Comments on: The Battle for Microsoft’s Soul http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/ TechCrunching the Enterprise Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:29:04 -0700 hourly 1 By: David Carstan http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-14510 David Carstan Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:01:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-14510 I again visited this post and think now this post is going to be right to battle for Microsoft soul...... I again visited this post and think now this post is going to be right to battle for Microsoft soul……

]]> By: Many Niches » Blog Archive » Cloud Strategy - A Question of Motivations http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4944 Many Niches » Blog Archive » Cloud Strategy - A Question of Motivations Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:36:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4944 [...] about our new platform, especially when there is plenty of good, some bad, and some good if not somewhat rambling.  There will be no shortage of guessing as to what Microsoft is “really up to” with [...] [...] about our new platform, especially when there is plenty of good, some bad, and some good if not somewhat rambling.  There will be no shortage of guessing as to what Microsoft is “really up to” with [...]

]]> By: Peter T http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4864 Peter T Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:14:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4864 Whow ... according to AzureJournal - http://www.azurejournal.com/2008/11/on-premises-cloud-computing/ Microsoft is in the race for the "on premises cloud" or "internal cloud" battle! This makes total sense, considering Microsoft's business model, and I agree with a previous comment, Microsoft was good at seling to corporations and I'll add it still is. Just wait and see. Windows Azure, like we know it today it is just a decoy, a test bed for future products. Whow … according to AzureJournal – http://www.azurejournal.com/2008/11/on-premises-cloud-computing/ Microsoft is in the race for the “on premises cloud” or “internal cloud” battle! This makes total sense, considering Microsoft’s business model, and I agree with a previous comment, Microsoft was good at seling to corporations and I’ll add it still is. Just wait and see. Windows Azure, like we know it today it is just a decoy, a test bed for future products.

]]> By: JT O'Sullivan http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4747 JT O'Sullivan Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:23:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4747 From someone who worked at MSFT for over 14 years, within the company during its golden years in the early 90's through the DOJ debacle to the mid-2000's, I can say with complete confidence that Microsoft is in its twilight years. Microsoft is betting on a corporate-dependency mindset that was created in the 60's and 70's, nurtured in the 80's, and coddled in the 90's. That model to which they still adhere, and which provides the great bulk of their profit, is quickly waning as younger generations who emerged in a non-Microsoft world are not going to see any point in suckling MS milk. Even before I left MS, the psychotic, paranoid eating-your-own-young attitude in order to make computers "trustworthy" (ha, yeah right), and STOP Linux and STOP Google prevailed and will continued. For as long as I worked at the company, EVEN in the golden years, MS has always been a follower and very rarely a leader in anything they've accomplished. Billy/Stevy Come Lately - that's the idea. Cloud computing - sure, it's a cool idea, but again MS is following someone else's lead. I frankly found this to be pathetic and sad. Time will tell...who knows, the well-funded MS Research might stumble upon cold fusion and find a way out of their deepening gravity well...but it's unlikely. From someone who worked at MSFT for over 14 years, within the company during its golden years in the early 90’s through the DOJ debacle to the mid-2000’s, I can say with complete confidence that Microsoft is in its twilight years. Microsoft is betting on a corporate-dependency mindset that was created in the 60’s and 70’s, nurtured in the 80’s, and coddled in the 90’s. That model to which they still adhere, and which provides the great bulk of their profit, is quickly waning as younger generations who emerged in a non-Microsoft world are not going to see any point in suckling MS milk. Even before I left MS, the psychotic, paranoid eating-your-own-young attitude in order to make computers “trustworthy” (ha, yeah right), and STOP Linux and STOP Google prevailed and will continued.

For as long as I worked at the company, EVEN in the golden years, MS has always been a follower and very rarely a leader in anything they’ve accomplished. Billy/Stevy Come Lately – that’s the idea. Cloud computing – sure, it’s a cool idea, but again MS is following someone else’s lead. I frankly found this to be pathetic and sad.

