"microsoft is dead"

I guess if gaming represented the major force in purchasing decisions, I'd agree, but your statement sounds a bit like the article's author, when he muses that he hasn't seen anybody using a PC in the past few years. I suppose M$ will continue to be significant for some niche markets, but the premier market in terms of share, is business applications.

Which they will still reign king, for a good long while. Gaming, media centers, business apps and operating systems. When web apps actually start to catch on, MS will change their focus. Just like they have been doing all along. As seen with Office, IE, Gaming, Web development, programming, etc. MS would rather lead, with copying features from a few more prominent first apps, then just lag out.