One thing apparent as soon as you get off of a plane here in Las Vegas is that Microsoft is spending a lot of money and effort marketing Windows Vista. There’s Vista billboards everywhere, it seems. In front of the main convention hall there’s a huge tent that Microsoft owns and Microsoft has one of the biggest booths here at CES (and was among the most crowded last year).
Plus, there are hundreds of vendors who are dependent on Microsoft to deliver the customers. Billions of dollars in revenue. All hoping that Windows Vista increases sales even a few percent. A few percent on a billion in revenues adds up to a good year for many many companies.
So, the industry is looking at Vista. Trying to figure out just how much a sales boost Vista will bring.
It also is looking at Microsoft and trying to figure out what the sales success of the Xbox means, even while it’s been a revenue drain on Microsoft (each Xbox sold loses money, although my friends tell me that because of the “attach rate” on each Xbox — the number of games, movies, and other things sold — that Xbox might be profitable sooner than anyone is expecting).
In about an hour I’ll be sitting down with Bill Gates, along with bloggers from Engadget, Gizmodo, Kotaku, and Joystiq.
The fact that the two biggest gaming blogs are there gives me some hints as to what we’ll be talking about.
This is Microsoft’s biggest show in years. Billions of dollars are in play.
My other question is: will Steve Jobs steal Bill Gates buzz this week? Already a look at the blogs says “yes.” Heck, I’ve seen several blogs analyze the width and length of a graphic on the Apple home page looking for hints. The graphic is close to a 16:9 aspect ratio. Only 1.5 pixels off, according to one blog. Hmmm.
What would you ask at lunch? I’ll look at your questions right before I go in.
UPDATE: my video, along with others, will be embargoed until about 6:30 p.m. tonight. Channel 10, Microsoft’s uber evangelist Jeff Sandquist tells me, will have a lot of stuff up tonight.
Bill doesn’t need a Trikkle!! Mainly because trikkle’s look to wierd. i wonder if Bill is going to buy a PS3? For the cheaper BluRay player?
Bill doesn’t need a Trikkle!! Mainly because trikkle’s look to wierd. i wonder if Bill is going to buy a PS3? For the cheaper BluRay player?
trikke not trikkle, cause he needs one we all do
trikke not trikkle, cause he needs one we all do
@5 That would certainly be the preferred outcome, particularly for MS shareholders, but I don’t think the board has given Ozzie that power.
. He likely won’t ever be viewed as “running the company” as Bill was and Steve is now.
@5 That would certainly be the preferred outcome, particularly for MS shareholders, but I don’t think the board has given Ozzie that power.
. He likely won’t ever be viewed as “running the company” as Bill was and Steve is now.
[...] fun Forty Faces. Check out the 226 featured bloggers here. So Annie, I just saw you next to the Scobleizer, as I think Phillip is using your photo and my name… I wasn’t sure how to have him [...]
Dear Bill,
How does it feel to have all your CES thunder stolen by Jobs and Macworld, year after year after year?
Comment by Wah W. Wah — January 7, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
Ha ha funny, wow, I can’t wait to see the new iPhone..yawn.
or the new iTv thingy, whatever, I’d rather have an Xbox.
Dear Bill,
How does it feel to have all your CES thunder stolen by Jobs and Macworld, year after year after year?
Comment by Wah W. Wah — January 7, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
Ha ha funny, wow, I can’t wait to see the new iPhone..yawn.
or the new iTv thingy, whatever, I’d rather have an Xbox.
I would ask The Richest Man in the World when he expects Micro$oft’s stock price to rise.
Must say that some of the comments on here cracked me up.
I would ask The Richest Man in the World when he expects Micro$oft’s stock price to rise.
Must say that some of the comments on here cracked me up.
Robert, I love your blog to death and link to you often, but brother, come on: this week is all about Macworld first, CES second. I know MS is spending gigundo bucks this year, and that’s great, because they have wares that are worthy of some frenzied spending. Vista is good, and I like what I see so far.
But come on — MS to announce things that will give Jobs and co. pause to “consider” them? Probably not, at least not in the mainline perspective.
I do think it will be the other way around, but we’ll see. I’ll put my cash on Jobs when it comes to splashy keynotes/announcements.
Robert, I love your blog to death and link to you often, but brother, come on: this week is all about Macworld first, CES second. I know MS is spending gigundo bucks this year, and that’s great, because they have wares that are worthy of some frenzied spending. Vista is good, and I like what I see so far.
But come on — MS to announce things that will give Jobs and co. pause to “consider” them? Probably not, at least not in the mainline perspective.
