Steve Ballmer asks customers, partners and shareholders to believe in Microsoft [BetaNews]

Joe Wilcox on Microsoft's metamorphosis

"I can't emphasize enough what the next product release cycle means to Microsoft, and that includes Office System 2013 software coming next year. The Redmond, Wash.-based company is attempting to preserve and recover computing relevance during a massive move to anytime, anywhere, on-anything computing that threatens the longevity of the Office-Windows-Windows Server applications stack. That understanding is important context for reading Ballmer's letter. He's not just blowing marketing smoke -- kissing up to the parties he writes to. He means every word."

Steve Ballmer asks customers, partners and shareholders to believe in Microsoft