share.

You really don't get it. The standards set down by MS (and others) were all that mattered - the ability for MS to deliver what they envisioned for the Internet. The browser is a means, not an end.

Of course MS wants to remain the dominant browser (what company won't) but IE dominance is not required for MS to continue to be successful. Do the math. MS makes zero dollars off the browser.

The only way MS would be hurt is if a new browser become dominant and that browser did not support MS content (the stuff they make money on). That is not going to happen - at least not in the near future.