What? Microsoft isn’t just like The Borg? Oh my!
Seriously, Microsoft doesn’t get enough credit or enough constructive criticism. They are far from flawless, but even farther from “The Evil Empire”. I would absolutely love to work for Microsoft and help improve their reputation in the “geekosphere”. I think Microsoft is on a better track now than just a few years back, but they still have a long way to go. The biggest problem they are facing though is that whatever they do they can not win. Look at the latest news from Redmond; opening up protocols and whatnot. But do they get any credit for it? Hardly… If Apple had done the same Steve Jobs would be elected president of the US and hailed by the Pope! Okay, maybe not the Pope, I dunno if he own an iPod (I don’t!), but ya’ll get my point I hope.
How to turn that around? Do something that impacts real peoples lives. Lower the price of Windows to about $100 and Office Home Edt. to about $50. And be honest about it; “We want more people to buy our software, so we lower the price.” Easy does it. And then start getting your products to work together. Make Media Center, Zune and Xbox360 work seamlessly (hint; today it does not!).
I’ll stop here, but if anybody is listening and want my opinions on how to make sure that Microsoft keeps going in the right direction and once again becomes a “happy-shiny” company; let me know and I will speak. π
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