What’s Up With Microsoft?

Okay, so what’s up with Microsoft these days?

Are they laying out a shrewdly planned top to bottom software and hardware makeover, or are they vastly over-extending themselves and putting their whole operation at risk?  One does wonder with the flurry of new product offerings and upgrades being announced nearly every day by Microsoft or leaked by unnamed sources.

Surface Tablet

The list of new products and upgrades is quite long and includes, among other things: Windows 8 (release date set for October 26), Internet Explorer 10, Surface tablets (both Windows RT & Windows Pro), Windows Phone, Outlook.com email (putting Hotmail on the back burner), Office 13, Office Web Apps, Office 365, Microsoft Store (web-based), Microsoft brick & mortar stores, SkyDrive, Skype, Bing , various keyboard, mice, and stylus accessories, etc., etc.  Taking into consideration most of this stuff is supposed to be available sometime later this year or early next year, that’s a tall order.

Windows 8 Metro

By now, you get the point – something BIG is afoot – it looks like the sleeping giant, Microsoft, has been aroused, and is in the midst of a huge about-face, trying to gain traction in the fast-paced world of the internet, multimedia, rapid operating system upgrades, and the highly competitive market of tablets and smartphones.

So, will Microsoft be successful in its attempt to energize itself, make its products relevant to not only the business sector, but the person on the street, and gain market share with its core products?  I’d say that as of late the technology crystal ball finds Microsoft’s chances looking a bit brighter.

What do you think about Microsoft’s ambitious array of upgrades and new product releases?  Will Microsoft be able to pull off what seems to be a wholesale makeover?