First up, Microsoft’s vision of the future home. Do you see anything innovative in this video? I don’t. Everything portrayed is old thinking or technology already available. Really, who in the future is going to have a their TV remote separate from the phone? And why is the TV remote the size of a 1990 cell phone? Also, what is up with the random keyboard in the bedroom? At least there are still surprise parties in the future Microsoft world. Direct video link.

Microsoft Labs also released their vision of the future, and the most interesting thing is the Harry Potter style newspaper. But sadly, I don’t think it comes with the thrill of magic. Most of my words on the Microsoft Labs video though can be summed up through this crafty remix from Sarcastic Gamer. The best part is years away date. Very True for Microsoft.

Here is a link to the un-remixed version.

Should we really be surprised that Microsoft just lost another court case to software piracy – about software piracy!? Apparently the software giant’s business plan is more geared towards stealing software and claiming it as their own than actually writing good software. What I can’t understand is why so many people choose to support such a company? We have no problem crying foul and raising our voices when the bankers and stock brokers on wall street behave irresponsibly, so why not Microsoft?

Microsoft has intentionally stolen software several times, falsely advertised and knowingly distributed inadequate products. All things that business schools teach as being ways to fail. So why is Microsoft still a big player? Why are so many still victims to the Enron-like micro-scum? Internal emails backup many of the points I’ve just claimed.

Is it because Microsoft deliberately tried to destroy free open-source alternatives? This document shows Microsoft’s fear and threat with Linux even back in the 90’s.

Here are some great quotes from skimming the Microsoft internal emails and papers:

Remember buying that Vista-capable, yet incapable machine? Microsoft executive John Kalkman tells us why: (from Seattle PI)
“In the end, we lowered the requirement to help Intel make their quarterly earnings so they could continue to sell motherboards with the 915 graphics embedded.”

Jim Allchin: (from Seattle PI)
“If we are to rise to the challenge of Linux and Apple, we need to start taking the lessons of ’scenario, simple, fast’ to heart.”
“I would buy a Mac today if I was not working at Microsoft.”

Roger L. Kay who wrote the “White Paper” for Microsoft: (from CNNMoney)
“Microsoft did call for changes in his text — particularly in those place where he praised Apple. For example, he wrote in his original draft that Windows ‘copied’ Apple’s graphical user interface. That raised legal red flags for Microsoft’s lawyers. In the final version, the verb was changed to ‘followed.’”

At-least Apple is usually only stealing the show!
(Although, like all big players – lawsuits are unavoidable.)
Am I being more hard on Microsoft than Apple? Probably, but I believe Apple to be forward-thinking and innovative with large investments in research & design… where as Microsoft worked for how many years and all they had to show was Vista? Additionally, Apple would never blame it’s users for problems– problems are the result of poor planning, implementation, research and design. 

So I guess the latest case makes reason number 4,815,162,342 why I prefer to not support Microsoft.

Here is crafty “… and I’m a PC” ad response on youtube:

Wait… What’s that running in the background? How did that update download? I’m confused… maybe I better stick with iWork.

Come on Microsoft… is it so hard to make something that “just works” for once? Apparently it seems making things that work goes against your company’s philosophy… just imagine what the world would be like if you made stuff that “just worked” with no strings attached…

Looks like nothing has changed…

 

Yes, You need to allow them to write code that actually works.

Tell us what you think of Vista, Bill…