Microsoft's Top 10 Milestones for 2005
Some folks seem to think Microsoft was humbled by its legal and technology challenges in 2004. But I disagree. I don't see a kinder or gentler Microsoft emerging in 2005. More transparent, maybe. Down for the count? Heck, no!
After watching the Softies for two decades, I can tell you they are hardly ready to roll over. There's still a lot of plotting and scheming happening in Redmond's hallowed halls. And that will make the coming year anything but predictable. Nonetheless, predict, I will try. I have a tough act to follow, given how surprisingly accurate I was in my 2004 predictions. Either I just made my guesstimates too obvious, or I was lucky (or both). I predicted no Yukon or Whidbey until 2005 (check); no Longhorn until 2006 (check); no Microsoft CRM 2.0 in 2004 (check); and that Microsoft would create a new program to undercut Linux in international markets (check — Windows Starter Edition).
(Pat, pat. Sound of Microsoft Watcher patting herself on the back.)
Read the Microsoft Watch 2004 Predictions Column Here
But what about 2005? In the past, it was as easy as taking candy from a baby to predict correctly that the Redmondians would miss many of their ship targets. But now that the company has moved to a new policy of publicly acknowledging feature cuts designed to get promised wares out the door, Microsoft ship dates are less likely to become slip dates.
