tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post115223423825122841..comments2024-03-18T12:52:48.117-07:00Comments on Mini-Microsoft: Online Anonymity is Good, But it Takes Work on Everyone's PartWho da'Punkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18205453956191063442noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-16356612416724905822007-06-25T13:37:00.000-07:002007-06-25T13:37:00.000-07:00Anonymity is very important to those who use it pr...Anonymity is very important to those who use it properly.<BR/><BR/>Services like Ultimate Anonymity http://www.ultimate-anonymity offer a valuable service allowing people to remain anonymous in all online protocols.<BR/><BR/>Remaining anonymous prevents SPAM, identity theft and general unwanted garbage from malicious people. <BR/><BR/>Ultimate Anonymity has been around for over 10 years and I have used them for the last 5 of those years and would recommend them to anyone the least bit concerned about their online privacy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1158429992656913852006-09-16T11:06:00.000-07:002006-09-16T11:06:00.000-07:00http://www.emicrosoftinterview.com - Guide/Tips fo...http://www.emicrosoftinterview.com - Guide/Tips for Microsoft Interview QuestionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1153079415672717682006-07-16T12:50:00.000-07:002006-07-16T12:50:00.000-07:00How can we even wonder about whether anonymity is ...How <A HREF="http://www.pleon.it/web/blogs/geektalk.nsf/dx/1607200620.44.44GCAPZ7.htm" REL="nofollow">can we even wonder</A> about whether anonymity is good or bad?<BR/><BR/>Don't research companies guarantee anonymity when seeking honest feedback in surveys?<BR/><BR/>Methinks Scoble's POW is a bit slantedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152884605930768102006-07-14T06:43:00.000-07:002006-07-14T06:43:00.000-07:00Prior to joining the company, I'd heard stories th...Prior to joining the company, I'd heard stories that we tried to go to hardware manufacturers with a spec for an Xbox that *they* would manufacturer.<BR/><BR/>The gossip I'd heard was that Dell, HP, et al, weren't interested. So, we got into the hardware business.<BR/><BR/>This isn't all that much different. The partner offerings are not iPod quality. I personally gave up and bought an ipod after *2* playsForSure devices crapped out on me in 6 months.<BR/><BR/>We need to get into this business. Based on track record, I'm sure we're doing something for these guys. Maybe base specs to build their own devices, maybe some revenue share, etc. <BR/><BR/>What Microsoft needs to do is this - come up with a design, release a first party product, rally support, and let partners drive V2.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152801680450203102006-07-13T07:41:00.000-07:002006-07-13T07:41:00.000-07:00Sort of a bummer if you were one of those partners...<I>Sort of a bummer if you were one of those partners.</I><BR/><BR/>Yeah, because those partners were doing an outstanding job surpassing the iPod on features/functionality/sex appeal.<BR/><BR/>Oh, wait...<BR/><BR/>I think Microsoft has jumped in because it's become dead obvious that Larry, Curly, and Moe over at Rio, Creative, Sony just cannot get it together. Maybe Microsoft will fail too, but it takes an enormous volume of self-pity to not see why they are giving up on their "partners".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152640366620159952006-07-11T10:52:00.000-07:002006-07-11T10:52:00.000-07:00There was a time when companies worked together to...<I> There was a time when companies worked together to build universal platform standards so everybody could compete in the same arena.</I><BR/><BR/>The PC clone explosion was an accident.<BR/><BR/>Hardware companies in that space grin and bear it (the race to the bottom on margins). It's plain that Microsoft has gotten into a nice position riding on their backs. There is no pressure to reduce margins on Microsoft OS products.<BR/><BR/>You don't see Microsoft trying to get lots of companies to build Xbox or Xbox 360 compatible hardware.<BR/><BR/>At the same time, non-iPod music player companies that bought into WMA/PlaysForSure (and essentially a re-creation of the Windows/PC-clone space in the form of dozens of me-too player products) can't be real pleased with the idea of Microsoft applying Xbox-style hardware-at-a-loss in this market.<BR/><BR/>Would you start a PC clone company today? Would you start an MP3 player company today?<BR/><BR/>Microsoft loves commoditization only when it's in the form of hardware to run their environment. But with WMA/PlaysForSure taking on water, they resort to a non-commoditization, non-standards, non-partners strategy (Argo). Sort of a bummer if you were one of those partners.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152593478902205162006-07-10T21:51:00.000-07:002006-07-10T21:51:00.000-07:00>If you don't like it, don't work in EU.When other...>If you don't like it, don't work in EU.