It remains to be seen if the $2bn loan came with (many) strings attached, but Dell would have to be pretty stupid to "do a Nokia"
Dell attaching themselves solely to Microsoft Windows won't stop the rise of Linux in the sectors it's already taken/taking, server and mobile users will just buy elsewhere .. it *may* delay its arrival on the desktop which is a shrinking market anyway .. but it very well could spell the end for Dell.
I think most PC manufacturers now realise Windows is a dying OS, and the way forward sooner or later will be Linux (or some kind of derivative/spinoff).
Personally I expect this to be disastrous for Dell .. obviously I don't know the details of the deal, but even if there appear to be no strings attached we are talking about Microsoft .. at some point they're going to want payback.
Steve Ballmer said that the Surface, like the Xbox, is an example of the sort of hardware products Microsoft will release in the future".
Seems to me Microsoft are looking for a hardware manufacturing wing of their own .. so Mr Dell had best watch his back.
Oddly though, that's another mistake by Microsoft .. they seem to think a move into an Apple like model of tied together hardware and OS is a great idea right at the time that Apple are loosing market share to Android which is closer to the Microsoft model.
I couldn't care less if Dell want to implode in a brilliant flash of red, blue, green, and yellow rectangles .. that would just be a business opportunity for someone else.
