The Microsoft Sideshow

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The Microsoft Sideshow

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Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Posted Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:22 PM

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Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Microsoft Sideshow

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Post #1424321

David.Poole

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 1:25 AM

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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.

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Post #1424387

paul.knibbs

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 2:22 AM

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

Post #1424404

Joe Kelly-376311

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 3:00 AM

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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/pr

JK

Tks,

JK

Post #1424421

mark.fisher

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 3:32 AM

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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.

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

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?

Post #1424440

GRE (Gethyn Ellis)

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 3:38 AM

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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.

Gethyn Ellis

gethynellis.com

Post #1424443

GWAk

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 6:28 AM

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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.

Post #1424493

chrisn-585491

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 6:41 AM

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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...

Post #1424501

chuckboycejr

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 7:51 AM

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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.

Post #1424544

TravisDBA

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 9:06 AM

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chuckboycejr (2/27/2013)

They are not called "Mickeysoft" for no reason guys and girls. BigGrin

"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ... BigGrin

Post #1424589

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