blakamin:

 

wsnz:

 

 

 

Google, Apple and Microsoft all face different, significant hurdles of their own, however I wouldn't write off any of them possibly dominating the next generation mobile market.

 

MS lost the war of the initial mobile paradigm, but the bottom line is that the mobile market is evolving. Carrying around multiple devices with multiple overlapping functions is certainly not the future of computing. Developing for separate platforms; desktop, mobile, VR, automobile etc. is cumbersome and antiquated. MS have articulated their vision, time will tell as to whether it gains traction.

 

Aside from the big three above, a new company may emerge with a new paradigm, who knows, But MS's vision is enticing.

 

 

 

 

The future is probably implants.

 

I use windows, but I'm not invested in anything with MS.

 

It's not for the home, no matter how hard they try. 

 

I live in google-world. Android phones, tablets, Android TV, chromecast audio, chromebook. Soon to be Google Home. (I'd like to see MS try that and see how far they get)

 

Windows is for... I dunno really.... plugging my external drives into I guess.

 

Even Amazon are ahead in the home. 

 

Outside an office and Xbox for homes, MS products are just basic tools. How do they change that? Xbox couldn't when they tried to turn a console into a home entertainment system.

 

When MS can release something Windows that's not dead in 6 months they *might* get some traction. But I wouldn't  hold my breath.

 

Their "vision" might be enticing, but others are already releasing the actual products, not dreams.

 

 

 

+1. Microsoft still dominate business, but have well and truly lost the home market to Google and Apple.

I use a Surface Pro 4 for business. For home, I use the SP4 as I prefer the web version of Chrome (superior to Android version). Outside of Chrome, I prefer using Android apps for news, email, music, photos and note taking (Keep is outstanding).

This year, I intend to buy a touch-enabled Chromebook so I can have both the web version of Chrome (with access to all the Chrome store extensions) plus my favourite Android apps on a touch screen to boot. Either the new ASUS flip or Samsung Chromebook Pro - both announced this week at CES (the Samsung only officially announced today). Once I get my Chromebook, the SP4 will be a work only device.

It's difficult to see MS getting any significant traction back into the consumer market. The Surface devices have performed well recently, but I suspect the main market for these is predominantly business.