Microsoft Has Mastered The Cloud, Now Just Merge It With Windows

The last year has brought an unmistakable change in Microsoft's strategy, particularly as related to cloud infrastructure and applications, and tone, notably its increased receptivity to outside, non-proprietary technologies. Look no further than recent announcements around Docker support on Azure and Hyper-V for examples of Microsoft working with the greater cloud developer community to incorporate outside innovations and advance the technology. On the client side, the company has turned its cash cow Office suite into cost-effective a cloud service, embraced iOS and Android by releasing native Office clients, including arguably the best iPhone email app currently available, built a new browser "for the modern Web" and created the Cortana voice search service with features and performance rivaling, if not surpassing, Apple Siri and Google Voice Search. Yet in one important way, Microsoft remains tethered to its PC legacy: Windows. The PC desktop should be the next item on CEO Satya Nadella's todo list and I don't mean stopping with the evolutionary, albeit necessary, changes in Windows 10. No, I'd like to see a completely stateless, cloud-centric client OS like Chrome OS, only better.