Tag Archives | Microsoft

After Cringely’s last column saying there was no way to beat Microsoft, other than their inevitable suicide, I was ready to toss in the towel. On the other hand, in this weeks’s column, “Shake Your Groove Thing: The Only Way to Beat Microsoft is by Ignoring Microsoft,” he ties in the Google phenomenon with Sun’s capitulation and concludes that Sun is done. His quotable pull quotes:

… paying too much attention to Microsoft simply allows Microsoft to define the game. And when Microsoft gets to define the game, they ALWAYS win.

And his thoughts on the winning game plan:

Start by completely removing Microsoft from your thoughts. Develop a good and sound business plan. It should in no way be based on Microsoft, either for or against. Microsoft should not be part of your business. What is important is to run YOUR business, and not be distracted by Microsoft. If it makes business sense to YOUR company to do business with Microsoft, do so on your terms. Limit your dependence, limit your exposure.

Thought-provoking stuff.

According to ComputerWorld, “Microsoft releases patches to fix 20 flaws” in four Security Bulletins, MS04-011, -012, 013, and -014. All but one are rated critical. As the time between patch release and exploit seems to be dropping to a few days, I’d encourage you to patch your systems asap.

It’s the 16th week of the year. Microsoft’s patches and further information are available at http://www.microsoft.com/security.

And in other news, Slashdot reports Microsoft Clips Longhorn:

Gr8Apes writes “Microsoft is clipping Longhorn to get the already-delayed follow-up to Windows XP out the door by 2006. MS has decided to remove some of the most ambitious features. Blackcomb is the version to follow Longhorn, and is expected at the end of the decade. The full new file system feature has been moved to Blackcomb. Other notable parts of the story, in MS’s efforts to get its DRM into play, a new version, Windows XP Premium will start shipping with new PCs, which will include a new version of the infamous Windows Media Player. This version will have the ability to shop at on-line stores like the one MS plans to launch later this year. It’s their move to ‘outflank Apple’.”

From his pulpit this week, Robert X. Cringely posts “The Once and Future King: Now the Only Way Microsoft Can Die is by Suicide.” That’s great news. I love cheering for the underdog, especially when all looks hopeless. Do read the column to the end: Cringely comes to the same conclusion I do: Microsoft’s Destiny Is Inevitable.

Remarkable. A wonderful first step. Microsoft Releases Source Code on SourceForge. The Redmond software giant is making its Windows installer technology under OSI’s Common Public License. [Microsoft Watch from Mary Jo Foley]

John Koziol blogs: “Before Microsoft made the mistake of actually hiring me (heh), I worked as a vendor to the company for the VFP 6 certification tests. The test teams always debated what could reasonably be expected knowledge of a developer. You see, at that time the concept was to find the MQC – Minimally Qualifed Candidate. What magic set of knowledge indicates that someone should be certified in a tool?

I’ll never forget that Ted Roche, one of the team members, made a fascinating point…”

CNET News.com reports that Microsoft has determined, using the Windows Update process, that the number of infected windows systems is orders of magnitude greater than the numbers previously estimated by security firms and academics. Chilling.

MSBlast epidemic far larger than believed. “Researchers previously estimated that the virus infected hundreds of thousands of computers. The latest information from Microsoft indicates that the worm compromised millions of systems.”

Scripting News links to a Seattle Post-Intelligencer: article hinting at the new “MSN Blogbot.” What they missed was the story. Instead of breathlessly reporting that they had no news but had heard the name of a possible new product, they should have reported what they saw: Microsoft launches a FUD attack. The Seattle PI reports:

MSN exec Yusuf Mehdi showed it briefly on screen during a conference on the Redmond campus today, along with MSN Newsbot, a news search engine also in development… Mehdi was pressed for time and moved on quickly, so he didn’t share many details about Blogbot.

What nonsense. He wasn’t ‘pressed for time,’ he had delivered his FUD payload and moved on. In a Microsoft controlled PR event, he showed exactly what he wanted, no more, no less, and left everyone guessing. He showed Microsoft’s hand just enough to let all the players know they were moving into the space, and they’d better put up their ‘For Rent or Sale’ signs now if they didn’t want to get run over. I hate it when Microsoft wags the dog like this. The press should know better.

CNET News.com features a snappy retort to a recent c|net columnist: “Microsoft sympathizer!“