Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • PC Hardware

    Microsoft Isnt IBM

    By
    eWEEK EDITORS
    -
    June 9, 2003
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The article in the May 19 edition of eWEEK by Aaron Goldberg concerning the demise of Microsoft over time (“Microsoft Hits Downslope,”) is interesting but, I think, far from accurate. Like Mr. Goldberg, many of us were there in the 70s through the 90s and saw IBM go from global computer dominance to near extinction. Some of us even remember the challenges IBM faced when the Justice Department called for the company to divest itself of its service bureau subsidiary, a situation that was similar to Microsofts legal challenges of recent years.

      For Microsoft to go through the same cycle as IBM, the external and internal conditions that created the problems at IBM would also have to be present at Microsoft. That seems unlikely.

      In the 1980s, IBM dominated the highly profitable mainframe computing hardware and software. This led some at IBM to see personal computing as a hardware opportunity only. They miscalculated and pursued a path that caused significant problems for management and shareholders. Nonetheless, IBM still remains dominant in hardware and software in the upper end of enterprise computing. This is often overlooked by those other than enterprise customers. In the 1990s, IBMs challenge was learning to be profitable again as profit margins on hardware began to shrink. IBM never lost its skills in creating and deploying large-scale computing systems.

      Today, there are still struggles at IBM over hardware and software versus consulting. Most CIOs of large enterprises have suffered through IBMers selling hardware and software to the technical staff while selling outsourcing to the CEO. This conflict clearly demonstrates IBMs lack of a clear vision for its business lines.

      Microsofts challenges have been different. Today, the company is a target of criticism, not for its failures but for its extreme success. To their credit, company leaders focused on software and abandoned mainstream computing hardware. Their ability to stay focused on software when they could have easily ventured into other computing areas is a testament to the clarity of their vision. This clarity was evident in the late 1990s when the company faced a Justice Department challenge similar to that of IBM, and it remained focused on developing and delivering new and innovative products.

      The company is serious about many things, but its most impressive trait is knowing its most important asset is its people. Few companies have done as much to build and protect employee and shareholder value as has Microsoft. That factor alone will sustain the company through difficult cycles in the computing industry. Microsoft will have more challenges, but it is unlikely they will come from the same sources as IBMs.

      Bob Whitehead retired as CIO of SunTrust Banks Inc. last year. He can be reached at bob@winterhawke.com.

      eWEEK EDITORS
      eWeek editors publish top thought leaders and leading experts in emerging technology across a wide variety of Enterprise B2B sectors. Our focus is providing actionable information for today’s technology decision makers.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×