5 ms·

- Push out a system patch (and a Silverlight update for those who don't download patches) that causes IE6 to post a warning bar at the top of every page it visi

- Push out a system patch (and a Silverlight update for those who don't download patches) that causes IE6 to post a warning bar at the top of every page it visits, with a link that they should upgrade because the IE6 browser is no longer patched. Also, pay a sum to Adobe to cause the latest Adobe Reader Plugin to issue this same warning. - Get out of the browser business. It costs you too much money and gives you too little in return. Let everyone use all the other browsers like Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome, and others. But if you plan to stay in it, then switch to the Webkit engine and please by all means support CSS3 just as good as Chrome does. - Push for open audio, video, and vector animation standards in HTML5, moving with the pack instead of against it, and don't even bother whether Adobe or Apple are on board with those plans. - Remember the years when Apple was going through the transition from the old OS to the new OS based on BSD UNIX? They had an arrangement where you could run old apps as well as new apps. Microsoft should do something similar, but with Novell Suse Linux. - Take MS Office back to the old interface before the funky menubars, and slim down the interface a good bit so that there aren't so many menu items by default. - Simplify the registry or eliminate it altogether. It's a mess. Linux guys love .conf files. - In the new Linux-based OS, once you lock in where settings are located, quit changing them dramatically because it angers people. - Give Steve Ballmer a golden parachute. - Merge the company with Novell. And if not that, then rename it so that it kind of helps with the new image. - Push for the elimination of software patent laws that you introduced in the first place. But, since that takes a long time to achieve, do the IBM approach for now. That approach is to gobble up a bunch of software patents, but do not sue people who infringe. In fact, legally protect those who infringe, who are also challenged in court, because it generates more business for you, instead.

TeHCrAzY 17y ago
The MS Office tool bar gets a lot of flack. But it's not aimed at you or I. My mum can use it. Nuff said. Many corporate customers (lots of money) have legacy applications that require IE6. Cluttering the browser more would not be helpful and would garner more ill will. Backing out of the browser market and letting Apple/Google/Mozilla "win" would again be counter productive. IE8 is a good browser. Yes, its behind the others in many ways, but give them some more time. They had to build up from IE6, and I think they have begun to close the gaps quite quickly. I agree with open video and audio being a good direction. Merge with Linux? Why in the world would they do that? I don't have experience with the registry, so I can't comment here, but again, a linux style replacement is not going to be in MS's best interests. Ignoring the Linux part, yes, standardization is going to be key for them moving forward, and I think they have made some big steps with that in Vista => Windows 7. Why? I don't see how renaming possibly the biggest name in computing ("Microsoft") would help them in any way.
dangrossman 17y ago
Slight problem with #1: Internet Explorer 6, due to being part of Windows XP, is supported through 2014. It IS still patched, and will continue to be for another 4 years.

TeHCrAzY 17y ago

The MS Office tool bar gets a lot of flack. But it's not aimed at you or I. My mum can use it. Nuff said. Many corporate customers (lots of money) have legacy applications that require IE6. Cluttering the browser more would not be helpful and would garner more ill will. Backing out of the browser market and letting Apple/Google/Mozilla "win" would again be counter productive. IE8 is a good browser. Yes, its behind the others in many ways, but give them some more time. They had to build up from IE6, and I think they have begun to close the gaps quite quickly. I agree with open video and audio being a good direction. Merge with Linux? Why in the world would they do that? I don't have experience with the registry, so I can't comment here, but again, a linux style replacement is not going to be in MS's best interests. Ignoring the Linux part, yes, standardization is going to be key for them moving forward, and I think they have made some big steps with that in Vista => Windows 7. Why? I don't see how renaming possibly the biggest name in computing ("Microsoft") would help them in any way.

dangrossman 17y ago

Slight problem with #1: Internet Explorer 6, due to being part of Windows XP, is supported through 2014. It IS still patched, and will continue to be for another 4 years.