05-01-2012, 08:49 AM | #46 | |
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This is a lifeline for B&N, and may well buy them enough time to make the Nook profitable. However, it will also mean that B&N is going to expend a lot of time, and a big slice of that $300m investment, migrating the platform to Win8 and integrating any MS services or offerings that are part of the deal. It could be good, but it could be a disaster. MS has deep pockets and tech experience; B&N has the consumer sales side, and were sharp enough to wring $600m out of MS. But MS has failed repeatedly with its content plays and can't brand its way out of a paper bag, and B&N has flubbed repeatedly with technology and their brand will suffer if they have to close more stores. They could complement each other, or trip each other up. The Nook apparently cost B&N $200 million so far. MS is apparently investing $300 million now, and another $300 over the next 5 years, and Win8 is already aiming for tablets. Microsoft could have easily invested $600m over 5 years to put together their own international ebook store, albeit with a longer delay and without a brand. This is not just about MS "getting into content." It's about blocking Google and other competitors from getting a piece of the Nook business when it goes on the auction block. Hopefully, this will work out well for B&N. We'll find out in a year or two. |
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05-01-2012, 10:01 AM | #47 | |
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There are many ways to sculpt the competitive environment to your advantage; keepaway can be as effective (and often cheaper) than takeaway. |
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05-01-2012, 12:20 PM | #48 | |
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The xbox has been very successful despite entering a market dominated by Nintendo and Sony. Xbox now sells more consoles than either. Both competitors are losing a lot of money. Microsoft started getting into content with windows media player. It was an addon to XP and there was a media center edition of XP. The windows 7 version of media center is excellent. The xbox extends windows media into the living room. It should be clear that Microsoft's strategy is to be the on ramp to entertainment at home, at work, and on the run. What distinguishes the two powerhouses from Microsoft is content -- apps, movies, music, and books. This is the book piece. |
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05-01-2012, 03:19 PM | #49 | |
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Getting back to the subject at hand, you can never count Microsoft out of anything they want to get involved with. Even if something like Zune is a failure, it is very likely that the next version will be better. Course, the real question is, is this going to be the traditional Microsoft, or is this all going to end up being Ballmer's folly? That really is an open question right now, but it hasn't been looking good for Microsoft recently. And who knows if Windows 8 is going to be a good tablet OS. |
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05-01-2012, 03:50 PM | #50 |
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So will I be able to read all of my "old" MS Reader/LIT books on the Nook?
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05-01-2012, 04:02 PM | #51 |
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To make the transition from print and B&M (mostly) to online and ebook (mostly) is damn difficult, and isn't the easy path most Mobile Readers think it is. For BN, it requires luck, skill, money, and technical expertise. BN has to come up with the first two by itself, but MSFT as a partner has plenty of the last two.
With MSFT as an investor, BN will also be able withstand the coming price war with Amazon, which will reassure investors. |
05-01-2012, 06:29 PM | #52 | ||
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05-01-2012, 08:41 PM | #53 | ||
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Less than 2% market share as of 2009; hardware pulled late 2011. Fail.
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It is successful in the sense that it's popular, established, and a new platform for MS. Turning a profit overall is likely a long way off. Maybe I ought to revise that claim that $600m would be enough for MS to launch another ebook platform... Quote:
I don't view this as MS's big play at content. It's a middle finger at Google, Amazon or any other competitor who could snap up the Nook and extend their business. |
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05-01-2012, 10:45 PM | #54 | |
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05-01-2012, 11:21 PM | #55 |
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That's an... interesting translation. To me, it sounds like they're saying exactly the opposite - that for Windows On ARM they're working on making sure it's compatible with a wide range of hardware, instead of just focusing on one or two chipsets like Apple does with iOS or like Microsoft did with Windows Phone 7.
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05-02-2012, 12:07 AM | #56 | |
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I agree that three is better than one, and I don't see any hardware reason why Windows On ARM could not be a success long term. However, the Nook business has been about good quality hardware at a low cost. This isn't 1st generation Windows On ARM territory. |
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05-02-2012, 02:14 AM | #57 |
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Unless I'm mistaken, the decision by Microsoft to discontinue the Zune hardware line was made because the Windows Phone made it redundant. The Zune hardware line was definitely not popular as it was, but the unpopularity was not the sole deciding factor in discontinuing it.
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05-02-2012, 05:08 AM | #58 |
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Perhaps I'm oversimplifing, but haven't MS simply bought off B&N's Android patent lawsuit?
They've chucked a relatively small amount of money at a company in financial difficulties, some of which they will get back in royalty payments, and in return a pesky lawsuit has gone away. They don't need to spend the legal costs, don't face any more disclosure, and have removed one of the bigger opponents to their patent claims, making small fish more likely to settle. |
05-02-2012, 06:06 AM | #59 | ||
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05-02-2012, 09:11 AM | #60 |
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