Is Microsoft a leader or a follower

Lately, it seems like Microsoft has fallen into the Number 2 position in many of its core technology areas. The behemoth used to command attention with every suggestion of a new technology. Today, the new Windows Phone 7 is not much competition to many of the new Apple or HTC products. Kinect is being presold on 360 boxes, but the real competitor to Wii won't be available until Christmas, we've heard that one before. The Microsoft CRM will now be updated to compete with Salesforce, I think that may be too late except for true Microsoft cult followers. Maybe the story that really got me thinking was the end of life announcements for Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2. Windows XP might still be the best and most stable product Microsoft ever made. Vista really came up short, but then again it didn't need to be best of class because it's the only one in class. Maybe Windows 7 will stand the test of time, but then again we've heard that one before