If you take a step back in perspective I think you find that both companies are incredibly innovative... compared to other big companies or by any fair standard.
Microsoft sat on huge market influence and a captive market for 15 years with Windows. Even with the recent changes in the consumer OS market, they still have a incredible market power. Yet, You can't really honestly say that they haven't advanced the product with innovation. Apart from Windows they also went into new product categories. They've been developing genuinely futuristic technologies.
Compare the innovation at MS to the innovation at Sony or Panosnic, IBM or SAP. There is (was?) a lot of hype around companies of more recent generations. Take Salesforce. They were applauded for being innovative and pioneering SAAS for enterprise. Forbes most innovative company. They are innovative, but not more that Microsoft. Nt over the long term.
Compare MS (or Apple) to companies considered creative outside of the tech industry and it's Mike Tyson vs a skinny 14 year old. Ikea? Toyota? The Prius is creative and innovative. Toyotas quality system is one of the big innovations in manufacturing. Ikea really has had a cultural impact with their designs. Their way of setting up stores is innovative and creative. But these companies do not compare to MS or Apple. If you take 3-5 year blocks individually you will find big-to-huge innovations from Apple or MS in every block. If you look at Ikea or Toyota, you won't.
Microsoft sat on huge market influence and a captive market for 15 years with Windows. Even with the recent changes in the consumer OS market, they still have a incredible market power. Yet, You can't really honestly say that they haven't advanced the product with innovation. Apart from Windows they also went into new product categories. They've been developing genuinely futuristic technologies.
Compare the innovation at MS to the innovation at Sony or Panosnic, IBM or SAP. There is (was?) a lot of hype around companies of more recent generations. Take Salesforce. They were applauded for being innovative and pioneering SAAS for enterprise. Forbes most innovative company. They are innovative, but not more that Microsoft. Nt over the long term.
Compare MS (or Apple) to companies considered creative outside of the tech industry and it's Mike Tyson vs a skinny 14 year old. Ikea? Toyota? The Prius is creative and innovative. Toyotas quality system is one of the big innovations in manufacturing. Ikea really has had a cultural impact with their designs. Their way of setting up stores is innovative and creative. But these companies do not compare to MS or Apple. If you take 3-5 year blocks individually you will find big-to-huge innovations from Apple or MS in every block. If you look at Ikea or Toyota, you won't.