It's not about security. It's about perception. If something makes people more comfortable with web applications than with desktop applications (and a "Windows is inherently insecure and broken" perception would do a lot for that) Microsoft will have a problem they probably will not be able to deal with in time.<p>Remember Google has deep pockets and less legacy to protect. They can move fast.<p>Microsoft has a very complicated entanglement of obligations and expectations they will have a hard time compromising. The perception of a rule-changing development is incredibly dangerous for them, and giving mixed messages about which way their corporate clients should go with their IT infrastructure won't help either.<p>Why do you think Microsoft would end up in advantage after such a confrontation?