Thursday, January 17, 2008

Let’s pick on Microsoft

Before you dismiss this as just another MS rant by just another MS crab, let’s make one thing perfectly clear I need Microsoft products. I type my blog posts in Word then use Internet explorer to post it to my blog. On top of that my livelihood depends on tools made by the behemoth.
So what’s ticking me off? Well get a load of this. It’s the “Why attend” section of the Microsoft Office System Developer Conference 2008. Just look at the wording used by their marketing pukes:


Here are my objections:

1. The “Breakthrough application development platform” they are referring to is SOA based. With that kind of wording they are suggesting that they made the breakthrough of inventing SOA, which they haven’t. It’s the work of dedicated professionals and researchers that have made this technology viable.

2. The “arsenal of new skills and knowledge” they are referring to will be MS centric. Which is fine for a developer to have, the problem arises when he begins to think for himself. This can be thought of as two kids playing with building blocks (read as engineering principle). The first kid puts together a modest looking house and is quite proud of it. It’s not until his teacher comes along and tells him he did it all wrong because it doesn’t look anything like the Taj Mahal replica created by the other kid.

“But people need low cost housing as well” he replies

“Yes but it has to look regal”

“Yeah, but everybody doesn’t want a regal look there’s a market for shlumpy homes too.” Teacher walks away with a look of disgust. This sort of thing happens all the time when developers come up with economical solutions to problem and pitch them to their laymen bosses.

“Yeah but Microsoft does it this way.”

“But sir you hired me to create a solution you can afford all those frill and whistles are unnecessary”

“Yeah but Microsoft knows best.” At this point the developer has one of two options either put up or shut up. Because its way too difficult to try to make people understand that Microsoft does not hold the monopoly on intellectual thought in the field of computer science. They depend on the work of researchers to make progress, it’s just that they hijack the work, add sugar and then sell it as if it was their own bright idea.

3. Sure there is a chance you’ll make an impact on your company after attending the conference, but the industry? Come on! And what the hell do they mean by starting an office system revolution? Are they trying to attract intelligent engineers to the conference or clueless morons? Exaggerated wording in MS advertisement really ticks me off. A classic example is “Your Potential Our Passion”; it should read “Your Potential Our Asphyxiation”. They can’t make up for their evil company image by a few cleverly crafted advertisements.

Will I be going? I might because some of their tracks seem interesting but the asking price for the three-day conference is a total turnoff. Will any of you be going? And what’s your take on Microsoft?

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