You make it sound like its inevitable that Bing will be a huge success just because Microsoft can burn money. Its has made inroads, but my guess is that it has reached its peak.
I'm not counting on Microsoft giving up on its products - I just see them as patiently burning through cash (generated from its successful cash cows) without making a significant splash in mobile. Just because they can afford to throw away money doesn't mean that they'll be successful at all of their new ventures.
This isn't exclusively a Microsoft thing either. Look at Google and its multiple attempts at new products (Wave, Buzz, Google+). They can obviously afford it because of their own cash cow, search.
I DO think that it is inevitable that Microsoft won't become a threat so I stated my opinion and gave my reasons for it. Your reason that I shouldn't count them out was solely because they have cash to burn and have shown a past willingness to burn it. My reply to you is that such willingness does not mean that they will ever contend in this market.
I'm not counting on Microsoft giving up on its products - I just see them as patiently burning through cash (generated from its successful cash cows) without making a significant splash in mobile. Just because they can afford to throw away money doesn't mean that they'll be successful at all of their new ventures.
This isn't exclusively a Microsoft thing either. Look at Google and its multiple attempts at new products (Wave, Buzz, Google+). They can obviously afford it because of their own cash cow, search.