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Microsoft furthers hardware reputation | |
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| Time: 15:13 EST/20:13 GMT | News Source: E-Mail | Posted By: Byron Hinson | ||
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Whether or not you like Microsoft Corp.'s software or business practices, there's one thing the company consistently does right: hardware. Whether it's gamepads, joysticks, keyboards or mice, the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant has a well-deserved reputation for building devices that are easy to use, rugged, feature-filled and precise. | ||
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| #1 By 2332 (65.221.182.3) at 10/27/2002 6:07:32 PM |
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Hmm... I've always had *excellent* repsonse from Microsoft's hardware tech support. Every time I've called with a problem (which is a rare event, at that), they simply send me a new one.
This happened once with an old multimedia keyboard which I dropped, and once with the Wireless Intellimouse Explorer, which made the most horrible buzzing sound that only I could hear. (Damn good ears.) In both cases, I called Microsoft, told them the problem, and within a week I had a new product at my door. I didn't have to provide proof of purchase (other than the serial number of the item), nor did I have to send my old one back to them. |
| #2 By 9264 (208.159.121.156) at 10/27/2002 6:35:42 PM |
| They might make some nice hardware (or at least put their name on it) but what good is that when they just stop supporting it whenever they decide you should buy something new. The DSS80 speakers for example; they stopped supporthing those when ME came out. Sidewinder gamepads, and I think there was something else they recently stopped supporting. Also with their Intellirats dying right and left I don't think I'll be buying any more Microsoft branded hardware any time soon. My second Intellimouse Explorer is still working actually, even though the paint has worn off and it's now mostly black instead of silver. |
| #3 By 61 (65.32.170.1) at 10/27/2002 9:23:45 PM |
| My mouse quit transmitting recently as well... very odd. |
| #4 By 135 (208.50.201.48) at 10/27/2002 9:38:35 PM |
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Hmm, my Intellimouse Explorer died a while back. I called up Microsoft and they sent me a new redesigned mouse, no questions asked. Similar thing happened to a guy at work, except they sent him a 6-pack of mice, although I think that was probably a mistake. :)
stubear - I'd like to see wireless keyboards and mice, but they have issues with response time and battery life. I guess I just wish my keyboard had a USB port in it so that I could plug my mouse into it instead of into the back of the computer. Just make it simpler. |
| #5 By 1896 (208.61.156.128) at 10/27/2002 9:53:26 PM |
| I had once a problem with an itellimouse as well, I contacted MS and they sent me a new one; same happened with a keyboard. You can like or dislike their products but if you have problems their service is top class. Sodablue I agree that response time with the wirelless mouse is slower but you get used to, as for battery life have you consider using rechargeable ones? I did it and the savings are consistent. |
| #6 By 3653 (65.190.70.73) at 10/27/2002 10:44:17 PM |
| Are there any open-source type efforts to create mice and keyboards? I mean, they seem to copy everything else Microsoft does... so why not create joysticks and networking gear too. |
| #7 By 2459 (24.233.39.98) at 10/27/2002 11:56:17 PM |
| sodablue, my Natural Keyboard Pro has a 2-port USB hub in the back of it. I have my Intellimouse Trackball Explorer plugged into it, and it works great. You should check to see if MS' new keyboards also have one (or you could get an older model, of course). |
| #8 By 135 (208.50.201.48) at 10/28/2002 1:18:52 AM |
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n4cer - My Office keyboard doesn't have that. :(
stubear - I have a HermanMiller Equa 2 chair. http://www.hermanmiller.com/CDA/product/0,1469,c211-pss2-p60,00.html I paid somewhere around $500 for it, but I got it with the full back, upgraded fabric, armrests and casters. You can also get adjustable armrests and lumbar as options. When you consider this chair is incredibly comfortable, is warrantied to last 10 years, and I had been spending $200 ever 3 years to buy some cheap chair from OfficeMax that would break and was never very comfortable... I think it's a wise investment. I've seen Aeron chairs for $800 online. I considered one of those, but I actually liked the Equa 2 better. |
| #9 By 2332 (65.221.182.3) at 10/28/2002 9:18:11 AM |
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I have the Aeron too. :-) I paid 400 shipped on eBay.
#22 - "what do the following have in common?" Um... nobody with intelligence ever claimed they were true? I especially like the Al Gore one, considering he never said that, and it was a Republican propaganda machine that took a statement he made about supporting the budding internet with funding and twisted it into the common statement you made. If you so easily buy into that propaganda, do you ever wonder what other propaganda you buy into? But how about this: 1.) Microsoft was one of they key software companies behind the XML push of recent years. 2.) Microsoft invented SOAP, which is now the standard for Web Service communication. 3.) Microsoft invented an early version of the Document Object Model, which was later adopted by the W3C, and is used by every browser on the planet to enable scripting and DHTML. 4.) Microsoft invented Code Access Security, which is the first innovation in computer software security since the Access Control List. 5.) Microsoft invented the Common Language Runtime, which is the first runtime to be designed from the ground up with multiple language support, not to mention being a completely managed interface for applications development. 6.) Microsoft invented RTF! Rich Text Format. That's kind cool. 7.) Microsoft invented Auto-Complete, both in the general UI (IE, Run menu, etc.), and in their development tools, where it is known as intellisense. Those are just the ones I could think of off the top of my head. At any rate, it doesn't take away from the FACT that nearly every open source project I've ever seen has been a DIRECT COPY of Microsoft's stuff. It's REALLY hard to create a good interface the first time, but it's really easy to copy it. I would think that the open source community would want to make a name for itself by creating their own stuff instead of copying everything Microsoft does. I love how some of the most popular news for Linux fans isn't some innovative new open source product, but instead a product that exactly duplicates applications available on Windows. WINE, the Ximian Outlook Clone, the recent "Exchange Killers". It's kind of sad really. When was the last time you hear Windows users getting excited about a clone of some Linux app? |
| #10 By 2332 (12.105.69.158) at 10/28/2002 10:59:53 AM |
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Speaking of innovation:
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/301/business/Microsoft_Tablet_PC_technology_a_stroke_of_genius+.shtml |
| #11 By 2960 (156.80.64.132) at 10/28/2002 1:39:11 PM |
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Praise for their game controller HARDWARE is fine.
Any kind of praise, any whatsoever, for their controller SOFTWARE is totally unjustified. The software for their controllers, SideWinder 4.0, has been lying stagnant for over 2 years now. No bug fixes, no feature improvements, no nothing. To make matters worse, compared to other controller developers software (such as LogiTech), it's horrible from a useability standpoint. To show their true laziness towards this software, they even gave SideWinder 4.0 WHQL certification for Windows XP without even bothering to update it to remove the warning you get at installation saying that it's for Windows 98 only, and may cause system problems with Win2K/XP! Oh, well. I guess when you own the keys to the WHQL Labs you can do anything you want. But it does make one wonder about the credibility of the WHQL process. TL |
| #12 By 2960 (156.80.64.132) at 10/28/2002 1:43:57 PM |
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Soda,
That chair would actually kill me! It's odd, but I cannot use an ergonomically correct chair. I have to use a chair with a flat back with a lot of cushion. I can stand no lumbar support at all. A good part of my lower lumbar isn't there any more, and was replaced with rod, plates, screws, etc... and the sort of pressure ergo chairs place on the lumbar are miserable to me. I need chairs designed like the 'couches' used in Cadillac's, Lincoln's, etc... from the 60's and 70's :) TL |
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