4 ms·

The Windows OOBE experience is trash now. Thanks to their “on by default” widgets, it’s like getting a subscription to the National Enquirer along with an OS.

The Windows OOBE experience is trash now. Thanks to their “on by default” widgets, it’s like getting a subscription to the National Enquirer along with an OS. This isn’t a knock against the idea of widgets btw. Widgets can be useful. The issue is, whoever PMed this feature has applied his or her taste on to millions of Windows users. This is a masterclass on how not to manage a widely used product.

midoridensha 4y ago
>This is a masterclass on how not to manage a widely used product. The MSFT stock price disagrees with you. Looks like they're managing it just fine to me.
- signal11 4y ago
  The stock price has little to do with product quality, especially for a company like Microsoft with multiple revenue streams. That said, Windows OEM revenue is down almost 40% [1] — yes weak PC sales have contributed, but these days I suspect it’s going to be difficult for Microsoft to find enthusiastic PC buyers. Most buyers grit their teeth and spend time undoing Microsoft’s obnoxious defaults. [1] https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/24/23569050/microsoft-q2-2023-earnings-revenue-profits-windows-xbox-gaming-surface https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/24/23569050/microsoft-q2-202...
  - midoridensha 4y ago
    >The stock price has little to do with product quality, especially for a company like Microsoft with multiple revenue streams. Product quality has little to do with profitability, and really isn't very important to the company that makes the product, except as far as it helps them make more profit. With MS, quality just isn't very important: their customers will buy their crapware no matter how bad it is, as long as it does what they need most of the time. Windows actually works pretty well these days (i.e., not blue-screening if you look at it wrong or wait 30 minutes like in the Win95 days); the complaints are mostly about adware now. >these days I suspect it’s going to be difficult for Microsoft to find enthusiastic PC buyers. Microsoft doesn't need enthusiastic PC buyers. There's hordes of people and businesses willing to buy their adware-laden OS for $reasons; MS can simply milk them for more and more money with things like ads and tracking. Maybe next they can take a page from the budget airlines and car companies and charge people extra fees (or subscription fees) for generally-necessary add-ons, like networking/WiFi support, external drive support, etc. >Most buyers grit their teeth and spend time undoing Microsoft’s obnoxious defaults. Exactly. Why should MS bother making products people really want, or not annoying them with stuff like ads, when people are going to buy their crapware regardless? It would be a breach of their fiduciary duty not to take advantage of their customers with this situation. The PC market is saturated anyway, so there's no room for new growth; the correct course for them is to milk their existing customers who refuse to go elsewhere.

midoridensha 4y ago

>This is a masterclass on how not to manage a widely used product. The MSFT stock price disagrees with you. Looks like they're managing it just fine to me.

signal11 4y ago
The stock price has little to do with product quality, especially for a company like Microsoft with multiple revenue streams. That said, Windows OEM revenue is down almost 40% [1] — yes weak PC sales have contributed, but these days I suspect it’s going to be difficult for Microsoft to find enthusiastic PC buyers. Most buyers grit their teeth and spend time undoing Microsoft’s obnoxious defaults. [1] https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/24/23569050/microsoft-q2-2023-earnings-revenue-profits-windows-xbox-gaming-surface https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/24/23569050/microsoft-q2-202...
- midoridensha 4y ago
  >The stock price has little to do with product quality, especially for a company like Microsoft with multiple revenue streams. Product quality has little to do with profitability, and really isn't very important to the company that makes the product, except as far as it helps them make more profit. With MS, quality just isn't very important: their customers will buy their crapware no matter how bad it is, as long as it does what they need most of the time. Windows actually works pretty well these days (i.e., not blue-screening if you look at it wrong or wait 30 minutes like in the Win95 days); the complaints are mostly about adware now. >these days I suspect it’s going to be difficult for Microsoft to find enthusiastic PC buyers. Microsoft doesn't need enthusiastic PC buyers. There's hordes of people and businesses willing to buy their adware-laden OS for $reasons; MS can simply milk them for more and more money with things like ads and tracking. Maybe next they can take a page from the budget airlines and car companies and charge people extra fees (or subscription fees) for generally-necessary add-ons, like networking/WiFi support, external drive support, etc. >Most buyers grit their teeth and spend time undoing Microsoft’s obnoxious defaults. Exactly. Why should MS bother making products people really want, or not annoying them with stuff like ads, when people are going to buy their crapware regardless? It would be a breach of their fiduciary duty not to take advantage of their customers with this situation. The PC market is saturated anyway, so there's no room for new growth; the correct course for them is to milk their existing customers who refuse to go elsewhere.