5 ms·

It's a shame nobody is going to make components for all of the data centers running Linux anymore. Also, I feel really bad for Apple and Google that Microsoft

It's a shame nobody is going to make components for all of the data centers running Linux anymore. Also, I feel really bad for Apple and Google that Microsoft is going to deliver such an ass-kicking tablet that it puts them out of business, or at least into a distant second and third place. Yeah, that was sarcasm. My experience, over 25+ years, has been that MS products are almost always inferior to the competition (with the possible exception of XBox), and only exceed where they can exploit bundling. I don't see the leverage over tablet users. Also, how many places hung on to WinXP until support ran out, since Vista/7 sucks so bad? (7 might be less glitchy, but I still HATE the new UI, and I am relieved not to have to use it at home) I suppose if MS starts to bundle their own PC hardware with Win8 at WalMart and BestBuy, it will make traditional PC components more expensive, alas.

debacle 14y ago
Microsoft sells the best $20 keyboards and mice that money can buy, and has for the last 15 years.
- Splines 14y ago
  Logitech does really well too (so maybe there is still room for OEMs?). I work at MS but I use a Logitech as my daily-driver mouse (it's hard to find a MS mouse that has a wheel with detents, is wireless, and has back/forward buttons).
  - rogerbinns 14y ago
    I'm a Linux guy for two decades and all the hardware accessories I buy are from Microsoft - keyboards, mice, webcams, joysticks etc. I did do Logitech for a while, but they were incredibly user hostile - for example they didn't have drivers available for download, at one point wanted to charge for them, and then the final straw was a driver for a USB keyboard that refused to install on the grounds that I was pirating the driver! I detest the constant assumption in Windows that you are a vile thief stealing it, but the hardware accessories have been the other way around. Drivers always available, always worked, and even available for Mac. And on Linux the hardware has just worked out of the box.
- X-Istence 14y ago
  I have two MacBook Pro's, I use Apple's aluminium keyboards, I have an iPhone, an iPad, and I run the latest version of OS X... but I will NEVER give up my Microsoft mice. I have two Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000, one for work and one for home. Unfortunately the USB cable is fraying on the one at work and I am looking for a replacement and they no longer make the Laser Mouse 6000, but I won't purchase a mouse made by Apple or Logitech. This Microsoft mouse has been with me since 2006 and has been the best mouse I have ever used. At this point they are 6 years old and I am thinking of replacing the USB cable to make them last even longer.
- noarchy 14y ago
  I happily use a Microsoft bluetooth mouse with my Xubuntu-based laptop, as I can't seem to stand using a touchpad of any kind. Previous Microsoft-branded hardware that I've used (keyboards) have been quite nice, as well.
- thenomad 14y ago
  Agreed. I had their Ergonomic keyboard from 2001 and clung on to it for grim death for 11 years, before eventually replacing it with ... their new ergonomic keyboard.
- seanmcdirmid 14y ago
  At work (also MS) I use my personal IBM Model M keyboard...dated from 1993, the same year that I graduated from high school. You used to be able to find them for $10 in surplus stores, but these days you have to pony up $50 or $60, sometimes even $100. Why can't someone make a nice tactile keyboard at an affordable price? Humidity is getting at my keyboard and I'll need a replacement soon.
- Roboprog 14y ago
  Fair enough, I even have one of their keyboards. I was thinking about their very ill software, though, which would be part of the bundle, crippling whatever it was the table did.
ralfn 14y ago
How exactly is the xbox an exception? Im not a console guy, my favorite desktop OS is Linux. But i like to play games, so i had a windows dual boot, and a Wii. But Windows requires way too much maintainace. And dual booting is annoying: i am an impatient guy. So i got an XBox. Because consoles are hassle free, right? Boy, was i suprised. The interface (metro) is horrible with a controller. Voice commands are not available in Holland either (not even in English). The thing boots slower than every other device in my house. Xbox live is flaky, and the thing has daily updates. It was the worst user interface experience in my life. Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe the name itself should have tipped me off (this is aimed at 16 year olds with too much time, that like to tinker). Maybe Apple sand Google spoiled me, with iOS and Android, proving that a device could be simple, with low maintainance. Maybe i expected just a faster Wii. Or maybe, Microsoft is just very very incompetent. Maybe the PS3 is better, i would not know. The general consensus seems to be that xbox live is better than psn, but its hard to imagine, just how bad the ps3 would have to be. But seriously, how can anyone bring such a confusing pile of horseshit to the market. Its beyond my comprehension. In the end, it was just a slower booting windows, with a worse controller, and more updates, bullshit dialogs, and bugs. I hate the thing. It was the biggest purchasing mistake in my life. Oh, and kinect does not work. Not that i care about that much, but its a complete deception.
- Roboprog 14y ago
  Sorry, I don't have an XBox, but they seem to have a following that really likes them. I seldom use my daughter's Wii, so what do I know about games...
  - ralfn 14y ago
    They sure do have a loyal following. Even here. I noticed the downvotes on my comment. In general it seems that both the PS3 and the 360 have a very loyal following, yet hate each others system. There seems to be a culture war there. This seems to distracts people from actually noticing the quality (or lack there of) compared to its potential. And its hard to have an honest debate about that, without all the fanboys showing up, and focusing on which system sucks less. I guess consoles are just not for adults. I don't have the time or the patience to deal with that all that crap. It's no easier than just running windows. It's actually worse. And we can't speak out, because it will be drowned out by the fanboys focusing on which console sucks more. All I know, is that, unlike what I expected, the 360 did not provide any value to me. And it's all because of the software and UX.

debacle 14y ago

Microsoft sells the best $20 keyboards and mice that money can buy, and has for the last 15 years.

