Microsoft Volume II: The Complete History and Strategy of the Ballmer Years (Audio)

In 1999, Microsoft became the most valuable company in the world. And in 2019, Microsoft became the most valuable company in the world, *again*. But… what happened in the twenty years in between? The answer, as we discovered in our research, is probably not what you think.
In this episode we explore and analyze the browser wars and the DOJ case, Windows XP through 8, Surface, Xbox, search, Yahoo!, Bing, the iPhone, Nokia, mobile, social, Facebook… and oh yeah, a little thing called Azure and the enterprise - which ended up becoming so big that no failures mattered. Tune in for Microsoft, Volume II.
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[@Cos_Why_Not]

I cannot emphasize enough how much I love this podcast. Ever since I discovered it a few months ago, I have been listening religiously. What I find particularly amazing is that it keeps getting better and better with time, these two Microsoft episodes have been arguably your best work so far, and at this point I have absolutely no doubt that part 3 will be just as good. I cannot wait to listen to your Google series (hopefully right after you wrap up Microsoft), and whatever else you come up with later. Easily my favorite podcast, ever.

[@Mheme-f7n]

A google series... that'd be something else, but it won't be complete as the AI battle is still ongoing

[@Cos_Why_Not]

@@Mheme-f7n The Amazon and Microsoft stories are nowhere near complete yet either, these businesses will continue to thrive and grow for years to come. There's a lot to be told about Google as is.

[@Ryan.G.Spalding]

I think you all need to do an interview with Bill himself. Make it happen! It would be epic.

[@rifkiamil]

SteveB largest shareholde at Microsoft. Why would want to talk with Bill?

[@christopherknight5526]

Yes!!! Thanks guys! Best episode ever. Microsoft and the AI transition incoming. Can’t wait for the next one.

[@santoshsanthanam]

Perfect timing, just finished the first part recently. You guys rock 🤘

[@HenryWeathers-o6i]

42:14. The idea of your distributor competing with you and killing your company has made me think about retailers like Costco and Walmart. While Walmart created a complex system of plethora and Costco cut SKUs and displayed by the pallet, both businesses seemed to build a bedrock of efficient distribution that made it so competition was so far behind they never battled existential threats like Microsoft faced with the web portal. What makes me curious is if Amazon was inspired by the retail giants and or Microsoft to develop a distribution network to create a moat after seeing the demise of Netscape and robust nature of Costco and Walmart.

[@spacemanwho]

Oh my God. Oh my God. 😊😊😊😊😊 I was sooo not expecting this to drop, but do super grateful. I have a 5ish hour drive (one way) coming up for work. This will be queued up🎉

[@moneydash]

Waiting for a Long Time❗🫡

[@backpackly]

Awesome episode. I was part of the mainstream view that Steve Ballmer spent the whole time pissing away their FCF on poor acquisitions and missed mobile entirely. I didn’t realize how long Azure had been grinding away under Ballmer’s reign.

[@Frankenspank67]

I didn't see Bill Gates becoming a Bond villain coming at all.

[@morgod1898]

Blessed with this the day I’m driving from San Antonio to Dallas

[@christopherjones8367]

It’s the perfect length for the drive haha

[@varunkarthik7304]

please make an episode on Blackstone or other asset managing companies

[@CessnaPilot99]

The New York Times the daily podcast just did an episode on this and how it relates to the Google antitrust lawsuit. Perfect timing. Who copied who LOL

[@rifkiamil]

2:51:05 Microsoftf Dynamics CRM original from iCommunicate. For ERP products Great Plains, Axapta and Navision (nowadays Dynamics GP, AX and NAV). I been meeting with Doug Burgum and Satya Narayana when the group was called Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS), not to be confused with MBD for Office. Dynamics AX was always flag ship with Application Object Tree (AOT) and ORM, allowing for modelling of the application, and layers to allow for co-authoring of code with clear separation between Microsoft, Partners & Customers.

[@DanielThomasArgueta]

😎

[@restindev]

Oh yay

[@Losangelesharvey]

Thank great podcast - but I must point out one error: you mention the prohibition against “double jeopardy”- true enough, but this applies only *criminal* prosecutions , that is, not here

[@야라구해]

😊

[@kamikaz1k]

You guys need to having a moving picture for these videos so my TV doesn't burn in....please

[@shubhamtripathi4819]

Amazing. Please create a deep dive into Adobe and Design as a general category. (including the likes of Figma and Canva as compete). Thanks :)

[@atishkoul92]

This is masterpiece 👏

[@AnimeVerse-HQ]

can you do an episode on Binance , how it became largest crypto exhange in 5 months ? 🙏🙏❗❗

[@Frankenspank67]

1 x 1 = 2

[@y.k8628]

No offense but ur videos are Too long to follow 😞

[@GlennKentwell]

TLDR: more money good