Fresh Bias Against Microsoft Already?
First off, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am a DIE-HARD Linux user. It’s what I use exclusively except when I need to run a Windows program, which is done on my Ubuntu box with VirtualBox running XP in seamless mode. Needless to say, I am not a Microsoft fan per se.
With the above statement out of the way, what the heck is with the ongoing bias against Microsoft trying something new? Have we as geeks, become so disenfranchised with the Redmond software company that we believe anything they produce is something to be mocked regardless of any potential merit?
Look, as we have seen from the Windows 7 Beta, Microsoft is getting a clue. And I think this is awesome! Why? OS competition means we each end up with better products regardless of the OS we use. This goes for Windows, OS X and yes, to a slightly different degree, Linux users as well.
No, I do not see this as copying Apple as up until recently, Microsoft’s OEM deals were more than enough to eliminate any need for a brick and mortar store. This is a battle for mindshare, not sales.
Microsoft is clearly, trying to make sure that down the road, they can regain what have lost recently to Apple due to the fact that they have really not been able to provide a good software experience since XP. Hopefully, they will learn that their biggest enemy to date is not Apple, rather their profit base built on control of how people use their products.
While I do not pretend to have a silver bullet for them, one thing is for sure. DRM-slated mentality is dated and needs to be put out with the trash. If they can wrap their minds around this, Microsoft will do well with their consumer mindshare in the years to come.
6 Comments
Gerald Berg
February 18th, 2009
at 8:58am
Matt, I have never understoodjwhy UBUNTU is such a great deal other than it is something diferent. That is part of what I want to say, and that is, many folks like to complain about anything that is big. That includes MIcrosoft, IBM etc. When someone is in the tech area and todays geek, which I think I am and have been for 43 years, we feel we know how to make things better and can’t understand when Microsoft doesn’t respond to their wishes. Once it starts,and is joined by others, it won’t go away and the rants go on and on.
Some others, like you, are more open to what is happening and more knowledgable about the changes internally in software systems.
I have been a reader of your stuff since it was in Iowa and really enjoy your writing. I have read and used many things I have seen in you columns.
Jerry Berg
NAt
February 18th, 2009
at 11:04am
Did you notice this line in the article:
“The news is just too tempting not to have some fun with.”
They’re just having some fun. Last time I read PC World, it was still 95% Windows-centric.
Having said that, I do think Microsoft has a bit of an inferiority complex when it comes to competition. They seem to feel the need to copy things that Apple does on the OS side of the business and Google does on the search/advertising side of things.
Instead of focusing on their own core strengths, they’re always trying to prove they can have the same strengths as their competitors, and they fail at it in most cases.
leftystrat
February 18th, 2009
at 1:00pm
Hi Matt. I’m another die-hard linux user.
I think you mis-classified the post to which you refer. It’s not bias – it’s satire. Pretty darn funny too, or at least I think so.
That aside, of course there is going to be bias. Their reputation is well-deserved.
I have to disagree with you as far as W7 indicating MS is getting a clue though. The reports I’ve read indicate it’s a prettier Vista, which was an unqualified nightmare for both MS and their customers.
Regardless of OS, I completely fail to get how hiding familiar functions enhances operability (Vista or KDE4). Adding more clicks just frustrates the user. The first time I saw Vista, I had to go hunting for a SHUT DOWN option. That’s pretty poor design, imo.
Keep up the insightful blogging,
-lefty
El Pelon
February 19th, 2009
at 4:21am
Microsoft has earned a bad reputation. To repeat, they have EARNED it. WGA, business app lock-in, attempting to foist crappy proprietary standards in place of well-established standards that are open, bloatware, I could go on and on.
Nixon managed to change his image quite a bit before he passed. Microsoft will have to pull off the same miracle.
Core-Rado
March 1st, 2009
at 8:19pm
We so hard to release the myith of MS? is any body around here still can believe in it? How many more computers will they kill to make enough profit? It is a convicted criminal organization and never will change and serve end users…it is sad, how I see- just today- SEVEN- different computers- killed by updates!
“If they can wrap their minds around this, Microsoft will do well with their consumer mindshare in the years to come.”
Dead horse driven by a fat and old jockey!
Core-Rado
March 1st, 2009
at 8:21pm
Why so hard to release the myth of MS? Is anybody around here still can believe in it? How many more computers will they kill to make enough profit? It is a “convicted criminal organization” and never will change and serve end users…
“If they can wrap their minds around this, Microsoft will do well with their consumer mindshare in the years to come.”
Dead horse driven by a fat and old jockey!