Microsoft recently confirmed it will take hundreds of millions of dollars and years in financial and time investment to beat Apple (or at least catch up to it).

Microsoft is ambitious no doubt, but beating Apple won’t be that easy. I published my thoughts on the matter earlier this month. You can have a read here.

On a brighter note, at least Microsoft is prepping shareholders, analysts and themselves for the expectedly slow growth with Zune. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise when Microsoft reports disappointing growth numbers quarter after quarter for the next few years (hopefully?). Then again, who knows what Apple has in store for Microsoft? They certainly won’t be quiet.