Yeah, money can be made. Been doing SAP interfaces (I'd rather chew on glass) to a large FoxApp I did. I used to work with SAP / PeopleSoft consultants and I can tell you that many are out of work - not what is used to be.

The bottom line is that Microsoft is going after a market which has traditionally been the developer's domain. However well they impliment it is one thing, but the fact that they are doing it really bothers me.

>Na ... let's assume that they are good enough to develop a suite of software that is really all things to all people ... the money then switches to computer professionals who are implementors and specialists of their "Be-All End-All-Super-Bug-Free-Microsoft-Office-Management-Bundle". Anyone that works in or with that layer of the consulting business will tell you that these yahoos are still pulling down between $100 and $200 per hour simply trying to map all of the diversified business' business processes to the cookie cutter template of the affore mentioned bug free M$ software. So even if you are right, there is still money to be made ... just look at companies like SAP and BPCS. Don't forget Oracle which also has a suite of application level software (financial and probably others but I'm not real sure about the specifics).
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>However, the first assumption is a stretch of the greatest magnitude. They may try, they may have tons of money but I don't think they can pull something like this off anytime soon and do it well without bundling it with their OS (like server) ... which would get them another legal slap.
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>I could go on and on but will spare you the boredom. I think you have a valid premise for discussion but I really don't think either you or I have anything to fear in our lifetime.
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>Respectfully,
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>CTBlankenship