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RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:01:06 GMT

It's an evolutionary change, but it's a substantial one. Look beyond what Win 8 does with the desktop, because so few apps take advantage of the interface. It's changing to a one app at a time on the screen, which I'm not sure is great, though you can somehow get two split on the screen on the Surface tablets. I haven't tried that on the desktop.However Win 8 is more revolutionary. If you look at Android, it basically copied iOS and then improved and added things. In many ways, I think Android 4.1 is far beyond iOS6 and introduces ergonomic changes that are not only smooth, but very helpful. However WP8 is a dramatic change in how things work. It's a completely new way of looking at an interface.It's not that tablets replace desktops, but that they are a new way of doing some work. There are lots of people that can do most, if not all, of their work on a tablet. There are tons of people using tablets with keyboards, which is different than using a laptop. I'm not one of them; I prefer my laptop or my phone instead.However the introduction of tablets and the ability to move from a tablet to a desktop and back, doing the same work, is important. Tablets work better than phones for lots of situations. I don't know that I would use one, but I also don't think it's a simple yes or no for the way the format, and the OS, works. Personally I think the OS is becoming less of a big deal, and therefore I don't understand the MS insistence of making the same OS work on both. I'd like to see OS's optimized for each format, and my apps and data slowing smoothly across either.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Jim P. — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 05:40:20 GMT

[quote][b]David Conn (3/8/2013)[/b][hr]I see Microsoft as being Evolutionary rather than Revolutionary. All that they're doing at the moment is offering a Touchscreen Windows i.e. a Decent One. Windows 8 is basically use the Touch if that's what you want or drop into Windows 7 if that's what you want.They're not removing anything only adding to it.[/quote]What about the Start bar when you get to the desktop view? :-PEssentially, if you were to accidentally delete a shortcut off your desktop, there is now easy way to get it back.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

David Conn — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:21:04 GMT

Are we really going to replace Desktops with Tablets ? I think of the millions of workers using Keyboards as their interface to the Business world and their ability to flick between Windows Applications. Who wants a Touchscreen Keyboard that uses your Screen Real Estate.I see Microsoft as being Evolutionary rather than Revolutionary. All that they're doing at the moment is offering a Touchscreen Windows i.e. a Decent One. Windows 8 is basically use the Touch if that's what you want or drop into Windows 7 if that's what you want.They're not removing anything only adding to it.Google is the one to watch. I see Apple going backwards like last time Steve Jobs withdrew only this time he's not coming back.David

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

SQLRNNR — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:30:13 GMT

[quote]Now if they'd just get rid of the sideshow of "R2" naming...[/quote]Please please please get rid of that sideshow.:cool:

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:14:31 GMT

[quote][b]paul.knibbs (2/27/2013)[/b][hr]Being serious about this, it's not like the first time Microsoft has flailed around trying to find the current zeitgeist in order to follow it and then dominate it--remember their disastrous Internet strategy back in 1994 or thereabouts? That time they managed to do a handbrake turn and get with the flow before they were swept away (and yes, if I mix any more metaphors this post is likely to explode), but it seems they're not as nimble or as well managed now as they were then.[/quote]I remember that. They dismissed the Internet and then brought out "Blackbird", which I think was VS 1.0 and quickly moved in that direction.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

paul.knibbs — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Being serious about this, it's not like the first time Microsoft has flailed around trying to find the current zeitgeist in order to follow it and then dominate it--remember their disastrous Internet strategy back in 1994 or thereabouts? That time they managed to do a handbrake turn and get with the flow before they were swept away (and yes, if I mix any more metaphors this post is likely to explode), but it seems they're not as nimble or as well managed now as they were then.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:44:05 GMT

[quote][b]chrisn-585491 (2/27/2013)[/b][hr]As a developer, Microsoft has been really missing the mark. Abandoning technology they were marketing, putting a phone/web interface on the desktop, sending mix signals about OSS, etc...[/quote]I think it's more they keep trying things, throwing them at the wall, seeing what might stick and abandoning other items. It almost feels like they are letting every fifth developer try something, market it, and then give up when it doesn't work quickly enough.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

