After Cringely’s last column saying there was no way to beat Microsoft, other than their inevitable suicide, I was ready to toss in the towel. On the other hand, in this weeks’s column, “Shake Your Groove Thing: The Only Way to Beat Microsoft is by Ignoring Microsoft,” he ties in the Google phenomenon with Sun’s capitulation and concludes that Sun is done. His quotable pull quotes:
… paying too much attention to Microsoft simply allows Microsoft to define the game. And when Microsoft gets to define the game, they ALWAYS win.
And his thoughts on the winning game plan:
Start by completely removing Microsoft from your thoughts. Develop a good and sound business plan. It should in no way be based on Microsoft, either for or against. Microsoft should not be part of your business. What is important is to run YOUR business, and not be distracted by Microsoft. If it makes business sense to YOUR company to do business with Microsoft, do so on your terms. Limit your dependence, limit your exposure.
Thought-provoking stuff.