<BR/><BR/>When other governments want to pick foreign businesses' pockets, they will undoubtedly look to the European Union for setting the standard. Go EU!<BR/><BR/>Seriously, shouldn't we all be united in trying to keep governments from dipping into our wallets?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152589729711847352006-07-10T20:48:00.000-07:002006-07-10T20:48:00.000-07:00Is every PUM a partner?Is every Director a partner...<B><I><BR/>Is every PUM a partner?<BR/>Is every Director a partner?<BR/></I></B><BR/><BR/>No, not every PUM or director is a partner - nor is every GM a partner. I knew directors who were 65s and 66s, PUMs who were 65-67 and GMs who were 65-68. I left over a year ago, so your mileage may vary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152588784699502742006-07-10T20:33:00.000-07:002006-07-10T20:33:00.000-07:00"Microsoft is under no obligation to support compe..."Microsoft is under no obligation to support competing firms with online downloadable game stores for Xbox360. Apple is in a similar position with iPod."<BR/><BR/>Which is why I won't ever buy an XBOX or download an Apple or MS song for. I bought Half-Life 2 for my PC and can't get future versions for the PC because MS bought them and is using it as leverage to force us to buy an X-Box. <BR/><BR/>Same with Itunes and MS's version of that. You want to force me to use a proprietary format then have to buy the same song again for another proprietary format. Your free matching campaign is a gimmick. Won't buy it, people are waking up to this scheme. <BR/><BR/>There was a time when companies worked together to build universal platform standards so everybody could compete in the same arena. So I and millions of others are aware of this new forced-platform game. We are not playing and where governments will help with forcing interoperability and one purchase use for all platforms, we will support that. The only thing that will happen as a result of your greedy marketing scheme is you will like you always do, make more and more people dump Microsoft. The game is over dude, and you are stll playing and don't yet realize everybody went home.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152588021793170862006-07-10T20:20:00.000-07:002006-07-10T20:20:00.000-07:00"BTW buddy, MSFT didn't fund the development of th..."BTW buddy, MSFT didn't fund the development of that OS, the users did."<BR/><BR/>Also, don't forget, MS and IBM had an OS2 partnership to develop the OS when MS dumped the partnership and produced Windows, can't remember exactly which version. Anyway, OS2 Warp was a pretty good OS except MS beat them out on driver support, which I believe IBM was unprepared to provide third party vendors support for. That's my memory of it. Maybe one of you softies can clear it up. Any way you look at it, Microsoft really bought or copied most of the technology in windows to make it work anyway.<BR/><BR/>As a customer I would like to see MS lose the monopolistic attitude and take on a small company innovative attitude toward their products. Customers don't want one company to own 90% of the market. They want products that work across platforms, and the want choices and competition. If it takes government to force that to happen, so be it, but I think MS could do it itself if it were willing to do Mini's Mantra. Smaller, faster, better, cheaper, more choices. MS has really brought all this on itself. You can change in a fundamental way or governments and customers will do it for you.<BR/><BR/>end off topic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152586842489451142006-07-10T20:00:00.000-07:002006-07-10T20:00:00.000-07:00P.S. My commute on a bad day is 15m and and the me...<I>P.S. My commute on a bad day is 15m and and the median home price is about $170,000.</I><BR/><BR/>I have found a solution to everything. Move everyone to Fargo. The salaries will go farther, there will be no traffic, houses will be affordable, and operating cost and office buildings will be dirt cheap.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152584769629886652006-07-10T19:26:00.000-07:002006-07-10T19:26:00.000-07:00I'm a non-Microsoftie who's posted here three or f...I'm a non-Microsoftie who's posted here three or four times. I think it helps add perspective when you allow outsiders to post, so long as they're not misrepresenting who they are and it's not the usual attacks you get from the Linux sites. I've never pretended to work for MS, referred to managers by their first names or name plus initial, used insider lingo like GAL, held forth on workplace issues I know nothing about such as the review curve etc.<BR/><BR/>Outsiders have a big stake here because Microsoft creates much of the environment for both customers and ISVs. The latter group are woed by Ballmer as "developers, developers, developers!" but then dismissed in the next breath as ineffective "competitors" dependent on government protection. If Microsoft could find a way to function effectively while moving away from the paranoid, reactive direction established 15-20 years ago by Gates when he was feuding with IBM over OS/2, that could benefit nearly everybody.