GRE (Gethyn Ellis) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:42:02 GMT

Yes, I think it was one of the Forbes ones

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:37:33 GMT

[quote][b]GRE (Gethyn Ellis) (2/27/2013)[/b][hr]I read an interesting piece a while - It was posted on Twitter (I can't find the link). It called for Ballmer to go basically saying he has not a very good job. A few of the twitter community agreed.I guess you as stockholder would welcome a change at the top, allowing MSFT to regain a 'focus' that has been missing since the change at the top.[/quote]One of these?[url]http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerkay/2013/01/02/microsoft-is-fast-turning-into-a-sideshow/[/url][url]http://www.forbes.com/sites/frederickallen/2012/07/03/the-terrible-management-technique-that-cost-microsoft-its-creativity/[/url][url]http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/07/microsoft-downfall-emails-steve-ballmer.print[/url]

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:36:22 GMT

[quote][b]mark.fisher (2/27/2013)[/b][hr]Given the current state of the economy can you blame them for having a more business orientated focus. MS have been concentrating on core products, probably with a view to stabilisation rather than innovation.The buy-in of Skype isn't so different to what other innovative IT companies have done recently, and is probably a good acquisition for their push towards mobile tech across mobile and desktop platforms (i.e. windows 8). Don't forget, MS has a history of absorbing innovation, that's how SQL Server started. I also suspect the vast customer base also had an impact on the acquisition, and they probably have a lot of patents stashed away somewhere.[quote]Even better for us data professionals is the fact that SQL Server revenue was up 16%, which shows the product is popular, solid, and selling well[/quote]I wonder how much of that increase is because of the changes to licensing in 2012 and the corresponding edition restructure. It would be nice to see some figures behind this in a future post. Perhaps there was a spending spree to beat the deadline for the price increase and the license changes?[/quote]They've been this way for over a decade, through good and bad economic times. I'm not sure the economy matters. Since Bill Gates left, perhaps before, they've been business, not technology, focused, IMHO.The Skype thing is interesting. I like their changes with WP7/8, and think Skype could help, but they're still unfocused. The lack of vision in moving from WP7 to WP8, with lots of breaking changes, shows that.The SQL revenue may have come from people making advanced purchased of R2, or new purchases of 2012. Not sure it matters. Still people see SQL Server as valuable and they want it.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:33:09 GMT

[quote][b]paul.knibbs (2/27/2013)[/b][hr]I notice you carefully avoided mentioning Windows 8 as Microsoft's current core OS, Steve--I wonder why that was? :-)[/quote]Nothing against Win 8. To me, it's really Win 7 with the tile/Metro interface on top. I've been running it for a month, no issues, no real change for me. I tend to run 10 things, and leave them running, so I never see the start screen.However Win 7 was the start of "less bloat" and more speed, not depending on new hardware to make it run fast.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Jim P. — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:09:37 GMT

The other thing MS is doing is more web based apps, such as Office 365.I'm still holding at Office 2003 because of the ribbon. Yes the 365 will be a constant revenue stream. My considerations before I would even consider it:1. My home internet connection is an Aircard with a 5GB per month before extra charges.2. I wouldn't want to put anymore of my personal info in the cloud than I have to.3. At work, I wouldn't want any more of company data in the cloud.4. Between SOX and HIPPA data, keeping that in the cloud is dangerous.I wonder how many people consider that?