Time will tell…who knows, the well-funded MS Research might stumble upon cold fusion and find a way out of their deepening gravity well…but it’s unlikely.

]]> By: Someone Somewhere http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4743 Someone Somewhere Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:53:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4743 Nice post Steve. Whatever be the outcome, its certainly an exciting time to be at Microsoft. Venturing out into cloud computing and hopefully having 'found their soul' as Steve mentions, Microsoft would certainly try and get most out of Ray Ozzie's long term vision. Add to this the market forces that are forcing them to open up (as in the case of Office Online) to web apps. and open standards. Only time will tell if smart folks like Scott Guthrie and Bob Muglia would be able to gel their ideas into Ozzie's broad perspective or if it'd be a case of 'too many cooks', but for now it certainly looks positive and interesting as a strategy. Nice post Steve. Whatever be the outcome, its certainly an exciting time to be at Microsoft. Venturing out into cloud computing and hopefully having ‘found their soul’ as Steve mentions, Microsoft would certainly try and get most out of Ray Ozzie’s long term vision. Add to this the market forces that are forcing them to open up (as in the case of Office Online) to web apps. and open standards. Only time will tell if smart folks like Scott Guthrie and Bob Muglia would be able to gel their ideas into Ozzie’s broad perspective or if it’d be a case of ‘too many cooks’, but for now it certainly looks positive and interesting as a strategy.

]]> By: Michael C. Neel http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4741 Michael C. Neel Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:42:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4741 Short Version: MSFT was good at selling to corporations, MSFT is still good at selling to corporations, we want to think it's because we pushed them on "standards" and "open" (but it's probably due to market forces). Short Version: MSFT was good at selling to corporations, MSFT is still good at selling to corporations, we want to think it’s because we pushed them on “standards” and “open” (but it’s probably due to market forces).

]]> By: Nigel http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4739 Nigel Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:37:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4739 Interesting discussion from everyone. I think the one thing people often forget is MSFT took an approach 30 yrs ago to focus on the Corporate market - sure, it's less sexy, it's less visible, and for that reason, companies like Google/ Apple appear to get a lot of attention. Fact is, that MSFT is in over 90% of the corporate world. With a focus on cost efficiency, large scale deployments into enterprise - I would agree that some of the snazzy "consumer'esque" type features are missing and the "sexiness" of a google/ apple is clearly absent. When you think of Azure - don't think of today, next year or even 3 yrs. Think of the world in 5yrs or 10yrs. That's where MSFT excels - the company thinks long term and aims to jump on that opportunity whereas Google/ Apple are focused on tomorrow/ next year. Interesting discussion from everyone. I think the one thing people often forget is MSFT took an approach 30 yrs ago to focus on the Corporate market – sure, it’s less sexy, it’s less visible, and for that reason, companies like Google/ Apple appear to get a lot of attention. Fact is, that MSFT is in over 90% of the corporate world. With a focus on cost efficiency, large scale deployments into enterprise – I would agree that some of the snazzy “consumer’esque” type features are missing and the “sexiness” of a google/ apple is clearly absent.

When you think of Azure – don’t think of today, next year or even 3 yrs. Think of the world in 5yrs or 10yrs. That’s where MSFT excels – the company thinks long term and aims to jump on that opportunity whereas Google/ Apple are focused on tomorrow/ next year.

