3 ms·

Microsoft to lure startups away from MacBooks

4 points by todd8 12y ago

pedalpete 12y ago
I'm currently writing this on my surface 3, I'll say I'm a big fan of microsoft, and I've also been involves with startups for 14 years. First off, does this really have anything to do with macbooks? I thunk this is about Microsoft services, not hardware/OS. I see this as a huge uphill battle for microsoft. I think the battle Microsoft needs to be making is to promote their platform as a competitor to aws/heroku/etc. I know they have the capability with Azure, but I don't see them marketing themselves as an alternative. They're messaging still seems to be "we'll give it to you free for now, and then take a huge chunk out of you when you have made enough to pay us". The competitors have a much simpler message and pricing model. This is why I develop with open source tools and platforms. The first thing I consider is where can I run this, how much and how easily can I move to another service.
- rbanffy 12y ago
  The prevalence of Macbooks in just about every photo you see makes Microsoft look more doomed than it is in fact. https://www.google.com/search?q=startup+office&safe=active&es_sm=91&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=N0wWVKT-BpDlsASAg4Bg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=883 https://www.google.com/search?q=startup+office&safe=active&e... Looking doomed is a sure way to be doomed shortly so, Microsoft needs to do something about it.
  - pedalpete 12y ago
    I've had a theory about that which so far has mostly proven correct. If you are in any coffee shop (even in Palo Alto), count the number of people on laptops, and count the number of people on Apple. I've noticed that VERY rarely are Apple products in the majority, BUT they have such a consistent branding that they stick out as the majority. Even if 1/3 of the laptops are Dell, or Lenovo (I'm guessing that accounts for about 70% of the laptops in my office of 60 people), each Dell or Lenovo model look so different from the next that they don't have the brand impact that Apple has achieved. Not disputing your point, but it's an interesting take on perspective.
    - walterbell 12y ago
      Microsoft should promote laptop stickers which cover backlit logos :)

4 points by todd8 12y ago

I'm currently writing this on my surface 3, I'll say I'm a big fan of microsoft, and I've also been involves with startups for 14 years. First off, does this really have anything to do with macbooks? I thunk this is about Microsoft services, not hardware/OS. I see this as a huge uphill battle for microsoft. I think the battle Microsoft needs to be making is to promote their platform as a competitor to aws/heroku/etc. I know they have the capability with Azure, but I don't see them marketing themselves as an alternative. They're messaging still seems to be "we'll give it to you free for now, and then take a huge chunk out of you when you have made enough to pay us". The competitors have a much simpler message and pricing model. This is why I develop with open source tools and platforms. The first thing I consider is where can I run this, how much and how easily can I move to another service.

rbanffy 12y ago
The prevalence of Macbooks in just about every photo you see makes Microsoft look more doomed than it is in fact. https://www.google.com/search?q=startup+office&safe=active&es_sm=91&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=N0wWVKT-BpDlsASAg4Bg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=883 https://www.google.com/search?q=startup+office&safe=active&e... Looking doomed is a sure way to be doomed shortly so, Microsoft needs to do something about it.
- pedalpete 12y ago
  I've had a theory about that which so far has mostly proven correct. If you are in any coffee shop (even in Palo Alto), count the number of people on laptops, and count the number of people on Apple. I've noticed that VERY rarely are Apple products in the majority, BUT they have such a consistent branding that they stick out as the majority. Even if 1/3 of the laptops are Dell, or Lenovo (I'm guessing that accounts for about 70% of the laptops in my office of 60 people), each Dell or Lenovo model look so different from the next that they don't have the brand impact that Apple has achieved. Not disputing your point, but it's an interesting take on perspective.
  - walterbell 12y ago
    Microsoft should promote laptop stickers which cover backlit logos :)