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Does Microsoft need to be 'cool' to succeed? | |
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| Time: 23:57 EST/04:57 GMT | News Source: Seattle PI | Posted By: Kenneth van Surksum | ||
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How will Microsoft address the perception that it's not as cool as Apple or Google? That, in essence, was one of the questions posed to Steve Ballmer today during the company's Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston. In an on-stage Q&A, the Microsoft chief executive said that it's more a question of whether Microsoft can surprise people. Brad Hem, a reporter for the Houston Chronicle, focused on that subject in this story from the conference. | ||
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| #1 By 23275 (68.186.182.236) at 7/10/2008 9:05:33 AM |
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No.
Windows very obviously did not need to be "cool" to succeed. It's on more than 95% of computers world-wide. The better question would be: "Does Windows need to remain on 95% of computers world-wide in order for Microsoft to succeed?" and a follow on question: "Does Windows need to be cool in order to remain on more than 95% of computers world-wide?" Quite obviously, present tech authors are trying to portray Microsoft and Windows as failures - where I assess the motivation is to drive users to another platform. The reality is that only a small portion of people on the planet have a computer. A much larger percentage of people will have a computer and Windows will be on most of them. While the percentage may go down, the fact remains that an ever increasing number of people will be running Windows and that larger number and its attending growth matter more. Similarly, Apple's OS X and *nix will do the same as will the number of people using more than one OS. Another important question to ask is how much of a benefit has the ecosystem around Windows contributed to the growth of Apple/*nix? After all, the downward pricing pressure on components that make Windows computers more affordable, also make Apple and *nix based computers more affordable and most importantly, more profitable – I mean, how profitable was the Mac before they moved it to Intel’s architecture? |
| #2 By 2960 (70.177.180.170) at 7/10/2008 9:13:16 AM |
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Microsoft is the Anti-Cool. Just look what Cool did for Apple in the business market.
MS knows this. Stiff. Cardboard. NO Character. Stuffy. That's business, and that's Microsoft. TL |
| #3 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 7/10/2008 11:00:17 AM |
| MS couldn't be cool if they tried forever, but it's fortunate for them that they don't have to be. However, they could start laying the groundwork in their usual way: issuing press releases where they use 'cool' every 3rd word; have all MS execs sprinkle 'cool' into everything they publicly say; put up a nice-looking but essentially empty "Feel The Cool' website (in beta - come back later!). |
| #4 By 23275 (68.186.182.236) at 7/10/2008 11:36:05 AM |
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one person's "cool" is another's innocuous dolt (dweeb, spaz, freak... fill in your own blank as desired).
"cool" is assigned too generously to companies like Apple and ascribed to things... real cool, in my opinion provides that a person is comfortable among the widest possible of situations - where one adapts portions of themselves naturally as they transition from one to another (rapidly). It's a sincere comfort with what one is, regardless of where one may be - physically, or otherwise. Apple's not "cool" as it is not comfortable with what it is in my opinion, which is why its ads face competition rather than exist as an expression of what they are. I think we're confusing entertaining with "cool" in many cases and what one finds entertaining among one people, fails miserably among others. "Cool" transcends that handily. Just my thoughts on the matter... Not all guys that surf are cool, but really old guys that still surf because they truly love it, is cool (the act - not the guy necessarily - and by act, I mean the love held for the synergy between the man and the wave and sea - irrespective of just how bad one may look physically - it's the comfort with self that translates as cool). Ok... that was rambling, and that is not "cool" Simply, whatever you are be that... that is surely "cool." |
| #5 By 1896 (68.153.171.248) at 7/10/2008 11:50:43 AM |
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#1:I disagree with our opinion that Windows did not need to be cool to succeed.
When Windows came out it was cool compared with a Dos prompt or X-Tree or even compared with Norton Commander. I agree that there is not a definition of something "absolutely cool"; age, geographical location, culture etc. etc. influence what the targeted segment sees as "cool". For example I still love Deep Purple but I do not understand "Techno" music. Said that I am not saying that one is better than the other; my parents did not care for the Beatles. :-) |
| #6 By 28801 (71.58.225.185) at 7/10/2008 3:51:42 PM |
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As stated before, I really think Latch hit the cool mark when he appeard in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0 |
| #7 By 8556 (12.210.39.82) at 7/10/2008 9:45:56 PM |
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"How will Microsoft address the perception that it's not as cool as Apple or Google?" Answer: By offering value and a low price when necessary, such as XP for netbooks and Windows/Office in the third world for $3 with no activation needed.
Besides, there is no need to be, or appear to be, cool when your profits exceed $50 Billion US per year. (edited to add the word Billion as $50 annual profit would be quite inaccurate for MS.) This post was edited by bobsireno on Friday, July 11, 2008 at 08:59. |
| #8 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 7/11/2008 8:34:54 AM |
| #6: You're not rickrolling me again. |
| #9 By 1896 (68.153.171.248) at 7/11/2008 11:44:04 AM |
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#7: I disagree; no matter how profitable your company is today... tomorrow is another day.
What I I mean is that you cannot seat and disregard what is going on around you. Do you remeber when WordPerfect and Quattro Pro ruled the world? Where are they now? Btw this is something that applies to every company small or big, I am not just talking about MS or software companies. |
| #10 By 23275 (68.17.42.120) at 7/11/2008 3:51:03 PM |
| #9, That is a very good and valid point - we all have to work like we are starving, or we will be... |
| #11 By 1896 (68.153.171.248) at 7/12/2008 4:20:54 AM |
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"we all have to work like we are starving, or we will be... "
That is a great synthesis! |
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