Microsoft's fundamental problem with Windows Phone

No amount of $500 million marketing campaigns are going to help sell Windows Phone because most people associate Microsoft with Windows Mobile IF they associate them at all with mobile phones. So you're combating a bad history and on top of which Microsoft is not considered a "cool" company like Apple and Facebook. Apple has spent the last 15 years building up their current image. Microsoft has been doing a few cool things with Zune & XBox for a few years, but the fiascos negated any potential cachet. Stuff like Kin, Ballmer saying stupid crap, the failed Courier project and so on. Microsoft needs an uninterrupted run of good products and quiet, effective CEO for at least 5 years straight to undo the current DAMAGE. This is just the way things are no matter how Tribers want it to be.