Has the Bauhaus Apple finally bonked Microsoft's Newton?
(NOT AmanFromMars) - Bill Buxton seems to be sending the message that Microsoft start paying attention to the Real World and stop the madness of maximizing profits ahead of the user. And, no surprise, Apple is sitting on its Bauhaus* cloud waiting to welcome MS to something Steve Jobs has known for years.
On the other hand, Microsoft comes well equipped to address this proposition. While MS is best known for its bloatware, it does understand - somewhere, deep down in its soul (like Darth Vader) - that there ARE new ideas and paradigms that are begging to be explored. Once MS learns to break away from protecting the cash cow at the expense of opening new markets, they have the ability to leverage their huge depth and breadth of knowledge to truly leap ahead into new areas, not as the follower, buying their way belatedly into new ideas that are already established, but as the innovator.
I only hope that Balmer understands this well enough to let it happen.
May the Force be with Bill Buxton.
* - The Bauhaus School of Design established the idea that "Form Follows Function" - that any device or tool should be elegantly designed to emphasize its use, rather than "decorated" for aesthetics alone. Like Apple iPods.