When Bill Gates was at the helm of Microsoft, one of the most prominent emphases was integration between products. The idea is that each product the company puts out ought to work together, with the end result being an end-to-end platform that covers a wide gamut with minimal overlap. The Windows/Server/Office trifecta is a prime example of this, and has worked to propel Microsoft into its now traditional market position.

Windows LiveBut Gates' successor, Ray Ozzie, is taking the company in a different direction, putting the company into a kind of "startup mode," much like a small startup company. While the intent of this move by the Chief Software Architect is definitely commendable, as it gives more freedom to developers in the company to develop for the sake of developing, the end result is a confusing mish-mash of overlapping products in the all-important Windows Live lineup. With stiff competition coming from the likes of Google, Microsoft needs their Windows Live brand to shine in order to survive in an ever-connected world.