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Microsoft Targets The iMac With New All-In-One Surface PCs, Reports Say (networkworld.com)
New submitter Miche67 writes: Two reports say Microsoft is working on an all-in-one (AIO) PC under the Surface brand. If that's true, it would put it in competition with HP and Dell, which have their own AIO lines, as well as put it in competition with Apple's iMac. Network World reports: "Both DigiTimes and Windows Central picked up on the story, each citing their own sources. DigiTimes, a Taiwan-based publication with connections to the PC industry over there (but also a very mixed record of accuracy) said the new devices would come in the third quarter of this year. Windows Central, which is a little better when it comes to rumors, said it did not have a solid release date." Business Insider was able to find a patent filing by Microsoft for a desktop PC that supports the rumored AIO design. "The device is evidently targeting a 'modern and elegant' design and is meant to be something akin to a premium appliance or furniture," Windows Central wrote. Intel's release date of the new Kaby Lake line of processors around Q3 of this year complicates things. While Kaby Lake is said to be more mobile-friendly with less power consumption and heat, they would make for a good choice for an AIO machine. However, it would be pushing it for Microsoft to release its AIO machines in the same quarter that Kaby Lake is due. On a semi-related note, a programmer at Building 88 recently confirmed that Microsoft will release Surface 5 devices next year powered by Kaby Lake processors. He posted pictures of four device holders marked "2017" on his Twitter account.
Nope. Microsoft is not a monopoly, not anymore at least. They were when I.E. was breaking standards and forcing web sites to its proprietary rendering engine. They only have a relatively large market share in email servers, consumer desktop OSs, and office software, none of which is large enough to bar entrants and competitors.
No. What MS doing now is seeing Apple's success and vying for those markets, unsuccessfully. Their problem is that hey are just bad at it.
1. Apple created System 1, and Microsoft created Windows with developer preview access.
2. Apple had MacWrite again as a developer preview, and again, Microsoft copied to Word.
3. Apple Came out with the iPod, its first real block buster success... Microsoft copied with the Zune, terribly.
4. Apple created the iPhone, Microsoft copied unsuccessfully with its Nokia Lumina.
5. Apple iPad, Microsoft surface (RT at first).
6. MacBook, surface book.
7. Now the iMac.
What's just as just as troubling thought is they seem to be eating into other markets that were previously complimentary. Hosted exchange, servers. (A'la azure), and clients. These were previously sacred ground Microsoft cultivated for many years thriving ecosystems around its primary products. Today, it's taking those markets for itself, since it has few other areas to expand into.