Regarding this article:
http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/27/technology/microsoft_analysts/index.htm
which alleges that MicrosoftCoroporation is changing gears to focus on the web.
MicroSoft does not know how to directly compete. They succeeded in the past mostly by leveraging their monopoly in OS and MicrosoftOffice. In fact, MS-Office domination was leveraged by using the OS. Winning by using a monopoly and winning by directly competing are two different things. They may survive as a 4th-place also-ran after a long learning curve, but they will never be the giant they are now.