]]> By: Jon http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4738 Jon Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:25:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4738 It takes a very long time for a giant company to die but we are witnessing the slow death of Microsoft. Vista has so badly damaged the company it will be very hard to recover. Now-a-days, if you are on a plane how many consumers do you bump into that love Microsoft? All I hear is disgust and distrust. And whatever developers may think, ultimately when consumers begin to despise a company and they have alternatives, that company is going down. As someone who was deposed by the DOJ twice during the trials, I will not shed any tears. I was also part of a suit against the company over questionable or downright illegal hiring practices that they decided to settle out of court. Let's not forget how much damage they did in the market and how, through their illegal monopoly (remember they were found guilty), they destroyed some very good companies. A new vision from a team within Microsoft does not change all the entrenched old guard and their ways of doing things. When Ray Ozzie stated it will take 20-50 years to deliver on the full vision of the new operating system, you know nothing has fundamentally changed. It takes a very long time for a giant company to die but we are witnessing the slow death of Microsoft. Vista has so badly damaged the company it will be very hard to recover. Now-a-days, if you are on a plane how many consumers do you bump into that love Microsoft? All I hear is disgust and distrust. And whatever developers may think, ultimately when consumers begin to despise a company and they have alternatives, that company is going down.

As someone who was deposed by the DOJ twice during the trials, I will not shed any tears. I was also part of a suit against the company over questionable or downright illegal hiring practices that they decided to settle out of court. Let’s not forget how much damage they did in the market and how, through their illegal monopoly (remember they were found guilty), they destroyed some very good companies.

A new vision from a team within Microsoft does not change all the entrenched old guard and their ways of doing things. When Ray Ozzie stated it will take 20-50 years to deliver on the full vision of the new operating system, you know nothing has fundamentally changed.

]]> By: lifeGeeked http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4734 lifeGeeked Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:59:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4734 lot of inside knowledge ! lot of inside knowledge !

]]> By: ghunda http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4731 ghunda Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:33:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4731 Just to clarify, web services have not gone mainstream. Talking about them has gone mainstream. Just to clarify, web services have not gone mainstream. Talking about them has gone mainstream.

]]> By: preetam mukherjee http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4730 preetam mukherjee Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:30:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4730 LMAO...but look closer, and an ol' king cole with a merry ol' soul you shall find. LMAO…but look closer, and an ol’ king cole with a merry ol’ soul you shall find.

]]> By: TechCrunch Sucks http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4729 TechCrunch Sucks Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:29:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4729 If making money is evil, than web 2.0/open source is GREAT. I bet your dumb ass TechCrunch idiots that most startup people (even in Silicon Valley) would rather be evil. If making money is evil, than web 2.0/open source is GREAT.
I bet your dumb ass TechCrunch idiots that most startup people (even in Silicon Valley) would rather be evil.

]]> By: Cool Products http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4719 Cool Products Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:00:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4719 What in the world gives you THAT idea? What in the world gives you THAT idea?

]]> By: brian http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4709 brian Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:44:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4709 Azure, Office for Web...all these recently announcements from Microsoft is fairly ambitious. If they maintain a good quality (and just not think of minting money), it might quite work. I have a feeling MS might succeed big time. Except for Google/Apple, I do not see any threat from anybody else whatsoever. http://www.livbit.com Azure, Office for Web…all these recently announcements from Microsoft is fairly ambitious. If they maintain a good quality (and just not think of minting money), it might quite work. I have a feeling MS might succeed big time. Except for Google/Apple, I do not see any threat from anybody else whatsoever.

http://www.livbit.com

]]> By: chance http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4704 chance Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:02:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4704 I'm not sure how MS will be able to make up the revenue without their software products with just cloud computing server products. Google makes revenue primarily from advertising with its website, I don't think MS can compete in that area. I’m not sure how MS will be able to make up the revenue without their software products with just cloud computing server products. Google makes revenue primarily from advertising with its website, I don’t think MS can compete in that area.

]]> By: whisperer http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4703 whisperer Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:20:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4703 Are you out of your mind as well as being off topic? Are you out of your mind as well as being off topic?

]]> By: Chris http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4689 Chris Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:10:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4689 "The Battle for Microsoft’s Soul" What soul? “The Battle for Microsoft’s Soul”

What soul?

