Microsoft's Windows platform chief Jim Allchin last week told 50 top-tier OEMs to think more like custom-system builders.
During Microsoft's annual OEM executive summit at company headquarters in Redmond, Wash., Allchin, group vice president of platforms, advised the vendors to shift development resources into creating computing "experiences" through which they can differentiate their offerings, rather than beating each other up mainly on price and spewing out product specs.
Allchin urged a mass-volume customization approach, encouraging OEMs to focus on specific needs in the home, entertainment and small-business markets.
"If we do this, I believe that there are great opportunities for them to have more differentiation among them, and, in fact, to make more margin dollars," Allchin told CRN following his presentation. "Hardware, software and services have to be created in tandem to create this experience."
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