5 ms·

Is Microsoft Turning the Corner in the Consumer Space?

21 points by Anchor 14y ago

venus 14y ago
I've never seen one of these supposed "Smartphone of the Year" Lumia 920s in the wild, so I'm guessing the answer is "no". Perhaps they are turning the corner in stuffing online "Smartphone of the Year" polls. edit: from the same blog yesterday: http://blog.pluralsight.com/2013/02/22/video-unleash-the-power-of-coldfusion-for-your-website/ http://blog.pluralsight.com/2013/02/22/video-unleash-the-pow... I wonder if ColdFusion was the "Engadget Reader's Choice Web Framework of the Year".
- psbp 14y ago
  Microsoft has lost all possible credibility by astroturfing. I'm doubtful of any bit of positive feedback that I see about their products.
  - stinos 14y ago
    losing objectivity and going all for prejudice seems a bit over the top if it's based on just the astroturfing
    - AnthonyMouse 14y ago
      The boy who cried wolf comes to mind. Really the proof is in the pudding. I'll know Microsoft's mobile products are worth not comprehensively ignoring when there is a general consensus among trustworthy people that they've achieved at least ~20% overall market share. And if Microsoft has to try double hard to get there because of general suspicions about their past behavior then bully for them -- let it serve as a lesson to others that we have long memories and ruining your own reputation has consequences.
      - rednukleus 14y ago
        So are you saying its worth comprehensively ignoring OS X and Linux? They have never had anything close to 20% of the personal computer market.
        AnthonyMouse 14y ago
        They have never to my knowledge paid anyone to surreptitiously lie to me either. That's what happens when you lie, in the future no one believes you. Also, isn't that what people do in reality anyway? I don't see an official version of e.g. Photoshop for Ubuntu, which I have to imagine would exist if it had >20% market share. And OS X does have >20% market share among those who use Photoshop, whereas pick your favorite non-web based line of business software and chances are it isn't available for OS X or Linux. Isn't that why everyone always says they aren't worth considering for business use? No software? Not enough market share?
        rednukleus 14y ago
        Well, here is an example of a blatant lie that Apple put in a newpaper magazine a long time ago: http://i.imgur.com/qq19rcD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/qq19rcD.jpg The famous "we invented the first personal computer system". I guess nobody can never believe anything they say again. Steam should probably stop selling games for OSX and Linux, as they don't represent anywhere near 20% of the market. Or should we just cherry pick some stat where they are over 20%? Let's do that with Windows Phone 8 too then. I'm sure they are over 20% usage of something, or will be soon. >20% usage of One Note? Or we could just judge technology on its merits, and take everything technology sites say about all of this stuff with a grain of salt.
        venus 14y ago
        Is there an argumentative equivalent of "damning with faint praise"? Because if the best you can do to prove that Apple lied is pull out some black and white scan of a 30 year old newspaper ad where they might have taken a bit of license with the very fuzzily-defined term "personal computer", then you actually make it look like Apple is the most scrupulously honest corporation in the history of the world.
  - dade_ 14y ago