Splines 14y ago
Logitech does really well too (so maybe there is still room for OEMs?). I work at MS but I use a Logitech as my daily-driver mouse (it's hard to find a MS mouse that has a wheel with detents, is wireless, and has back/forward buttons).
- rogerbinns 14y ago
  I'm a Linux guy for two decades and all the hardware accessories I buy are from Microsoft - keyboards, mice, webcams, joysticks etc. I did do Logitech for a while, but they were incredibly user hostile - for example they didn't have drivers available for download, at one point wanted to charge for them, and then the final straw was a driver for a USB keyboard that refused to install on the grounds that I was pirating the driver! I detest the constant assumption in Windows that you are a vile thief stealing it, but the hardware accessories have been the other way around. Drivers always available, always worked, and even available for Mac. And on Linux the hardware has just worked out of the box.
X-Istence 14y ago
I have two MacBook Pro's, I use Apple's aluminium keyboards, I have an iPhone, an iPad, and I run the latest version of OS X... but I will NEVER give up my Microsoft mice. I have two Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000, one for work and one for home. Unfortunately the USB cable is fraying on the one at work and I am looking for a replacement and they no longer make the Laser Mouse 6000, but I won't purchase a mouse made by Apple or Logitech. This Microsoft mouse has been with me since 2006 and has been the best mouse I have ever used. At this point they are 6 years old and I am thinking of replacing the USB cable to make them last even longer.
noarchy 14y ago
I happily use a Microsoft bluetooth mouse with my Xubuntu-based laptop, as I can't seem to stand using a touchpad of any kind. Previous Microsoft-branded hardware that I've used (keyboards) have been quite nice, as well.
thenomad 14y ago
Agreed. I had their Ergonomic keyboard from 2001 and clung on to it for grim death for 11 years, before eventually replacing it with ... their new ergonomic keyboard.
seanmcdirmid 14y ago
At work (also MS) I use my personal IBM Model M keyboard...dated from 1993, the same year that I graduated from high school. You used to be able to find them for $10 in surplus stores, but these days you have to pony up $50 or $60, sometimes even $100. Why can't someone make a nice tactile keyboard at an affordable price? Humidity is getting at my keyboard and I'll need a replacement soon.
Roboprog 14y ago
Fair enough, I even have one of their keyboards. I was thinking about their very ill software, though, which would be part of the bundle, crippling whatever it was the table did.

ralfn 14y ago

How exactly is the xbox an exception? Im not a console guy, my favorite desktop OS is Linux. But i like to play games, so i had a windows dual boot, and a Wii. But Windows requires way too much maintainace. And dual booting is annoying: i am an impatient guy. So i got an XBox. Because consoles are hassle free, right? Boy, was i suprised. The interface (metro) is horrible with a controller. Voice commands are not available in Holland either (not even in English). The thing boots slower than every other device in my house. Xbox live is flaky, and the thing has daily updates. It was the worst user interface experience in my life. Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe the name itself should have tipped me off (this is aimed at 16 year olds with too much time, that like to tinker). Maybe Apple sand Google spoiled me, with iOS and Android, proving that a device could be simple, with low maintainance. Maybe i expected just a faster Wii. Or maybe, Microsoft is just very very incompetent. Maybe the PS3 is better, i would not know. The general consensus seems to be that xbox live is better than psn, but its hard to imagine, just how bad the ps3 would have to be. But seriously, how can anyone bring such a confusing pile of horseshit to the market. Its beyond my comprehension. In the end, it was just a slower booting windows, with a worse controller, and more updates, bullshit dialogs, and bugs. I hate the thing. It was the biggest purchasing mistake in my life. Oh, and kinect does not work. Not that i care about that much, but its a complete deception.

Roboprog 14y ago
Sorry, I don't have an XBox, but they seem to have a following that really likes them. I seldom use my daughter's Wii, so what do I know about games...
- ralfn 14y ago
  They sure do have a loyal following. Even here. I noticed the downvotes on my comment. In general it seems that both the PS3 and the 360 have a very loyal following, yet hate each others system. There seems to be a culture war there. This seems to distracts people from actually noticing the quality (or lack there of) compared to its potential. And its hard to have an honest debate about that, without all the fanboys showing up, and focusing on which system sucks less. I guess consoles are just not for adults. I don't have the time or the patience to deal with that all that crap. It's no easier than just running windows. It's actually worse. And we can't speak out, because it will be drowned out by the fanboys focusing on which console sucks more. All I know, is that, unlike what I expected, the 360 did not provide any value to me. And it's all because of the software and UX.