Dorian Kernytsky

Microsoft recently wrote a cocky post about numbers and them. When I first saw the title on Daring Fireball, the first thought was “Is microsoft going to make Numbers work better with Excel VBA script/etc?”. Then reality clicked in within that same moment. Wrote about how they assumed we heard the big news about how many copies of the current version of Windows sold on the millions of almost every computers sold ( * SPOILERS * it’s one). This is news in the same way how many car tires are sold is news. Now those numbers:

1. A lot of new computers were sold. The “fastest growing” part shows they found new places to shove in the OS.
2. This is where it starts to get good. The comparisons of iPad to netbook might seem fair in size of the devices. However, netbook is a general term of a type of product. It would a more reasonable to compare the numbers of each netbook product not one product vs a group of a product type.
3. Notice they say Windows and not Windows Vista or XP. For along while XP was the choice for Windows OS on the netbook, even into the Vista release. It’s sad that Linux hasn’t been able to wedge itself better into the market but that’s what happen when a company like Microsoft is able to give encouragements to manufacturers to include there OS.
4. The last time I heard Azure, it was dealing with mispronouncing a torrent client. Last time I heard someone randomly point out Kentucky, it was about chicken and horse racing.
5. Now that’s interesting. From newspaper, to the hot movie rental company to the gaming network. But are they including Gold (paid accounts) with Silver(free) accounts? I have a Silver Xbox live account but don’t own a Xbox.
6. And the beta was free. How many copies did people buy? I’m happy with Textmate, Gmail and Keynote.
7. Not sure what a Bing user is….
8. Seems like they’re cutting the numbers just right for themselves but I believe Microsoft does hold a solid hand in the server business.
9. Windows Mobile is not mention here nore is any other Microsoft product. Let’s not forget about Android and RIM sales.
10. Salesforce.com got there in 2008, Microsoft 2009. Also note there Revenue.
11. Ok, but how many active users.
12. Why not show Apple’s and Google’s numbers for revenue from FY2000 to FY2009? Oh, I see now, Microsoft’s revenue has been dipping since 2008.