It comes out with shoddy version 1.0's, decent 2.0's and good 3.0's...

Microsoft has managed to remain dominant in IT for decades while rarely being first to market. Charles Cooper looks at how Redmond pulls off this feat.

There's something about the slow-starter strategy that works like an absolute charm for Microsoft. Throughout its history, the company has recovered from mediocre product launches that ultimately morph into smash hits.

By now, Microsoft has it down to an art. Is it method or madness? Probably a little bit of both, but more about that in a moment.

So it is that the newest rendition of Windows Media Center introduced earlier this week received a tentative thumbs-up from the digerati. When you consider the kludgy design of the first release of Media Center, this is no small achievement. It also says something about how this company goes about its job.

Microsoft has carefully cultivated an image of being an outfit that outthinks and outinnovates rivals. To be sure, the company does employ some of the brightest people in the computer industry. Under the capable direction of Rick Rashid, for example, Microsoft Research only trails IBM when it comes to turning out technology patents.
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Source : Silicon.com