    MS astroturfing seems to be on overdrive the last year. It is so bad now that I treat MS product reviews with the same skepticism as the national enquirer. For example, the sudden journalist interest in "Microsoft is cool" studies this week. I think it is trashing the reputation of PC mag and CNET, but it is giving a great opportunity for individual journalists and bloggers to build their own credibility. In the meantime, I'm thankful for my technet subscription so that I can make up my own mind.
- sjwright 14y ago
  Most self-respecting programmers of ColdFusion have migrated to Railo, a fully open-source drop-in replacement for the commercial Adobe version. Railo is better than the Adobe version in just about every meaningful metric.
- nkerkin 14y ago
  Just another data point, I met 3 other people with 920s within 2 weeks of launch. Seems like any time MS gets favourable press these days, they must have paid for it :/
- naner 14y ago
  Depends who you hang around. The hip iPhone kids probably won't touch the thing, but here in what once was blackberry land (enterprise office) I see Lumias all over the place. Can't say the same about RT, though. I've heard very few positive comments...
  - venus 14y ago
    Fair enough. I don't really hang around in enterprise circles any more these days; I can readily imagine that the new windows phones are filling a role there. And it's funny you say "hip iphone kids". I'm well out of the "kid" generation but I think the iphone has lost quite a bit of coolness this last year. They're just all the bloody same. I don't think I'm that big a snob but even I feel a pang of annoyance when I notice some bratty little schoolkid pulling out the exact same model phone I have. I get the vibe Android is considered a bit cooler now; it's certainly considered more individualistic.
jrkelly 14y ago
The 920 is really a beautiful device -- if you haven't gotten your hands on one you should try it out. It's the first phone I can't stop fiddling with since the original iPhone.
- Gigablah 14y ago
  I have the 900, and while I really like the OS, the form factor is slightly unwieldy for me. The 920 is even bigger, so I'm looking at the 820 instead. Pity about the lower pixel density on that one.
  - Geee 14y ago
    Nokia introduces some new phones on monday at MWC. Based on rumors: 520, 720, and maybe a new slim aluminum 920 called Catwalk.
damian2000 14y ago
Aren't Pluralsight biased though? their courses are mainly focused on the MS stack.
fumar 14y ago
I am replacing my lady's Samsung Galaxy II with a Lumia 920. She loves her Surface RT. I was doubtful of the Lumia at first. But, I spent a good while playing with the device at the store. It is super smooth. The screen and camera are great. The only thing missing is the Square payments app. Which we use for our business. The app ecosystem makes the transition difficult. But, overall using Skydrive has been great with the Surface. I look forward to seeing it work in conjunction with the Lumia. Personally, I was thinking of moving from the Galaxy Nexus to Nexus 4. As much as I like using a clean version Jelly Bean, the Lumia hardware is calling my name. As for Microsoft turning a corner, It still has a long way to go. Specifically, in its communications. Many of the features, I like about Surface do not get mentioned. The dancing commercials do not communicate functionality. For example, I use the microHDMI cable to connect Surface to a monitor. Then I can use Excel on a monitor and the web on the Surface. The USB port alone, has been a godsend on the go.