]]> By: Noam http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4677 Noam Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:19:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4677 Some may think that the future is in cloud computing, and in a way, they may be right. But the fact is that although the cloud introduces some great advantages, there are some weaknesses that in my opinion, have not been handled well enough yet. 1. Security - although there have been some major advances, the fact is that this is an ongoing war between virus programmer & hackers and security companies and there is no clear victor. We all manage to go on with our lives despite the occasional virus/ hack that managed to overcome our security measures, but that's because we're not real targets. In this respect, the cloud presents a huge target for hackers filled with goodies that are simply waiting to be picked. 2. Connectivity - so if all of our data is on the cloud, what happens if for some reason our ISP company fails to deliver? I think Live Mesh addresses this issue successfully, but I'm not sure about the Google gears approach. There's still a lot that needs to be done here. Completely relying on ISP providers is risky. However, I'm sure these issues will be dealt with. I think Live Mesh has a good chance of competing. It will probably come down to price. The lower the service price, the higher the traffic... Some may think that the future is in cloud computing, and in a way, they may be right. But the fact is that although the cloud introduces some great advantages, there are some weaknesses that in my opinion, have not been handled well enough yet.
1. Security – although there have been some major advances, the fact is that this is an ongoing war between virus programmer & hackers and security companies and there is no clear victor. We all manage to go on with our lives despite the occasional virus/ hack that managed to overcome our security measures, but that’s because we’re not real targets. In this respect, the cloud presents a huge target for hackers filled with goodies that are simply waiting to be picked.

2. Connectivity – so if all of our data is on the cloud, what happens if for some reason our ISP company fails to deliver? I think Live Mesh addresses this issue successfully, but I’m not sure about the Google gears approach. There’s still a lot that needs to be done here. Completely relying on ISP providers is risky.

However, I’m sure these issues will be dealt with. I think Live Mesh has a good chance of competing. It will probably come down to price. The lower the service price, the higher the traffic…

]]> By: Bart Czernicki http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4667 Bart Czernicki Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:09:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4667 I actually did a big write up on my site, because of all the stuff that was announced at the PDC the past week. There is just so much out there for new developers to consume. Its a great time to be a developer who wants to re-invest into the future. There is a whole new direction on the web with rich applications coupled with the slowdown of the economy allows people to take on the new technologies and implement them intelligently. What is great about "the new Microsoft" it is becoming more open. You can believe it or not. All of .NET assemblies can be refactored, Silverlight controls in beta the source code was released, lots of new CodePlex projects for ASP.NET/WCF etc. You have APIs into SQL Server and VS Studio to extend not only the product but the tools. Want to make games on the XBOX?...you can with .NET and XNA (can you do the same cheaply with the PS3 or Wii). I actually had a problem with installing a beta of VS 2008 on my Vista computer and Scott Guthrie e-mailed me a couple times with help. Yeah Scott Guthrie (if you know who he is he runs ASP.NET, Silverlight etc). It just shows you that they care. Lets be real here...every corporation is out there TO MAKE MONEY. People have this perception that Google or Apple "are less evil" or "make money nicely". Apple is a lot less open than Microsoft ever was or is. NDA on iPhone dev was JUST recently lifted (LOL). Trying to get Flash on iPhone or other useful apps..oh you just need to jailbreak your phone. Microsoft is going to be around for a LONG time. You might argue that Office/desktop OSes are dying...fine. MS has the Silverlight RIA, cloud computing with data services, XBOX 360, data serives etc...they are not Exxon Mobil (who still hasn't payed out the Valdez lawsuit) and sit on their money. Investing in things like Silverlight, actually makes the products like Adobe Flash better. I actually did a big write up on my site, because of all the stuff that was announced at the PDC the past week. There is just so much out there for new developers to consume. Its a great time to be a developer who wants to re-invest into the future. There is a whole new direction on the web with rich applications coupled with the slowdown of the economy allows people to take on the new technologies and implement them intelligently.

