A $3 Billion Donation

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A $3 Billion Donation

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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October 13, 2018 at 11:10 am

#379486

Comments posted to this topic are about the item A $3 Billion Donation

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Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 1

I'm not sure that's generosity on the part of Microsoft. Perhaps, and as many have, Microsoft finally woke up as to how much money it costs to police and protect patents (especially in other countries) and turned it into the appearance of "being on YOUR side" and "have it YOUR way" type of move, which has the perception of incredible integrity on the part of MS, at the same time that they're discovered that's there's more money/ROI to be had in offering services.

Heh... I wonder if there's any tax deductions that go along with any of this. 😀

Either way, very smart move on the part of Microsoft, especially since I don't believe they're doing it for the advertised reason(s).

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

call.copse SSCoach Points: 17960 More actions · Answer 2

Jeff Moden - Saturday, October 13, 2018 11:48 AM
I'm not sure that's generosity on the part of Microsoft. Perhaps, and as many have, Microsoft finally woke up as to how much money it costs to police and protect patents (especially in other countries) and turned it into the appearance of "being on YOUR side" and "have it YOUR way" type of move, which has the perception of incredible integrity on the part of MS, at the same time that they're discovered that's there's more money/ROI to be had in offering services.
Heh... I wonder if there's any tax deductions that go along with any of this. 😀
Either way, very smart move on the part of Microsoft, especially since I don't believe they're doing it for the advertised reason(s).

I'd never be accusing you of not being a cynic Jeff! And there was me getting all warm and fuzzy from Steve's community oriented words. Now I don't know which way I should take it :crazy:

jasona.work SSC Guru Points: 50083 More actions · Answer 3

Well, to be fair any time a business makes a choice like this, someone, somewhere was looking at financials and other things and thinking "how will this benefit the company in the short- and long-term?" (And yes, probably a lot of someones.)

It could be that MS is going to get a nice, fat, tax write-off for this move.
But it could also be closer to what Steve suggested, it's MS working to remove the old 90s image of "extend, embrace, extinguish" Micro$oft.

In truth? Probably a bit of both.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 4

jasona.work - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 7:57 AM
Well, to be fair any time a business makes a choice like this, someone, somewhere was looking at financials and other things and thinking "how will this benefit the company in the short- and long-term?" (And yes, probably a lot of someones.)
It could be that MS is going to get a nice, fat, tax write-off for this move.
But it could also be closer to what Steve suggested, it's MS working to remove the old 90s image of "extend, embrace, extinguish" Micro$oft.
In truth? Probably a bit of both.

I'm reminded of the old "Twilight Zone" episode titled "To Serve Man". It was about some aliens that came to Earth and helped stop all wars, famine, crime, human injustice, etc, etc. They let the Earthlings have a book, which was written in the alien language. It only took a short while for the Earthlings to decipher the title of the book, which was "To Serve Man". What an honorable thing, right? Eveyone on Earth actually helped the aliens because it was so honorable. It took them much longer to decipher the rest of the book. After the aliens had things pretty well under control and one of the main characters was boarding a ship to the aliens' home planet, one of the language specialists, who had finally and completely deciphered the language, burst through the waiting crowd and shouted out, "Don't go! It's a COOK BOOK!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk01eeKMD_I

Just sayin'... 😉

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Robert Sterbal SSChampion Points: 11047 More actions · Answer 5

Probably not coincidental:

Microsoft announced the purchase of GitHub in June for $7.5 billion in stock. At that time, Microsoft promised that GitHub would operate independently and would provide an open platform to all developers. The deal is currently under consideration by government regulators. Reuters recently reported that European Union regulators will make a decision on the deal by Oct. 19.

from: https://redmondmag.com/articles/2018/09/17/microsoft-outlines-open-source-shift.aspx

412-977-3526 call/text

drew.allen SSC Guru Points: 76944 More actions · Answer 6

Jeff Moden - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 8:09 AM
jasona.work - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 7:57 AM
Well, to be fair any time a business makes a choice like this, someone, somewhere was looking at financials and other things and thinking "how will this benefit the company in the short- and long-term?" (And yes, probably a lot of someones.)
It could be that MS is going to get a nice, fat, tax write-off for this move.
But it could also be closer to what Steve suggested, it's MS working to remove the old 90s image of "extend, embrace, extinguish" Micro$oft.
In truth? Probably a bit of both.
I'm reminded of the old "Twilight Zone" episode titled "To Serve Man". It was about some aliens that came to Earth and helped stop all wars, famine, crime, human injustice, etc, etc. They let the Earthlings have a book, which was written in the alien language. It only took a short while for the Earthlings to decipher the title of the book, which was "To Serve Man". What an honorable thing, right? Eveyone on Earth actually helped the aliens because it was so honorable. It took them much longer to decipher the rest of the book. After the aliens had things pretty well under control and one of the main characters was boarding a ship to the aliens' home planet, one of the language specialists, who had finally and completely deciphered the language, burst through the waiting crowd and shouted out, "Don't go! It's a COOK BOOK!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk01eeKMD_I
Just sayin'... 😉

There is a board game, also called "To Serve Man" that carries on this theme. It's a cooking competition where the mandatory ingredient is human parts.

Drew

J. Drew Allen
Business Intelligence Analyst
Philadelphia, PA

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 7

drew.allen - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 9:43 AM
There is a board game, also called "To Serve Man" that carries on this theme. It's a cooking competition where the mandatory ingredient is human parts.
Drew

Heh... sounds like a scrum on a project behind schedule. 😛

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125522 More actions · Answer 8

Maybe Microsoft is wanting to following the casino business model where free food and drinks (tools and source code) are used to draw crowds who will end up renting rooms and playing the slots (Azure services).

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 9

Eric M Russell - Thursday, October 18, 2018 9:10 AM
Maybe Microsoft is wanting to following the casino business model where free food and drinks (tools and source code) are used to draw crowds who will end up renting rooms and playing the slots (Azure services).

More like the Gillette business model. Give them the razor... make them buy the blades.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Jonathan AC Roberts SSCoach Points: 18263 More actions · Answer 10

Jeff Moden - Thursday, October 18, 2018 9:32 AM
Eric M Russell - Thursday, October 18, 2018 9:10 AM
Maybe Microsoft is wanting to following the casino business model where free food and drinks (tools and source code) are used to draw crowds who will end up renting rooms and playing the slots (Azure services).
More like the Gillette business model. Give them the razor... make them buy the blades.

Or the inkjet model: give them a printer let them buy the refills.
Someone I know installed a updated printer driver on their inkjet. All it did was stop third party printer cartridges from working.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 11

Jonathan AC Roberts - Friday, October 19, 2018 4:21 AM
Jeff Moden - Thursday, October 18, 2018 9:32 AM
Eric M Russell - Thursday, October 18, 2018 9:10 AM
Maybe Microsoft is wanting to following the casino business model where free food and drinks (tools and source code) are used to draw crowds who will end up renting rooms and playing the slots (Azure services).
More like the Gillette business model. Give them the razor... make them buy the blades.
Or the inkjet model: give them a printer let them buy the refills.
Someone I know installed a updated printer driver on their inkjet. All it did was stop third party printer cartridges from working.

Heh... agreed. Gillette on steroids.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)