The Microsoft way

[rpm]

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Software/1756.html

 

[general_koffi]

You just need to emulate the best. It’s the Microsoft way.

And have the best lawyers...

 

[Tns]

i think i'll keep saving my work to a secure network behind a nice 10mm steel door. Besides saving a 20meg powerpoint file to web is going to take way too long

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I won't trust that live Orifice... M$ giving free access to software? There's bound to be a catch somewhere...

Read this ubersoft.net comic strip...

 

[SlappY]

Actually MS gives away tons of free stuff. They also heavily fund community based projects, etc. What I dont get is why this article hauls them over the coals for improving good concepts. Imagine if no one copied and improved the motor car? Where would we be today. What they are doing is driving the industry and innovation, sure they make some bucks in the mean time, but their product is damm good. And the big seller for their stuff is interoperability. Everything talks to everything, from cell to web to laptop to gaming console, to home automation, to everything. Couple that with their new vision of online persistence (Yes believe it or not this is actually feesable in real countries) and you got some brilliant solutions. Until someone else offers ALL of this, I am sticking with MS.

 

[Nocturne]

You know, I was actually talking to my fiance about this the other day. I've always had huge respect for Microsoft as a company, and for Microsoft's software. So, on my desktop, it's Windows. On my notebook, it's Windows. On my Media Centre PC, it's Windows. On my cellphone, it's Windows. I think their marketing prowess is second to none, and their ability to adapt other people's ideas is legendary. I don't believe in any way shape or form that Microsoft should be accountable to anyone but their shareholders for their success in the computer software market.

But their recent forays (Well, the past 10 years or so, actually) saddens me very deeply. WTF do they want to go after Google for?! Google worked just as hard as Microsoft did to get where they are today. They employed different tactics, sure, but they worked just as hard. I have the same respect for Google as I do for Microsoft. As far as I'm concerned they're in two completely different industries! Sheesh, you don't have to kill everyone! You can rule the offline software market, Microsoft. And good on you - "all hail!" and all that. But why you feel the need to rule the online market too is beyond me. There is such a thing as "too much money", you know?!

Unfortunately, if I really have to sit down and think about it, I think Microsoft would beat Google in a fight due to sheer force of marketing alone (Nevermind dirty tricks, which we know Microsoft is very good at). And that will be very sad indeed.

 

[MFour]

I have an issue with M$, simply because they fool people into believing their new products are the best thing ever. People go out and spend thousands buying the newest bestest thing ever, just to find out that the product is actually still a beta version. The security patches, service packs all "soon to be released".

In efffect it is the same as buying a new model car (yes here comes the car again) which will only start up in the morning if you first pump the gas pedel 22 times, then open and close the passeneger door twice. This you only find out after you have actually bought the car and when confronting the dealer you are told that you wont have the problem if you move to a area which is at least 500m above sea level. However you don't have to worry, because soon there will be a new starter kit available for you to upgrade your nice new car. Pitty that you will have to first get the car started, drive out all your petrol on your way to the service station, and then waste your day watching people working in slow motion (due to labour policies) to fit the new "upgrade"...

Eh, I could go on and on, but that would be giving M$ more attention than they deserve. I don't think it is right that we are forced to PAY M$ to test their products for them.

 

[Nick333]

i think i'll keep saving my work to a secure network behind a nice 10mm steel door. Besides saving a 20meg powerpoint file to web is going to take way too long

Well I'm sure how critical security is to most small business', but using Google docs is R3000 or R4000 per PC off your start up costs and the portability is great. As for uploading a file to the web, thats only a problem in countries were line speeds under 1mb are the norm (namely SA).

 

[apogeeza]

If memory serves: Mac did not loose the case, they ran out of money keeping THAT many suits in court for so long and asked for financial bail-out, and who came to the rescue? M$... with conditions that they drop ALL the suits against them...

 

[Nocturne]

lol brilliant!! I did not know that.

 

[GavinMannion]

But their recent forays (Well, the past 10 years or so, actually) saddens me very deeply. WTF do they want to go after Google for?!

Honestly to put it maturely..

Google started it

They developed Gmail and Google Documents both of which are direct competition to Microsoft. Especially Google Documents, which suck.

 

[nk1]

Actually Google Doc's is working fine for me and I would assume for the majority of people who do not need the fancy features of M$ Office.
What's good about all of this is that we as consumers are the winners as we now have a greater choice.