Microsoft's Media2Go
Now Microsoft's take on all this is more and more devices, which means more and more licensing revenue opportunities for Microsoft, of course. It's almost as if the company has decided to throw a whole host of devices into the air, and whichever comes down on the side of success, well, so what: the per device fee is going to be going into the Windows Savings and Trust. There's even a Microsoft Automotive Business Unit which demonstrated a Toyota Sequoia outfitted with everything from a Windows powered SmartPhone to an Xbox in the back seat.
Xbox wasn't forgotten at CES, but it wasn't the focus, putting paid to the idea that Xbox is Microsoft's consumer electronics box.
Viewsonic has been very supportive of Microsoft's initiatives. It announced the NextVision M series of Digital Media Centers at CES, as well as showing off its Mira products which we first saw at WinHEC.
Take the Microsoft leader's big pitch to open the show: Bill Gates used his keynote speech to talk up the Microsoft Media2Go portable media player. It's not that dissimilar to the Archos Multimedia Jukebox, but this is Microsoft, so the hype is bigger. Oh, and it does have USB 2.0 and Firewire optional. Does it have a chance of success, or influence? Who can tell.
On the subject of not exciting, there's Media Center, an OEM only product that pretty much ignores the obvious: it's early adopters and influencers, like THG readers, who are going to be most interested in the media-centric PC. However, they demand more sophistication, more choice, and a great deal of customization. By making Media Center an OEM only product, Microsoft is pretty much leaving it up to the HPs and Dells to make the market happen, and the average PC buyer doesn't have the level of commitment that it takes to centralize their media activities around a PC.
What Microsoft's strategy does point out is the problems facing the PC industry in transitioning to the consumer electronics market. Clearly, there were PC companies at CES hoping to jump on the bandwagon. However, this mish-mash of devices and interfaces and the looming threat of draconian digital rights management that will make it difficult to move your content from one place to another all add up to a great deal of uncertainty.
The Microsoft booth was a series of rooms in a mock-up house designed to showcase Microsoft products integrated into daily life. One presentation focused on MSN's parental controls. Another area showcased intelligent displays, and so on.
