It would not be optimal for Microsoft to die. And it is kinda sad that DEC and Sun are no more. I liked that http://altavista.digital.com. It was good.
That is not the definition of death that the article uses. He argues that Microsoft died as a monopolist, as the bully of the schoolyard. DEC and Sun never had that position to lose. IBM did, but now I keep paraphrasing the article. Read it :)