If they’re sufficiently unique with a very user-friendly interface, plus an open structure (being able to connect to other services and devices, including non-Microsoft ones, and vice versa), they might have a chance. If they’re significantly better I’m sure they’ll overcome the “brand hurdle”.

I’m afraid that whatever they invent that is worth copying will be copied though, making it nearly impossible to catch up. Nice to see them try however.

I have a hard time imagining anything that they can come up with that will make the service all that great compared to Flickr and other photo sites. I guess they could create some sort of desktop application to manage your images online because that’s just about the only thing that Flickr doesn’t officially offer, but there are plenty of third party tools that try to do that.

I’m afraid that whatever they invent that is worth copying will be copied though, making it nearly impossible to catch up. Nice to see them try however.

The problem is that Microsoft just aren’t cool. Apple is cool; Flickr is cool; Photobucket is cool; hell, even Yahoo! is cool; but aligning yourself to Microsoft as a brand just makes you seem uncool.

So in other words, they need to put more focus on their brand? I agree. I think they tried to turn things around when they introduced “Windows Live” — but so far, it doesn’t seem to be working all too well.

The problem is that Microsoft just aren’t cool. Apple is cool; Flickr is cool; Photobucket is cool; hell, even Yahoo! is cool; but aligning yourself to Microsoft as a brand just makes you seem uncool.

That is actually true. It’s kind of like comparing Microsoft to your parents when you were a teenager, you just don’t want to hang out with them if you don’t have to.

That aside I think Microsoft would have a chance in some of these areas if they would just get more unique. They are coming in way too late, and unless they really have a more unique spin they are going to be left in the dust.