21 points by Anchor 14y ago

venus 14y ago

I've never seen one of these supposed "Smartphone of the Year" Lumia 920s in the wild, so I'm guessing the answer is "no". Perhaps they are turning the corner in stuffing online "Smartphone of the Year" polls. edit: from the same blog yesterday: http://blog.pluralsight.com/2013/02/22/video-unleash-the-power-of-coldfusion-for-your-website/ http://blog.pluralsight.com/2013/02/22/video-unleash-the-pow... I wonder if ColdFusion was the "Engadget Reader's Choice Web Framework of the Year".

psbp 14y ago
Microsoft has lost all possible credibility by astroturfing. I'm doubtful of any bit of positive feedback that I see about their products.
- stinos 14y ago
  losing objectivity and going all for prejudice seems a bit over the top if it's based on just the astroturfing
  - AnthonyMouse 14y ago
    The boy who cried wolf comes to mind. Really the proof is in the pudding. I'll know Microsoft's mobile products are worth not comprehensively ignoring when there is a general consensus among trustworthy people that they've achieved at least ~20% overall market share. And if Microsoft has to try double hard to get there because of general suspicions about their past behavior then bully for them -- let it serve as a lesson to others that we have long memories and ruining your own reputation has consequences.
    - rednukleus 14y ago
      So are you saying its worth comprehensively ignoring OS X and Linux? They have never had anything close to 20% of the personal computer market.
      - AnthonyMouse 14y ago
        They have never to my knowledge paid anyone to surreptitiously lie to me either. That's what happens when you lie, in the future no one believes you. Also, isn't that what people do in reality anyway? I don't see an official version of e.g. Photoshop for Ubuntu, which I have to imagine would exist if it had >20% market share. And OS X does have >20% market share among those who use Photoshop, whereas pick your favorite non-web based line of business software and chances are it isn't available for OS X or Linux. Isn't that why everyone always says they aren't worth considering for business use? No software? Not enough market share?
        rednukleus 14y ago
        Well, here is an example of a blatant lie that Apple put in a newpaper magazine a long time ago: http://i.imgur.com/qq19rcD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/qq19rcD.jpg The famous "we invented the first personal computer system". I guess nobody can never believe anything they say again. Steam should probably stop selling games for OSX and Linux, as they don't represent anywhere near 20% of the market. Or should we just cherry pick some stat where they are over 20%? Let's do that with Windows Phone 8 too then. I'm sure they are over 20% usage of something, or will be soon. >20% usage of One Note? Or we could just judge technology on its merits, and take everything technology sites say about all of this stuff with a grain of salt.
        venus 14y ago
        Is there an argumentative equivalent of "damning with faint praise"? Because if the best you can do to prove that Apple lied is pull out some black and white scan of a 30 year old newspaper ad where they might have taken a bit of license with the very fuzzily-defined term "personal computer", then you actually make it look like Apple is the most scrupulously honest corporation in the history of the world.
- dade_ 14y ago
  MS astroturfing seems to be on overdrive the last year. It is so bad now that I treat MS product reviews with the same skepticism as the national enquirer. For example, the sudden journalist interest in "Microsoft is cool" studies this week. I think it is trashing the reputation of PC mag and CNET, but it is giving a great opportunity for individual journalists and bloggers to build their own credibility. In the meantime, I'm thankful for my technet subscription so that I can make up my own mind.
sjwright 14y ago
Most self-respecting programmers of ColdFusion have migrated to Railo, a fully open-source drop-in replacement for the commercial Adobe version. Railo is better than the Adobe version in just about every meaningful metric.
nkerkin 14y ago
Just another data point, I met 3 other people with 920s within 2 weeks of launch. Seems like any time MS gets favourable press these days, they must have paid for it :/
naner 14y ago
Depends who you hang around. The hip iPhone kids probably won't touch the thing, but here in what once was blackberry land (enterprise office) I see Lumias all over the place. Can't say the same about RT, though. I've heard very few positive comments...
- venus 14y ago
  Fair enough. I don't really hang around in enterprise circles any more these days; I can readily imagine that the new windows phones are filling a role there. And it's funny you say "hip iphone kids". I'm well out of the "kid" generation but I think the iphone has lost quite a bit of coolness this last year. They're just all the bloody same. I don't think I'm that big a snob but even I feel a pang of annoyance when I notice some bratty little schoolkid pulling out the exact same model phone I have. I get the vibe Android is considered a bit cooler now; it's certainly considered more individualistic.

jrkelly 14y ago

The 920 is really a beautiful device -- if you haven't gotten your hands on one you should try it out. It's the first phone I can't stop fiddling with since the original iPhone.

Gigablah 14y ago
I have the 900, and while I really like the OS, the form factor is slightly unwieldy for me. The 920 is even bigger, so I'm looking at the 820 instead. Pity about the lower pixel density on that one.
- Geee 14y ago
  Nokia introduces some new phones on monday at MWC. Based on rumors: 520, 720, and maybe a new slim aluminum 920 called Catwalk.

damian2000 14y ago

Aren't Pluralsight biased though? their courses are mainly focused on the MS stack.

fumar 14y ago

I am replacing my lady's Samsung Galaxy II with a Lumia 920. She loves her Surface RT. I was doubtful of the Lumia at first. But, I spent a good while playing with the device at the store. It is super smooth. The screen and camera are great. The only thing missing is the Square payments app. Which we use for our business. The app ecosystem makes the transition difficult. But, overall using Skydrive has been great with the Surface. I look forward to seeing it work in conjunction with the Lumia. Personally, I was thinking of moving from the Galaxy Nexus to Nexus 4. As much as I like using a clean version Jelly Bean, the Lumia hardware is calling my name. As for Microsoft turning a corner, It still has a long way to go. Specifically, in its communications. Many of the features, I like about Surface do not get mentioned. The dancing commercials do not communicate functionality. For example, I use the microHDMI cable to connect Surface to a monitor. Then I can use Excel on a monitor and the web on the Surface. The USB port alone, has been a godsend on the go.