What is great about “the new Microsoft” it is becoming more open. You can believe it or not. All of .NET assemblies can be refactored, Silverlight controls in beta the source code was released, lots of new CodePlex projects for ASP.NET/WCF etc. You have APIs into SQL Server and VS Studio to extend not only the product but the tools. Want to make games on the XBOX?…you can with .NET and XNA (can you do the same cheaply with the PS3 or Wii).

I actually had a problem with installing a beta of VS 2008 on my Vista computer and Scott Guthrie e-mailed me a couple times with help. Yeah Scott Guthrie (if you know who he is he runs ASP.NET, Silverlight etc). It just shows you that they care.

Lets be real here…every corporation is out there TO MAKE MONEY. People have this perception that Google or Apple “are less evil” or “make money nicely”. Apple is a lot less open than Microsoft ever was or is. NDA on iPhone dev was JUST recently lifted (LOL). Trying to get Flash on iPhone or other useful apps..oh you just need to jailbreak your phone.

Microsoft is going to be around for a LONG time. You might argue that Office/desktop OSes are dying…fine. MS has the Silverlight RIA, cloud computing with data services, XBOX 360, data serives etc…they are not Exxon Mobil (who still hasn’t payed out the Valdez lawsuit) and sit on their money. Investing in things like Silverlight, actually makes the products like Adobe Flash better.

]]> By: Chrome=Windows, Rebooted. Microsoft=Google, Rebooted. « the marcellus weblog http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4663 Chrome=Windows, Rebooted. Microsoft=Google, Rebooted. « the marcellus weblog Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:37:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4663 [...] Update: Steve Gilmor just wrote a very interesting perspective on this over at TechCrunch. [...] [...] Update: Steve Gilmor just wrote a very interesting perspective on this over at TechCrunch. [...]

]]> By: Cliff Gerrish http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4661 Cliff Gerrish Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:59:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4661 Microsoft once again rolls up a whole suite of technological innovation and has the lock on selling it into the corporate channel. If they can bring the quality up to par, they've got a dominant position. The way we work has moved beyond the current incarnation of MS Office. You could almost say that formulation was "dead" (I think someone once put it that way). MSFT is uniquely positioned to bring this new platform to corporate america. Microsoft once again rolls up a whole suite of technological innovation and has the lock on selling it into the corporate channel. If they can bring the quality up to par, they’ve got a dominant position. The way we work has moved beyond the current incarnation of MS Office. You could almost say that formulation was “dead” (I think someone once put it that way). MSFT is uniquely positioned to bring this new platform to corporate america.

]]> By: . http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4658 . Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:31:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4658 Maybe they should try to do something like <a href="http://webstartspro.com" rel="nofollow">free website</a> Maybe they should try to do something like free website

]]> By: The Bradley Effect http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4656 The Bradley Effect Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:24:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4656 OBAMA HAS LOST ALREADY!!! HE IS CRYING ALREADY!!! It is the agony of defeat and he certainly deserves it... The Bradley effect works like a charm… OBAMA HAS LOST ALREADY!!! HE IS CRYING ALREADY!!!
It is the agony of defeat and he certainly deserves it…

The Bradley effect works like a charm…

]]> By: Puffy Imagination http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4654 Puffy Imagination Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:09:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4654 "Cloud computing" is for people who like to live in condos. “Cloud computing” is for people who like to live in condos.

]]> By: Steve Gillmor on The Battle for Microsoft’s Soul - Robert McLaws: Windows Vista Edition http://www.techcrunchit.com/2008/11/02/the-battle-for-microsofts-soul/comment-page-1/#comment-4650 Steve Gillmor on The Battle for Microsoft’s Soul - Robert McLaws: Windows Vista Edition Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:58:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunchit.com/?p=684#comment-4650 [...] Read more here. Posted on Nov 02 2008, 08:58 PM by Robert McLaws 0 Views [...] [...] Read more here. Posted on Nov 02 2008, 08:58 PM by Robert McLaws 0 Views [...]

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