4 ms·

in my view MS did have a game changer http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/05/microsofts-courier-digital-journal-exclusive-pictures-and-de/?m=false http://www.engad

in my view MS did have a game changer http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/05/microsofts-courier-digital-journal-exclusive-pictures-and-de/?m=false http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/05/microsofts-courier-digita... It still makes the iPad look half baked. but as is the way with MS they killed it and settled for mediocre. I'm beggining to wonder if MS are actually scared of being innovative.

potatolicious 15y ago
> "I'm beggining to wonder if MS are actually scared of being innovative." This might actually be a pretty good summary of MSFT's corporate culture. The impression I always get from the inside is that it's a company dominated by middle managers. They've got so many PMs in so many layers that you'd wonder if it's just PMs all the way down. The combination of mature, gigantic company, lack of strong leadership, and extremely generous benefits has combined to create a population of people who are there for the stability and extremely afraid of rocking the boat or killing the golden goose.
- unavoidable 15y ago
  Instead, they are slowly bleeding the goose dry. Granted, the golden goose is still pretty fat and could sustain them for decades without doing anything significant. As it is though, Microsoft is pretty low in the innovation front. I don't think anybody has been "wowed" by any of their products since maybe Windows XP.
czhiddy 15y ago
Was the Courier ever anything more than a bunch of concept videos? Was there ever a prototype or anything close to that? Making futuristic looking concept movies is pretty easy compared to actually making and shipping a physical product.
MrScruff 15y ago
Courier was a concept video, not a product. There's a significant difference.
- wallflower 15y ago
  If you haven't read this, this is a short article on what Apple does so differently than almost all of its competitors - never announce something before it is shippable (e.g. production-qualified and vetted, supply chain and all) http://counternotions.com/2008/08/12/concept-products/ http://counternotions.com/2008/08/12/concept-products/
- AshMokhberi 15y ago
  I remember reading somewhere during the post mortem that they did actually go some ways to start building it.
- r00fus 15y ago
  I bet Apple threw away a dozen such concepts prior to designing the iPad, launching the iPhone (and subsequently iPad).

potatolicious 15y ago

> "I'm beggining to wonder if MS are actually scared of being innovative." This might actually be a pretty good summary of MSFT's corporate culture. The impression I always get from the inside is that it's a company dominated by middle managers. They've got so many PMs in so many layers that you'd wonder if it's just PMs all the way down. The combination of mature, gigantic company, lack of strong leadership, and extremely generous benefits has combined to create a population of people who are there for the stability and extremely afraid of rocking the boat or killing the golden goose.

unavoidable 15y ago
Instead, they are slowly bleeding the goose dry. Granted, the golden goose is still pretty fat and could sustain them for decades without doing anything significant. As it is though, Microsoft is pretty low in the innovation front. I don't think anybody has been "wowed" by any of their products since maybe Windows XP.

czhiddy 15y ago

Was the Courier ever anything more than a bunch of concept videos? Was there ever a prototype or anything close to that? Making futuristic looking concept movies is pretty easy compared to actually making and shipping a physical product.

MrScruff 15y ago

Courier was a concept video, not a product. There's a significant difference.

wallflower 15y ago
If you haven't read this, this is a short article on what Apple does so differently than almost all of its competitors - never announce something before it is shippable (e.g. production-qualified and vetted, supply chain and all) http://counternotions.com/2008/08/12/concept-products/ http://counternotions.com/2008/08/12/concept-products/
AshMokhberi 15y ago
I remember reading somewhere during the post mortem that they did actually go some ways to start building it.
r00fus 15y ago
I bet Apple threw away a dozen such concepts prior to designing the iPad, launching the iPhone (and subsequently iPad).