Describing how Microsoft has messed up (the one thing at which the Redmond monopolists seem to be really, really proficient) Word 2007, Margaret Heffernan blogs for The Huffington Post, “Microsoft has done it again: turned a perfectly decent piece of software on which a whole community depended into something that doesn’t work for anyone. It’s a classic example — if we needed more — of a company not listening to, not even thinking about, its customers. Instead of attacking competitors like Google, it might be a lot smarter if they diverted some of their brilliance to paying customers.”
Full article here.
Dan Warne, for APC Magazine, reports that Microsoft is pleading with customers not to wait for the oh-so-magical Vista SP1. “Microsoft has launched a ‘fact rich’ program to help customers understand why they should ‘proceed with confidence’ in rolling out Vista across all their PCs.”
MacDailyNews Take: Why would Microsoft launch Ballmer to help customers understand? (Scratching heads, rubbing chins, we re-read) Oh, we get it, “fact rich” – sorry, didn’t see that “c” the first time.
“Vista service pack 1 is, in the company’s own words, designed to address ‘deployment blockers and high impact issues,’ suggesting that until the release of SP1, you will have to contend with … deployment blockers and high impact issues. Hardly the basis for proceeding with confidence,” Warne reports.
Warne reports, “Microsoft’s ‘fact rich’ program announcement coincided with an embarrassing double-backflip today on its policy banning users from running home versions of Vista under virtual machines like VMware. It had planned to loosen the reigns, but pulled the announcement at the last moment.”
Full article here.
Also, in the “news” is a video produced by SarcasticGamer.com that highlights Microsoft’s vision of the future: “Surface: One Day Your Computer Will Be a Big-Ass Table.” The Sarcastic Gamer gives special thanks to their friends at Gamercast Network for “creative inspiration.”
As Andrew Fentem explained for The Register earlier this month, “Microsoft’s Surface Computing isn’t ‘a new paradigm,’ nor is it adding any innovation to an existing paradigm. Table computing isn’t a new market, either, and Microsoft’s demos are years away from being productized. In fact, according to Bill Buxton – ironically a Principal Researcher at Microsoft’s own research centre – these kinds of multi-touch interfaces have been around for over twenty years.”
Full article here.
More about Microsoft’s “Surface” (it’s smoke and mirrors – and cameras, folks) here and here.
MacDailyNews Note: The headline for this article is a parody. In regards to wakefulness, of course, not Microsoft products’ suckage, which is obvious fact to anyone who’s ever tried to use them. Unfortunately, only approximately 7.6% of home computer users have actually woken up (yet) combined with approximately 85% of digital media player users, 80% of legal online content downloaders, and another 0.00000001% who use Linux (but, as they’re way back in the server room, we’re not walking all the way back there to make sure he’s actually awake).
Heh heh, good stuff. My colleagues are waking up too. The all have these horrible acer anchors, and look with longing at my macbook.
I can’t stop laughing
awesome
Funny video.
I laugh at anybody who takes the Huffington Post as a source of opinion…
Platforms of self importance never cease top amaze me.
Of course MDN being the only source of credible opinion…well… in my case.
very very funny video…
Not everyone who owns a PC is convinced it’s the best thing out there. Some figure it’s the “best for the price” (they failed all four years of high school math) or “what they need for work”. Well, if “work” wants you to have a Vista-ready laptop, let them issue you one. For now, my son-in-law still plays solitaire on his H-P – and WoW (when he can get access time) on his wife’s iBook.
DLMeyer – the Voice of G.L.Horton’s Stage Page Pod-Cast
Using the latest touchscreen i have been testing from microsoft, it is horrid. the most inefficient and inaccurate machine to date.
Heffernan on Huffington, Heffernan on Huffington, Heffernan on Huffington, Heffernan on Huffington. Sounds like a train. Left leaning on the bends.
What if we were to see this on the new 24″ iMac as an option, for maybe around $2700.
ha ha ha that movie is great!
That video was classic. I love it.
The Huffington Post is nothing more than a lefty propaganda, straight-bashing, tabloid. A far cry from journalism. Yet Google news still clutters my personalized news page with their refuse.
Surface looks cool, but in how many ways is it going to be THAT great? I can see for kiosks and stuff, but the video actually makes some brilliant points– it kind-of keeps you from doing the same sort of thing which is usually easier, more entertaining, and human. Surface attempts to be “personal tech,” but it’s not.
We already have touch screen kiosks– in what way is surface unique, except that… well… it’s a big ass table?
All those Winblows Fista users out there can’t wait for SP1 so their solitaire games will really fly once again.
I just pis*ed myself watching that.
Someone should send that to Monkey Boy.
I just can’t get this smile off my face! Classic video!
Love it.
if you are all done complaining about huffington post and back to watching faux news, can we get back to the point?
damn that video is funny!
it might be a lot smarter if they diverted some of their brilliance to paying customers.”
The quote above says most of it. They need to listen to there customers. They don’t, so it’s there loss and Apple’s gain as Apple does listen to there customers and it it working brilliantly.
Thanks Apple!
Word 2007 is the shit. Shit as in – brilliant.
I use 4x more functions than in previous versions, the ribbons work fine for the novice, and a pro user simply uses shortcuts for every function. I don’t even use the mouse any more, even for advanced editing.
Try it – you’ll like it.
Hopefully it will be just as user-friendly in the coming Mac-version (and yes, I’m also an avid Mac-user; 3 months old Macbook Pro).
For once Microsoft got something right.
And (while I’m at it…) I think Surface is an interesting technology.
In some ways similar in function to what the iPhone promises, although not at all practical for the foreseeing future (far too expensive and crude)
But look ahead. In 10-15 years time, more advanced screens of this type might show up all over the place.
And who will be in the forefront of development?
Right now, only Microsoft.
But I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple tried to get in to the market… :-
They have a sense of style and taste that would be perfect for this kind of product.
“World awakens, realizes Microsoft products suck”
Man, that was just mean. I got my hopes up and then it turned out to be hyperbole!
Shame on you.
LMAO
That table-computer video is just so funny.
Well at least I lived long enough to see MS begging its customers to keep on using. What a freaking joke MS is.
MW = “problem”, as in, Hey, I know what the problem is.
hehe, MDN’s take is hilarious…and so true.
I reliazed the mediocre-ness of M$ products last november…and immediately switched to Linux…and then to a Mac. Nothing wrong wiht linux, infact I like it better than Windows, but OS X is more user oriented…and looks graphically stunning and better than Linux.
If I could count at how many times people have drooled at my Macbook Pro + OS X, and then multiply that by a dollar for each time…I would honestly be a millionaire by now.
Most individuals in the world are not exposed to chance…and hence are too scared to make the switch, and are stuck thinking that M$ products are the only way to go…its changing slowly though, as more and more people become aware.
“Reins”, not “reigns”, although I see the pun.
I simply appreciate the fact that my 2½ year old PowerBook looks as good as the day I bought it
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And I love how OS X is the most intuitive OS available to buy today.
Nothing more to say really.