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Microsoft vs Innovation: Divorced due to irreconcilable differences

Put together on October 7, 2007 10:56 pm by Thomas
What do you think?

I initially started writing a long version of this post, doing some background research so that I could present my comments in the proper context. However the fact that I recently lost access to my IT equipment (I’ll get it soon, but not just yet) as well as the realization that the topic does not deserve such a lengthy discussion, I decided to simply put it out there. Spurred by Microsoft’s Ballmer thoughts in this Times Online article and thanks to Marc Andreessen’s colorful blog entry I quote:

“I think these things [social networks] are going to have some legs, and yet there’s a faddishness, a faddish nature about anything that basically appeals to younger people,” Mr Ballmer told Times Online yesterday.

From my point of view, Microsoft has not been a machine of innovation for a long time. It seems that Microsoft engineers and execs are simply trying to play catch up with whatever is out there (Xbox/PS2, IPod/Zune, Google/MS Live) at the time. The behemoths of software like Windows and Office keep the cash flow strong, which pretty much allows the company to fail many times over, trying to copy their rivals. But to me this is a sad state of affairs.

There’s supposed to be a Microsoft research facility in the UK with a bunch of PhDs who receive a billion US$ a year doing non-product related research. I believe that because I’ve seen a presentation by one of these guys and they are indeed allowed to roam free and do any project that fits their fancy. But is anything coming out? Mind you, this is not a criticism on this type of research. However I do feel that a link is needed, between the research and the business side of things.

Speaking of the business side, when Ray Ozzie came on board, he spoke of shorter product lifecycles, and more innovative stuff happening. A few things have happened, like Silverlight, but when I read comments like the above from Steve Ballmer, the company’s CEO, it seems to me that the mentality which he expresses is still rooted deeply within the organization. Ozzie’s new fresh attitude might not be enough to change that.

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Latest Comments



A Venn diagram generator?

George Tziralis:
I bet that you already know it, Google Chart API has an option for (embeddable) Venn Chart "Generator", http://code.google.com/apis/chart/types.html#venn(and it's quite useful to say the least).
I bet that you already know it, Google Chart API has an option for (embeddable) Venn Chart "Generator", http://code.google.com/apis/chart/types.html#venn
(and it's quite useful to say the least). - 4 years ago
...
Dimitris:
Thanks for reminding me that API - and that post. Incidentally, after our recent Wordpress upgrade we've been getting a bit of spam (I guess it's untill Akismet learns) - and it was a spam comment that brought that old post at the top of our ForumView plugin displaying recent discussions in that blog. That made you comment and start this conversation. Oh, the post-modern irony...
Thanks for reminding me that API - and that post. Incidentally, after our recent Wordpress upgrade we've been getting a bit of spam (I guess it's untill Akismet learns) - and it was a spam comment that brought that old post at the top of our ForumView plugin displaying recent discussions in that blog. That made you comment and start this conversation. Oh, the post-modern irony... - 4 years ago
...
Johnny:
Did you find a solution for what you were looking for? I recently came across a tool called Lucid chart which we're using a bit here and there. It's not quite as sophisticated with the inputs but does allow you to embed it into a website quite easily. You can try some of the Venn diagram examples here without signing up to see if it's the right fit.
Did you find a solution for what you were looking for? I recently came across a tool called Lucid chart which we're using a bit here and there. It's not quite as sophisticated with the inputs but does allow you to embed it into a website quite easily. You can try some of the Venn diagram examples here without signing up to see if it's the right fit. - 4 months ago
...
Church of tech

George Tziralis:
awesome article!
awesome article! - 6 years ago
...
Vicki Mabrey:
Absolutely right, I do agree with your post. By the way I work for church. We use web based church management software of Congregation Builder. It’s easy to enter data, and print reports. Church Web Calendar is really good application by this we can manage the events for church & lots more options available.
Absolutely right, I do agree with your post. By the way I work for church. We use web based church management software of Congregation Builder. It’s easy to enter data, and print reports. Church Web Calendar is really good application by this we can manage the events for church & lots more options available. - last year
...
Mind mapping with Mindmeister.com

