Bright Side of 2011: Take Two

Microsoft gets back on track

Make no mistake about it, Microsoft will get back on its feet in 2011. In order for that to happen, however, the company needs to do what Apple Kool–Aid drinkers do so well, which is blow their horn.

After all, Apple people have been nimble and correct more than anyone in a fickle consumer marketplace.

Take iPhone- and iPad-totting executives and middle managers who brought Apple's iDevices a much-needed business credibility more than a fully-blown advertising assault could have ever achieved.

While certainly not taking tips from the Jobs' playbook, 2011 will be the year that Ballmer finally transitions the Redmond-based company from a software behemoth to a versatile, efficient and effective service organization. Google will continue to progress only in the area they have historically carved out for themselves, which is click-thru sales.

Microsoft should certainly be praised for building the physical and fiscal foundation for organizations of all types and coupling that with cloud services and support.

Of course, the company also faces big challenges as the likes of IBM, Amazon, EMC and others increase competition in this space.

At the end of the day, Microsoft's strategy should return them to the good graces of the world's economic engine and possibly the shareholder community.

When it comes to businesses in all of the computer, consumer electronics and communications sectors, they will move forward cautiously. Both business and individual consumer optimism and investment should rise slowly and steadily in 2011, which in itself is an awesome news.

But don't expect this to have a big impact on your life in the upcoming year because it is going to take several years before we lift our heads from the proverbial grindstone and see the world through rose colored glasses again.

And there you have it, this is what any self-respecting geek should expect from 2011. Disappointed? Don't be. Can't be any worse than 2010.

And there you have it. Coupled with Part One, this piece wraps up our little two-part forecast of the technological trends to look for in 2011. Hope you enjoyed the analysis and remember where you read it first. Meet us in comments.