I do think it will be the other way around, but we’ll see. I’ll put my cash on Jobs when it comes to splashy keynotes/announcements.
Jeff: for most of the world you’re absolutely wrong. There’s a reason that there are 100 times more things at CES than at MacWorld. Also, did you watch the Bill Gates keynote? Doesn’t sound like it. Xbox is rocking and rolling. Media Center has lots of cool new stuff (and is gonna outsell anything Apple does).
You sound like someone who’s never been at either MacWorld or CES. Anyone who says MacWorld is more important of a show just simply is not talking the truth.
Jeff: for most of the world you’re absolutely wrong. There’s a reason that there are 100 times more things at CES than at MacWorld. Also, did you watch the Bill Gates keynote? Doesn’t sound like it. Xbox is rocking and rolling. Media Center has lots of cool new stuff (and is gonna outsell anything Apple does).
You sound like someone who’s never been at either MacWorld or CES. Anyone who says MacWorld is more important of a show just simply is not talking the truth.
[...] Welcome to 2007.” Scoble has bloggers speculating on the aspect ratio of that graphic (it’s darn close to 16:9). Mike Davidson says that Jobs will live up to the hype and more, adding that with all the [...]
[...] and K-fed Contrast this from Scoble: One thing apparent as soon as you get off of a plane here in Las Vegas is that [...]
I would ask him….
Have you heard of trikke? http://www.trikkeuk.com
I would ask him….
Have you heard of trikke? http://www.trikkeuk.com
Robert: I have an Xbox 360 and love it. I watched Gates’ keynote. I follow Vista and Media Center, and I like them both. I’ve been to CES twice but never Macworld.
This week is Apple’s week insofar as the tech influencers go — it’s their kickoff to the year. You know this better than anyone: the blogs are abuzz about Macworld, whereas CES is taking secondary headlines. Sort through Digg or Techmeme and you see way more Apple headlines than MS or CES. At least so far.
I think you misunderstand me: I think MS will show very well at CES. I think gaming advances under Vista will be unveiled and apparent. I think Media Center still is the best software for the living room, and until Apple or someone else proves otherwise this will remain my stance.
The ideology that “for the larger world” it’s all about MS is *precisely* what lead MS to the relatively dark waters in which it’s swimming now: there are options out there, and many of these options are quite compelling. MS, or MS pundits, can’t keep falling on the majority sword every time MS’ vision and leadership get challenged.
MS will never lose the driver’s seat in the OS market, but do they risk becoming the next IBM, a technology provider existing simply because they’re a safe choice, the larger market uses them, and NOT because they’re the best? Yes. And once that happens, they’re more fragile than ever.
I agree with almost all of what you say, and I blog about your conversations on my blog often. But to say that is week is MS’ big week? Well, that’s some selective attention, but perhaps we agree to disagree.
Robert: I have an Xbox 360 and love it. I watched Gates’ keynote. I follow Vista and Media Center, and I like them both. I’ve been to CES twice but never Macworld.
This week is Apple’s week insofar as the tech influencers go — it’s their kickoff to the year. You know this better than anyone: the blogs are abuzz about Macworld, whereas CES is taking secondary headlines. Sort through Digg or Techmeme and you see way more Apple headlines than MS or CES. At least so far.
I think you misunderstand me: I think MS will show very well at CES. I think gaming advances under Vista will be unveiled and apparent. I think Media Center still is the best software for the living room, and until Apple or someone else proves otherwise this will remain my stance.
The ideology that “for the larger world” it’s all about MS is *precisely* what lead MS to the relatively dark waters in which it’s swimming now: there are options out there, and many of these options are quite compelling. MS, or MS pundits, can’t keep falling on the majority sword every time MS’ vision and leadership get challenged.
MS will never lose the driver’s seat in the OS market, but do they risk becoming the next IBM, a technology provider existing simply because they’re a safe choice, the larger market uses them, and NOT because they’re the best? Yes. And once that happens, they’re more fragile than ever.
I agree with almost all of what you say, and I blog about your conversations on my blog often. But to say that is week is MS’ big week? Well, that’s some selective attention, but perhaps we agree to disagree.
Could you ask Bill,
How he thinks MSN search compares to Google, and what he/Microsoft plans to do about it?
Guy
Could you ask Bill,
How he thinks MSN search compares to Google, and what he/Microsoft plans to do about it?
Guy
> My other question is: will Steve Jobs steal Bill Gates buzz this week?
There is buzz to steal from Mr. Gates this week? Seriously?
> My other question is: will Steve Jobs steal Bill Gates buzz this week?
There is buzz to steal from Mr. Gates this week? Seriously?