Omar:
Here is another really good collaborative web-based mind mapping tool that might be worth looking at comapping.com.
Here is another really good collaborative web-based mind mapping tool that might be worth looking at comapping.com. - 6 years ago
...
Dimitris:
Thanks for the tip Omar. I saw comapping while writing the post and to be honest I was initially a bit put off by the 'in a Windows window' instead of the 'in a browser window' approach. I guess this is more of a design rather than use issue however. The 'unembedability' also seemed a limitation. I did like how the 'tree branches' expand/hide though - keep up the good work:)
Thanks for the tip Omar. I saw comapping while writing the post and to be honest I was initially a bit put off by the 'in a Windows window' instead of the 'in a browser window' approach. I guess this is more of a design rather than use issue however. The 'unembedability' also seemed a limitation. I did like how the 'tree branches' expand/hide though - keep up the good work:) - 6 years ago
...
The Eureka Effect: a moment of insight | terrainnova.org:
[...] had some progress in sorting through at least some of the main blogs in the field (see e.g. previous post) but in the process it’s also become apparent to me that a lot of people talk about the same [...]
[...] had some progress in sorting through at least some of the main blogs in the field (see e.g. previous post) but in the process it’s also become apparent to me that a lot of people talk about the same [...] - 6 years ago
...
mave:
You could try freemind (freemind.sourceforge.net) which works really good on linux and you can embed the mindmaps when you are running drupal or Joomla (no wordpress, sorry, but someone could pick that one up and write the appropriate code!).Also , on posix systems for more technical and structured "maps" you can try graphiz http://www.graphviz.org/ (yes I know it is actually for Graphs but in some sense an a mind map is a Graph structurally speaking!) It also produces files that can be embeded but I think that it is totally unuserfriendly since you have to be a little bit more familiar with computers than the average Joe to run it.
You could try freemind (freemind.sourceforge.net) which works really good on linux and you can embed the mindmaps when you are running drupal or Joomla (no wordpress, sorry, but someone could pick that one up and write the appropriate code!).

Also , on posix systems for more technical and structured "maps" you can try graphiz http://www.graphviz.org/ (yes I know it is actually for Graphs but in some sense an a mind map is a Graph structurally speaking!) It also produces files that can be embeded but I think that it is totally unuserfriendly since you have to be a little bit more familiar with computers than the average Joe to run it. - 6 years ago
...
Dimitris:
Thanks, mave about the heads ups. Haven't heard of any of these. Freemind works in Windows as well! And graphviz looks quite feature-rich too.
Thanks, mave about the heads ups. Haven't heard of any of these. Freemind works in Windows as well! And graphviz looks quite feature-rich too. - 6 years ago
...
A Venn diagram generator? | terrainnova.org:
[...] answering mave’s comment at this post, I remembered that about a year ago I was looking for a Venn diagram generator [...]
[...] answering mave’s comment at this post, I remembered that about a year ago I was looking for a Venn diagram generator [...] - 6 years ago
...
Jesica:
I found cool notes organizer for online notes - websendsms.com, also you can send sms for your web account.
I found cool notes organizer for online notes - websendsms.com, also you can send sms for your web account. - 2 years ago
...
Inside the Greek Cyber Crime Unit: Photos & Q&A

ggl:
A typical state approach to novelties in Greece. A)Put someone to do sth about sth because we have to. B)The someone, if he shows the proper zeal, will learn from trial and fail. C)If the zealot is merely adequate the state is satisfied, because it is not necessary to spend more money for a specialist. The all thing is covered up by the inexpensive "solution".
A typical state approach to novelties in Greece.
A)Put someone to do sth about sth because we have to.
B)The someone, if he shows the proper zeal, will learn from trial and fail.
C)If the zealot is merely adequate the state is satisfied, because it is not necessary to spend more money for a specialist. The all thing is covered up by the inexpensive "solution". - 6 years ago
...
Rudy Eckhard:
I have a report to make about Cyber Crime in Greece cab you be of any assistance and send me the e-mail address of the appropriate authority in Athens to report my case to. Thanks
I have a report to make about Cyber Crime in Greece cab you be of any assistance and send me the e-mail address of the appropriate authority in Athens to report my case to. Thanks - 3 years ago
...
Dimitris:
Try ccu at ath dot forthnet dot gr.
Try ccu at ath dot forthnet dot gr. - 3 years ago
...
Question search engine

tulip:
You're right!It sounds funny, but a search engine providing people with questions would be helpful, but only for the sake of learning how to think, so that someone will get used to wanting to know more about a specific subject...On the other hand when someone wants to learn something fast, it would be rational to just stick to the old...
You're right!It sounds funny, but a search engine providing people with questions would be helpful, but only for the sake of learning how to think, so that someone will get used to wanting to know more about a specific subject...On the other hand when someone wants to learn something fast, it would be rational to just stick to the old... - 3 years ago
...
Dimitris:
Yes, strictly educational purposes aside, a question search engine is appropriate for more long-term goals, not just to look up a piece of info. If someone wanted to write up an in-depth analysis, a report or some kind of detailed exploration of an issue, they would benefit from such a tool - which I admit is perhaps somewhat too early to consider.
Yes, strictly educational purposes aside, a question search engine is appropriate for more long-term goals, not just to look up a piece of info. If someone wanted to write up an in-depth analysis, a report or some kind of detailed exploration of an issue, they would benefit from such a tool - which I admit is perhaps somewhat too early to consider. - 3 years ago
...
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