Yeah, Microsoft just posted huge profits, and they are releasing IE9 soon, and life is gravy for them. But really, who cares? Microsoft has lost the mindshare battle with the geeks in IT. Plently of people use Microsoft products, but I honestly can’t remember the last time anyone spoke about them around the workplace with anything more positive than apathy. Microsoft is known for making bloated, expensive, buggy products you have to use because some bureaucrat somewhere forced the issue. That is a sure-fire way to make the people implementing the technology hate it.

Further, I don’t know anyone other than my friends who are serious gamers who are planning on buying a new Windows-based computer. Vista was a disaster in the consumer space. The pundits are now asking if the consumer side of Microsoft is dying.

Now, to put all of this into perspective, Microsoft is a massive company with a massive pile of cash. 10 or so years ago, Apple was a small, failing computer company that had run 7 consecutive quarters where they posted a loss. They are now the biggest technology company in America, and if they pass Exxon/Mobile, they will be the biggest company in America – with no other qualifications.

Microsoft, you can reinvent yourself and make products people care about again. But you have to actually do it. Get to work.