Hating Microsoft: The Answer

Ok, last comment on this today, I swear.

How can Microsoft improve? They can't. because all the ways that they have left would threaten the various cash cows that they have. They are on the back of the tiger, and they cannot let go.

9:12:29 AM     Discuss: []


How To Hate Microsoft

So, Robert Scoble has posted an article up on his Longhorn weblog entitled How To Hate Microsoft.

It's an interesting read, and I'm sure as hell not going to post much from it, as it's getting loads of comments already. But I did want to mention a few things:

First off, I don't hate Microsoft. I distrust, and dislike their products. They are in a dangerous position that I don;t believe any company should be in, eg: the position to dictate to pretty much the world how things work on their computers.

Again, no one should be in that position, not Microsoft, Not Apple, Not Sun, no one.

Since they are, I want them removed, or failing that, I would like to see them begin to behave responsibly.

I like Robert's work, and his enthusiasm. That Microsoft can grab quality people speaks well of them. What happens after that gets a bit creepier.

If you read the article, you'll notice that Robert starts off well "Tell us why you hate us! We're listening!"

Then, scroll down a bit. Notice that his answers start turning into "what's in it for us?" (Us, being Microsoft, of course).

I can understand this, to a degree: "hey we're a business".

But then, so is Organized Crime. The point here is that we know that Microsoft can watch out for it's business interests, it's why most of their competition is dead (again, much like organized crime :))

I have to note as well, that the site his article is posted on, screws up the linefeeds so that you have to scroll horizontally on most browsers (well, not IE for Windows, of course).

That is Microsoft in action. You'll notice at the bottom, where it says "ASP.net".

Now, I have two reactions to that:

First off, by the time you read this, it may be fixed. Well, goody, but the fact that it was broke in the first place (i.e.: that it fucked up other, non-MS, browsers in the first place is the problem.

Secondly: At some point, Robert basically says "Hey the formatting isn't my fault." And he's right. But yet, it also is his fault. If he's gonna put on the royal "we" he can suck the results. :)

Anyways, it's an interesting read, so go ahead and read the article.

9:00:54 AM     Discuss: []


Why You Should Hate Microsoft

I do see that the top computer experts are very interested in seeing what we're gonna do in Longhorn. For instance, Eric Meyer, who is one of the world's formost Web standards authorities, expects us to do the wrong thing. He expects that on Monday we're going to try to kill the Web. [Robert Scoble]

I think that's the wrong way to look at Longhorn, although I certainly can understand why he might think that.

(Note: All above emphasis mine)

You see that last part by Robert that I bolded? That is one of the most feared sentence you can see from someone at Microsoft. Basically, the free translation is:

"Yes, we are going to do what you are thinking we will do (in this case, try to kill the web), but we think it'll be better for you."

It's interesting, Robert is already starting to talk the language.

8:19:27 AM     Discuss: []