You know what's really cool about this? Microsoft and Apple have both taken stabs at this problem multiple times. The companies that make the operating systems on about 99% of PCs have both tried this. They've had some success at it, but it's never been a killer app or a feature that people rave about.
Knowing that, dhouston still created DropBox. He did a fantastic job. He knocked it out of the park. Now 2 million people have used the thing and he's well on his way to building a very successful business with it.
I think what he's getting at is that if Microsoft has a similar product and they gained 2 million users, it would not be seen as impressive, because that is still far less than 1% of all Windows users.
So, while Microsoft may have a competing product with many millions of users, at their scale it doesn't get the same recognition as a startup gaining 2 million users.
FolderShare was acquired. I don't know if Microsoft has done a terrible lot with the program since the acquisition to be able to claim the success as its own.
I wasn't attempting to dole out credit. I was highlighting the fact that dhouston was brave enough to start DropBox in the face of circumstances that would probably have deterred many of us.
The whole team deserves a ton of credit for what they've accomplished.
Knowing that, dhouston still created DropBox. He did a fantastic job. He knocked it out of the park. Now 2 million people have used the thing and he's well on his way to building a very successful business with it.
Don't let the big guys scare you.