<BR/><BR/>Scoble is a high profile blogger and accordingly his game is shoot first. He reasons that connecting with readers is more important than having good initial judgement, especially since he reserves his right to change his opinion tomorrow. His thinking process seems to consist of posting whatever pops into his head, then reacting to the responses he receives, not only online but also from his workplace colleagues and personal network.<BR/><BR/>In short, I think the anonymous postings are much of what makes this blog interesting and worthwhile.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152577200872947272006-07-10T17:20:00.000-07:002006-07-10T17:20:00.000-07:00Why should MSFT, a company that funded and develop...<I>Why should MSFT, a company that funded and developed the operating system let other companies piggy back on their operating system.</I><BR/><BR/>Um, isn't that the definition of an OS or platform?<BR/><BR/>Not letting other companies put products on the OS would sort of make moot the chant of "developers, developers, developers, developers..."<BR/><BR/>BTW buddy, MSFT didn't fund the development of that OS, the users did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152570782562176042006-07-10T15:33:00.000-07:002006-07-10T15:33:00.000-07:00Everyone keeps on mentioning people at partner lev...Everyone keeps on mentioning people at partner levels and what they get. <BR/><BR/>Is every PUM a partner?<BR/>Is every Director a partner?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152566087490612822006-07-10T14:14:00.000-07:002006-07-10T14:14:00.000-07:00Apple allows just as much access to iPod as Micros...Apple allows just as much access to iPod as Microsoft allows access to Xbox 360. More, even.<BR/><BR/>If you want to write a game for Xbox 360, Microsoft will be happy to charge you $10 a copy (or something) and give you the tools to do it.<BR/><BR/>If you (as an artist) want to get a song onto iPod, you can put it out on CD, or as MP3, or on the iTunes store. The first two don't even require any help from Apple.<BR/><BR/>As the manufacturer of the iPod hardware, Apple has every right to decide how it should function and what it should interoperate with. As does Microsoft with Xbox360.<BR/><BR/>Microsoft is under no obligation to support competing firms with online downloadable game stores for Xbox360. Apple is in a similar position with iPod.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152565104400741832006-07-10T13:58:00.000-07:002006-07-10T13:58:00.000-07:00If you don't like it, don't work in EU.Sory for th...If you don't like it, don't work in EU.<BR/><BR/>Sory for the offtopic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152557310490617022006-07-10T11:48:00.000-07:002006-07-10T11:48:00.000-07:00Sorry guys, not true. I left MS recently. Vesting ...<I>Sorry guys, not true. I left MS recently. Vesting stops the INSTANT you walk out the door. You have 90 days to excercise vested options, but thats it.</I><BR/>Are you (or were you) an executive? Most companies have entirely different rules for executive level employees, which I presume VicG would be. It's all in the contract they signed. If you're really interested, look up the SEC filings and find his contract.<BR/><BR/>When the company I worked for went public, we had great fun reading the employment contracts for our CEO, COO, CTO, etc. 4 men controlled 90% of the stock, and the other 100 employees shared the rest. All kinds of nice benefits, like getting a full year's salary if they were laid off. Our CTO ended up taking full advantage of this, and got a year's vacation, with salary. <BR/><BR/>It's good to be the King!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152547022494489722006-07-10T08:57:00.000-07:002006-07-10T08:57:00.000-07:00"Why should MSFT, a company that funded and develo..."Why should MSFT, a company that funded and developed the operating system let other companies piggy back on their operating system."<BR/>And:<BR/>"Why should MSFT allow other people to access their operating system, the same way Apple should not allow access to its Ipod."<BR/>And:<BR/>"What’s next for the EU? Are they planning to go after Japanese carmakers to give up their hybrid engine technology. . ."<BR/><BR/>A customer here: Short sarcastic answer? Because there are more people in Europe than employees of Microsoft. So far anyway.<BR/><BR/>Actually, may I suggest that Apple and Microsoft just pull out of those markets. Please please please, just walk away with that attitude. How long before the void is filled? Short sarcastic answer, what void? I.e., I doubt it would take more than a month to find altenatives.