Show of Hands: Who Believes Gates?

Anyone? Not me.

Bill Gates told the AP that Microsoft isn't going to buy anyone. They are "going it alone" with their strategy. OK, let's pretend for a second that's true: Why would you make a point to tell us all that? (cricket, cricket)

Let's pretend for a second it's not true: Why would you tell us all that?
1. If the street becomes convinced no deal is in the offing; stock falls for Yahoo/AOL/anyone else they're eyeing.
2. Makes employees feel like they didn't lose by not buying Yahoo, i.e. they have a Web strategy.

If Henry is right and Microsoft has truly soured on Yahoo, I wonder if they go back to a focus on modernizing their dusty, cobwebby on premise/ desktop software business. [Pssssst, Steve Ballmer! Call Marc Benioff! I bet he'd be a lot cozier than Jerry Yang. Just remember it's Hawaii time where he is.]

SHow