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

TravisDBA — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:06:53 GMT

[quote][b]chuckboycejr (2/27/2013)[/b][hr]It's conventional wisdom and an accepted practice at a lot of shops that to install a Microsoft product before SP1 is foolish for production. Anyone who installs an RTM product is more or less a paying beta-tester.[/quote]They are not called "Mickeysoft" for no reason guys and girls.:-D

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

chuckboycejr — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 07:51:20 GMT

It's conventional wisdom and an accepted practice at a lot of shops that to install a Microsoft product before SP1 is foolish for production. Anyone who installs an RTM product is more or less a paying beta-tester.I think Windows 8 is where Microsoft should have been in 2007 and they are going to make their customers basically beta test their extremely late to the game tablet-supporting OS. I can't see them coming anywhere close to iOS or Android for at least three more versions.I'm done with waiting for Microsoft to "get it".I'll keep my Win 7 laptop for a while, but I have just purchased a new ASUS laptop with Ubuntu pre-installed and it's Ubuntu, Android, and Mac for me for the foreseeable future.Microsoft SQL will continue to be my profession but Windows 8 is embarrassing in how late it is to the dance.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

chrisn-585491 — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 06:41:30 GMT

As a developer, Microsoft has been really missing the mark. Abandoning technology they were marketing, putting a phone/web interface on the desktop, sending mix signals about OSS, etc...

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

GWAk — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 06:28:52 GMT

At this point in my career I`ll take the stodgy, business-oriented MS, grinding out enterprise platforms and solutions, to the exciting, volatile mobile market with all its bells and whistles. Especially if the current economic trends hold and I`m not able to retire, slow and steady will do me to the big sleep.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

GRE (Gethyn Ellis) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:38:57 GMT

I read an interesting piece a while - It was posted on Twitter (I can't find the link). It called for Ballmer to go basically saying he has not a very good job. A few of the twitter community agreed.I guess you as stockholder would welcome a change at the top, allowing MSFT to regain a 'focus' that has been missing since the change at the top.

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

mark.fisher — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:32:45 GMT

Given the current state of the economy can you blame them for having a more business orientated focus. MS have been concentrating on core products, probably with a view to stabilisation rather than innovation.The buy-in of Skype isn't so different to what other innovative IT companies have done recently, and is probably a good acquisition for their push towards mobile tech across mobile and desktop platforms (i.e. windows 8). Don't forget, MS has a history of absorbing innovation, that's how SQL Server started. I also suspect the vast customer base also had an impact on the acquisition, and they probably have a lot of patents stashed away somewhere.[quote]Even better for us data professionals is the fact that SQL Server revenue was up 16%, which shows the product is popular, solid, and selling well[/quote]I wonder how much of that increase is because of the changes to licensing in 2012 and the corresponding edition restructure. It would be nice to see some figures behind this in a future post. Perhaps there was a spending spree to beat the deadline for the price increase and the license changes?

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

Joe Kelly-376311 — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:00:37 GMT

Good points Steve, I think MS struggle with Focus and therefore Resource Allocation and also that they are Business motivated and therefore lack the passion that other more focused companies have and that MS had, when Bill called the shots.Just read a really good article in HBR on how Steve Jobs brought Focus back to Apple when he came back. It also mentions "Don't put Profit before Product" I actually think this is the same point about Focus, i.e. focus on the right product(s) and the profits will follow.http://hbr.org/2012/04/the-real-leadership-lessons-of-steve-jobs/ar/prJK

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

paul.knibbs — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:22:12 GMT

I notice you carefully avoided mentioning Windows 8 as Microsoft's current core OS, Steve--I wonder why that was? :-)

RE: The Microsoft Sideshow

David.Poole — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:25:46 GMT

Apparently Apple don't sell many iPhones compared to Samsung but Apple are streets ahead in terms of making money out of mobile phones.There are a lot of companies that are tremendously exciting and create a real buzz but looking at their balance sheet paints a very different picture. Of course in the world of tech the perception does eventually have a bearing on the reality.Some of the M$ decisions do look a little bizarre or disjointed. What exactly was Skype purchased for?In terms of stock value its the analysts opinion of what a company is worth which is at best and educated guess.

The Microsoft Sideshow

Steve Jones - SSC Editor — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:22:59 GMT

Comments posted to this topic are about the item [B]The Microsoft Sideshow[/B]