It is true that Microsoft does not make the best operating system, and it
does not make the best applications software, and it is not innovative.  But
then capitalism, even in a fully free market, is not meant to provide the
best of any"thing" -- it is meant to provide a 'product' that the customer
wants.  So, what is it that the customer wants and gets from Microsoft?  In
other words, what is Microsoft's 'product'?

   I would suggest that Microsoft's product is a standard operating system
which provides a commonality among a majority of business users, one source
of support, confidence that the company will be around tomorrow, various
applications that work together and are similar in function, and relative
continuity in upgraded product line.  In short, their product is customer
service -- the OS and software are just bundled with it.:-)
Yours,
Issodhos