Microsoft’s big week
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.
Powered By 
January 7th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Wii remote has motion sensing capability. It is a big step forward for game industry, will XBox catch up?
January 7th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
and a big week for customers too :-)
January 7th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
I think I’ve said this before but ask him does he play XBL and if so what’s his GamerTag. I’d love to get some Gears of War or R6Vegas on the pipe with the big man :)
January 7th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
“Mr. Gates, how soon after you leave will it be before Ballmer fires Ozzie?”
January 7th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
LayZ: I think I’d rather ask him “how soon after you leave will it be before Ozzie fires Ballmer?”
January 7th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Monkey: I like that question, but doubt he’d tell me his gamertag.
Hello from the Seagate limo, by the way.
January 7th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Who will give the Microsoft keynote next year?
January 7th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
well computer games are not getting you fit.
why not get an outdoor fun 3 wheeled machine called Trikke, fantastic new product over here in the Uk from the states http://www.trikkeuk.com
January 7th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
“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 … ”
Revenue is dollars in the door. Every Xbox sold generates revenue. Xbox may be a profit drain but it is a revenue gain.
January 7th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
My question would be to Microsoft:
There are around 40 ultra mobile PC’s on the market. ‘Origami’ produced 5 in 2006. Will you continue to try and influence the UMPC hardware market?
Steve.
January 7th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Robert please ask Bill something about Windows Mobile phones if possible!!! For example why no access to Zune Marketplace from Windows Mobile ? Why no peer to peer (P2P) sharing between Zune and Windows Mobile ? Why 3G video calling (part of UMTS/HSDPA standard as SMS is part of GSM standard) is still not supported in Windows Mobile ? Why still, after so many years, still one can’t connect Windows Mobile over USB to Xbox ? Etc…
January 7th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
With Microsoft currently expanding into the hardware market, what other devices can we expect to come into the market in the years to come? Also, will Microsoft re-enter the home networking hardware market again?
January 7th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
sorry I’m late…here’s my question: what is Microsoft’s objective for how its software enables content creators? The new Office Suite has an amazing number of self-publishing tools, but it’s clearly not iWork or iLife. Now that user-generated content is exploding, how will you personally define “success” for Microsoft in the media vertical, where Adobe and Apple have traditionally dominated? Where do you see these general purpose self-publishing features within Office fitting in?
Honestly, robert, I’d love to even hear your thoughts on this–
January 7th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Good question there as well comic strip. Another one could be, When will there be complete integration of all MS technologies or will there be a split between entertainment/hardware divisions and the software/business application divisions?
January 7th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
robo: Engadget asked that.
Megan: I asked a couple of things about user participant content (asked him why I couldn’t “squirt” a non-DRM’ed version of Rocketboom to my friends).
January 7th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Should I take that as a great minds think alike………or….
Well I am glad that SYNC happened with Ford, now if we can only get it as a standalone device or more auto manufacturers embrace Windows Mobile for Automobiles. Still want that UMPC with built in cell phone and GPS mounted in my dash…….
January 7th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
What he has on his iPod.
January 7th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Cool!! Thanks, robert. Can’t wait to hear his answers. When is it going live?? oh, and don’t even get me started on DRM. The fact that every major TV broadcaster put their content online this year using (drm-free) Flash video should be a lesson for all, don’t you think?? Advertising is in; micropayments are out. At least for film and tv entertainment. “Information” media, a different story–
January 7th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Off topic: Robert, have you seen this:
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/07/1750216&from=rss
January 7th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Dear Bill,
How does it feel to have all your CES thunder stolen by Jobs and Macworld, year after year after year?
January 7th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
It’s going live at 6:30 p.m. tonight. (Pacific Time).
Wah W. Wah: I think Bill has a few items up his sleeve for Jobs and Co. this year to consider. :-)
January 7th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Wow! That must of been intersting, meeting bill for a casual lunch. I mean for god sake man! I’m gonna watch it when it comes on channel 10.
January 7th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
“I think Bill has a few items up his sleeve for Jobs and Co. this year to consider.”
Like what, a lavendar Zune? A new Vista security package? Media Center Edition 27.4? Tablet PC Jr?
January 7th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
“I think Bill has a few items up his sleeve for Jobs and Co. this year to consider.”
Origami 2.0? Hyuck.
It’s kind of amusing that you’re even more of a Microsoft sycophant than you were when they were giving you a paycheck.
I hope Apple does release the iPod Phone this Tuesday, just to hear what a collective pants-shitting sounds like from CES.
January 7th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Bill
You need To get a trikke!!!!
http://www.trikkeuk.com
January 7th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
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?
January 7th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
trikke not trikkle, cause he needs one we all do
January 7th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
@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.
January 7th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
[...] 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 [...]
January 7th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
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.
January 7th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
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.
January 7th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
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.
January 7th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
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.
January 7th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
[...] 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 [...]
January 8th, 2007 at 7:46 am
[...] 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 [...]
January 8th, 2007 at 8:13 am
I would ask him….
Have you heard of trikke? http://www.trikkeuk.com
January 8th, 2007 at 8:32 am
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.
January 8th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Could you ask Bill,
How he thinks MSN search compares to Google, and what he/Microsoft plans to do about it?
Guy
January 9th, 2007 at 6:13 am
> My other question is: will Steve Jobs steal Bill Gates buzz this week?
There is buzz to steal from Mr. Gates this week? Seriously?