Will (or should) Microsoft be applauded for Kinect already?

So far, Microsoft, despite all its recent successes: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 & 2008 R2, Office 2010, SharePoint Server, Xbox 360 – yes, the Xbox!, has not been given it’s due props mainly due in ink to the fact that so many of the mainstream IT punditry and in the blogosphere are looking for the diminishing, IMO) accolades from the public for being the person who discovers the next ‘new thing’.

All the while, Microsoft is making bank in several areas, with SharePoint being the latest Microsoft product to garner more than $1 billion USD in annual revenue.

Are we going to add the Xbox, and its new hardware add-in, Kinect, to that august list?

Why?

Trip this:

• On November 4th, Microsoft released Kinect to the wild.
• I had pre-ordered a Kinect (for my office Xbox 360) from Amazon.com which I got on the 5th of November.
• Wifey purchased a Kinect at mega-mart* on November 4th for the kids’ Xbox. She just walked into mega-mart, and there were several units ready for purchase.
• There were several observations about Kinect possibly failing to meet expectations.
• Whispers started being heard about Kinect possibly being a, //gasp// failure!

How could this happen? Kinect had, in my opinion, gotten the highest marks for utility from virtually all out there. In that case, what was wrong, I wondered?

Yesterday, Microsoft released some data about Kinect.

Guess what?

In the ten days since the release of Kinect, the device has sold one million units. Not a typo, folks: one million copies!

Why are you yawning?

Let’s put this in perspective:

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    • The (previous) most impressive product in recent CE history is the iPhone. It took the iPhone 74 days to sell one million!
    • You say the iPhone was a new entrant while Kinect is a follow-on product? Okay. The most iconic product this year is the iPad, which is an extension of the iPhone. How long did it take the iPad to sell one million? 28 days!

What does that show?

It shows that when Microsoft actually innovates, it can move the crowd.

Moreover, remember that the Xbox 360 has the highest attach rate of all of the game consoles on the market, and you have a potential winner here.

I believe our two consoles added to that, including the two games we have, Kinect Sports & Kinect Joy Ride.

To show the versatility of Kinect, the Microsoft Lync team has released an add-in that allows for video conferencing calls with Kinect. This is just the beginning for Kinect.

10 days, one million units sold!

Kinect for Xbox 360.

It rocks!

To answer my question: yes, Microsoft should be applauded for Kinect, and Kinect’s success. Immediately.

Remember, we haven’t even mentioned Windows Phone 7!

Comments

[Chris Evans]

John

Is the issue here that because the Kinect is freely available, then there is no perceived shortage and no demand? I suspect so. In that case you have to wonder whether Apple engineered the shortages of iPad and iPhone in order to create the positive publicity or whether Microsoft were just better organised at getting the product to the suppliers.

Chris

[John Obeto]

@Chris: No, not so. While availability may be part of it, the point is that it is probably the most successful consumer electronics device launch in a very long while.

There is no doubt that the numbers revealed by Microsoft has shocked people who thought Kinect didn't have a chance. It shows that even with the less than perfect image Microsoft is saddled with, if it produces a great product, people would buy it.

Moreover, manipulating or managing availability of products does help create the sometimes positive cachet of exclusiveness for a product. And Apple is masterful at doing so.