<BR/><BR/>Sorry, but the old ways are gone, and Microsoft participates in a networked community. Legacy data alone should be reason enough to justify tripling those fines. Kick MS butt EU, vive, La France, les Ipoders. <BR/><BR/>I can't wait to have lots of choices right here in the USofA too. All working well together, all getting better within a unified social framework. Note I said social framework, not Socialist framework. You guys will figure it out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152532845040976482006-07-10T05:00:00.000-07:002006-07-10T05:00:00.000-07:00This might not be the correct forum to discuss thi...This might not be the correct forum to discuss this, but I have a serious problem with entire issue of EU’s fines. Why should MSFT, a company that funded and developed the operating system let other companies piggy back on their operating system. This is why the U.S. has been extremely successful. People were willing to take risk, invest their time and energy and in the end reap the rewards of their hard work.<BR/><BR/>Now here comes the Euro-weenie-ians with their 6 week vacations, lifetime job guarantee, a social system which takes care of all its needs and they have an unmotivated workforce with a stagnant economy. Why should MSFT allow other people to access their operating system, the same way Apple should not allow access to its Ipod. Other companies like IBM with deep pockets could have developed their own operating system, but didn’t. Whose fault is that?<BR/><BR/>What’s next for the EU? Are they planning to go after Japanese carmakers to give up their hybrid engine technology because it does not work with the existing European automobile engine?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152523765393411562006-07-10T02:29:00.000-07:002006-07-10T02:29:00.000-07:00I see a lot of people raise the "hiring" issue..We...I see a lot of people raise the "hiring" issue..<BR/><BR/>Well, I think MSFT has two issues:<BR/><BR/>1. Hiring too fast, which means low grade.<BR/><BR/>2. Retain top talent and don't stuck them in a no-hope position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152516142031803612006-07-10T00:22:00.000-07:002006-07-10T00:22:00.000-07:00Better yet, as anyone who's seen the recent shuffl...<I>Better yet, as anyone who's seen the recent shuffling in the Windows org knows, SteveSi seems to be getting rid of much of the middle management layer. I think this is a great sign for a stronger Microsoft.</I><BR/><BR/>What middle managers are getting axed? It looks more like he's ADDING layers, not <BR/>removing them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152512983887857852006-07-09T23:29:00.000-07:002006-07-09T23:29:00.000-07:00There ARE managers who like to get any sort of pet...<I>There ARE managers who like to get any sort of petty revenge they can muster. Microsoft HR doesn't protect employees against them.</I><BR/><BR/>Of course they don't.<BR/><BR/>Friend, Human Resources exists for the protection of the corporation and its representatives: management. For those in the trenches, HR is <B>not</B> your friend. <BR/><BR/>Don't confuse HR's purpose with their attempts to appear warm and friendly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152510261580448262006-07-09T22:44:00.000-07:002006-07-09T22:44:00.000-07:00Yeah, how about we discuss those huge partner gran...<I>Yeah, how about we discuss those huge partner grants that payout the first slug in ~4 weeks. Look around you... Do the partners in your group, your vp's, your GM's, your PUM's, your senior vp's deserve a > $1m payday in a few weeks?<BR/><BR/>How many of them plan on cashing the check and then calling Google looking for a job?</I><BR/><BR/>Well, I know a lot of partners are pissed at Allchin for slipping Vista because they're all waiting for the profit sharing from selling Vista. Now, they'll have to wait until next year to get the profit sharing. A lot of these partners will likely leave MS after taking the vista bonus. They're just pissed that they now need to wait longer. How do I know this? A partner told me about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152490146741006982006-07-09T17:09:00.000-07:002006-07-09T17:09:00.000-07:00"I wonder when the discussion on this forum will f..."I wonder when the discussion on this forum will focus back on MSFT, which it is originally supposed to be about, and stop being the fight b/w the pro-Scoble and anti-Scoble camps." <BR/>Aparently when someone somewhere there has the cajones to do what he did.<BR/>Speaking of getting back to business, found an interesting article today:<BR/>http://www.playfuls.com/news_03358_Office_2007_and_Vista_delayed_due_to_open_source_interoperability.html<BR/><BR/>CustomerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7555958.post-1152474183640426752006-07-09T12:43:00.000-07:002006-07-09T12:43:00.000-07:00Not MS but stumbled on the following suggestions f...Not MS but stumbled on the following suggestions for steveB<BR/><BR/>http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/get_a_life_blog/2006/05/open_letter_to_.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com