Microsoft Withdraws Offer for Yahoo

Posted this comment on the New York Times 26 minutes after news broke that Microsoft was withdrawing its bid for Yahoo, Inc.

#21.May 3rd,2008
9:40 pm

It seemed an attractive aquisition until they, at Microsoft, realised they were purchasing a company that represents what they compete with, namely Open Source initiatives that demonstrate a business dependence on Windows is naught but smoke and mirrors?

When did this deal ever make sense?

— Posted by Nicholas Alexander

Reader reaction is immediate and they range from cheers for Steve Ballmer to scowls at Jerry Yang for refusing a good offer, which was 5 billion up on the opener. Maybe the biggest bluff in history, trying to get MS to bid another 5 billion. But it does appear that Steve Balmer has withdrawn even from a hostile takeover if Yahoo would respond by outsourcing to Google.

I perceive the problem was more that if Microsoft absorbed the Yahoo workforce, it would saddle them with a software culture divide that would be difficult to heal. Dot.net and Javascript already compete, if you see what I mean.

Windows Vista

I keep reading of those who find Vista to be less than they expected. I would be interested in reading comment from those who think Windows Vista is better than XP and why. The reason that I ask is that I can not accept that 5 years of Microsoft-time is going to produce something that is less than it was. My guess is that 64 bit applications will redefine the space an application can use allowing for a new kind of application that lives more in memory than on devices - but this is a structural change and probably more of a catchup by Windows with Linux than the other way around. 64bit versions of Linux have been around for years, but there are are only so many that can afford enough memory to address such vast amounts but what it can do for server applications is something else.

When 64bit games appear and the Vista versions start to hum, I suspect it will give the X-Box a run for its money.