5 ms·
Microsoft could build a robot that did chores around the house for me, and I still would have no interest in it. Because it's microsoft, and there is a lot of b
by meesterdude 11y ago
Microsoft could build a robot that did chores around the house for me, and I still would have no interest in it. Because it's microsoft, and there is a lot of baggage that goes along with that. This holds true for other large tech companies as well - there is always baggage. It might be poor updates, crappy support, no production quality, poor execution, poor security, or required integration with their larger platform.
Yahoo is faced with a similar problem; they can't shake who they are, no matter how cool or different they try to rebrand themselves. They're still Yahoo. And nobody is interested.
I say this because MS seems to think that if they get a slamdunk on technology, everything else will fall into place. And maybe there is some truth to that. But you can't escape who you are and what you've done, especially when it's become your M.O.
Facebook has an advantage in this space: they're still a new name in tech. They're "hipper" although still have their own baggage; but it remains to be seen how that permeates throughout what they do. So far it hasn't looked good though.
Really, I think there is too much talent locked up in this major companies. I think the world would be better off if more engineers and creatives were forging their own paths, chasing their own dreams and coming to market themselves. We need less whales and more/bigger fish.
- jmspring 11y agoFacebook is a new name? The review of the the pixel book got me thinking... What do FB and GOOG have to prop up their valuation beyond advertising? In both cases the user is the product, advertisers the customer. Amazon, MSFT, and Apple have other avenues. It's always interesting how a past reputation glosses of a legacy name is used to gloss over the behaviors of "a new name".
- bitmapbrother 11y agoWhat does Microsoft have besides Office/Windows? And what does Apple have besides the iPhone?
- jongalloway2 11y agoHere's a list circa 2013: http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-16-billion-dollar-businesses-an-updated-list/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-16-billion-dollar-bu...
- bitmapbrother 11y agoThe moment I saw XBOX I knew that list was suspect. And according to Ballmer even the Azure numbers are cooked.
- leonroy 11y agoYou (and I) might have that baggage but the new 20 somethings at work have a very different view of Microsoft. Their view is of a company who makes great games and consoles and a phone that no one wants. Show them Active Directory, Office365 and they're a little taken aback that Microsoft does other stuff.
- josephmx 11y agoYou're hiring 20 year olds who don't know what Microsoft Office is?
- Seventhson74 11y agoMy kids school district just went to Google Docs. My kids will not have any office experience going into college unless I teach them.....
- Seventhson74 11y agoI don;t feel that this is true at all. Few other companies can produce consumer loyalty as those who provide an O/S with which you operate a machine. One of those other industries is automobiles. I really never got it but my father, brother, uncles and cousins were all 'loyalists' to particular auto brands. None of them liked Ford and would trash Ford products as though one of their vehicles ran over grandma. Since Ford did not take any money from the auto bailout in 2009(?) guess who's family is filled with Ford's? - and they rave about how awesome they are. Point is these are cyclical things. MS will have it's time in the sun again as long as operating systems are a thing. The thing that should scare people is that companies have 'institutional memory'. I feel like Apple, having been so close to closing down in the late 90's could get to that place again and feel like it's not a big deal cause they have been in that spot before. Meaning no one freaks out until it's too late. MS really bit it when they missed the mobile and tablet markets. And both times can be attributed to bad leadership by Ballmer. When the Board let him go, MS still had great financials but their future was uncertain because they were not even competing with Apple and Google (In a realistic way). Point is MS doesn't wait until a the money dries up to try and right the ship.