Making Microsoft a Sexy Tech Company - Part 2

     Microsoft can win the future through some bold and likely unpopular (at least in Redmond) choices. For example, having used a Mac I have seen the beauty of quality hardware combined with quality software. Too often (at least in part because license fees to Microsoft are a healthy slice of cost) PC manufacturers use cheap unreliable parts with even more dubious drivers on the Windows platform. This is a lose-lose proposition. The manufacturer gets a bad reputation, PCs in general get a bad reputation and Windows gets a bad rap. If this trend continues, Microsoft software could eventually be the software that people use just because they have to at the office. How to fix?

     Make your (their) own hardware. There are plenty of options, both HP and Dell have a market cap lower than the cash Microsoft has on hand Of course HP is selling off their Hardware business so the price should be less than their $46 Billion market cap. Microsoft could easily snatch up those assets and then work to integrate hardware and software (NOTE: Kinect for PC that only works on premium Microsoft Hardware, hint hint) This would be a huge shift from the innovate and share with the world method that Microsoft currently uses. It might anger some of their partners, but they would also be building a simple and valuable brand. Its try that this might accelerate the moves some of their partners are preparing to other platforms, but Microsoft ought to know that no one can afford to jump ship right now. But if they carefully and methodically moved into that space with quality by the time partners jump ship, PCs would be sexy for a change and frankly just like Macs, many would be willing to pay a premium for them. Which of course leads me to my next point.

     The entire marketing staff at Microsoft should be fired. Why? Who knows what a people ready business is? I mean what company on the face of the Earth (besides MSFT) runs ads for a product that doesn't exist? I have never seen a Microsoft ad that made me think, I just have to have that! (Don't get me started on those ridiculous Bing commercials) Thus, they should move in a completely new direction. What they need is a marketing genius that can get these new products (and old ones into the hearts and minds of everyone).  Too bad this one is not available.  What else does Microsoft need?

     Integration. Microsoft loves integration, but only in one place, within the Microsoft universe. As a result, the XBOX does not have Blu-Ray, Mac doesn't have Office, and I wouldn't be surprised if Skype starts to disappear from all non Microsoft platforms. I think this would be a big mistake. Instead of trying to stifle the rest of the world, recognize that a healthy computing ecosystem is better long term than a healthy and shrinking) Microsoft ecosystem in the short term. Imagine for a moment, running Microsoft Office on your android tablet instead of QuickOffice. In the end no one wants to use a cheap imitation (no offense, I use QuickOffice on my iPad) when the real thing is available. Imagine Office on Linux that works naturally. Imagine being able to actually collaborate with people anywhere in the world regardless of what platform all are running. Imagine Microsoft making money (legally this time) nearly every time a device is sold. Maybe then their Market Capitalization would return to the stratosphere it once easily inhabited.

In part 3, how to beat Google..

Making Microsoft a Sexy Tech Company - Part 1

     It's been a long while since I've written. Since my last post I've gotten an iPad an iPhone, a Mac book pro and an AppleTV needless to say, Microsoft has lost a little ground in my home.

     In fact in that time I have gotten rid of my XBOX as well. The problem is not really that Microsoft's products have somehow stopped being easy to use. They have just finally completely lost touch with what people want and how they want it. Sooner or later they will have to figure out that the "we are the big bully on the block" strategy will not work. Until they learn to play nice they are going to lose out to lesser competition. Obviously the boys at Apple are no longer the little pimple they were 10 years ago, but Microsoft is facong woes in every space they are in. Despite practically inventing the smart phone, they've lost the hearts and minds of the masses to Android and iPhone. Why? Because they continued to purvey uncool gray box phones the same way they personify the grey box computer. This is not entirely their fault as the folks at Intel can attest. (See story here.) Their partners at HP, Toshiba, Dell, Lenovo and the many other also-ran companies have solidified that image. This is where Apple, perhaps do to the sheer will of their now former CEO Steve Jobs excels.

     Unlike the boys in Redmond, the folks at Apple, don't view producing their own hardware as beneath them. True Microsoft makes its money licensing software, but imagine if Microsoft were to build a PC that took advantage of the many features that they pack into their software. Features that seem to only be emphasized while the software is being demoed at their many events.

     The MacBook pro is by no means a perfect device, I don't even know how to uninstall software not loaded through the app store, but I can use all the stuff the Apple team highlighted about their new Lion release.

     It's true Microsoft is still the big boy on the block, but most everyone believes their best days are behind them. I do not, but I think they need a radical shift in strategy to "win the future". First they gotta realize their losing that race. My thoughts coming in part 2.

Madden NFL

Tonight is the opening of the NFL season. I don't care for the Steelers, but as a Colts fan I am obligated to root for Pittsburgh.

On the technology front, I sincerely hope that next year's Madden NFL is the last monopoly version of the franchise. I am still stuck in the days when there was competition in the football market. For the last 4 seasons EA has gotten away with releasing minor service packs and improved graphics. In the meantime, game play has been disappointing, player ratings have been ridiculous (i.e. Adam Vinatieri in Madden 10), and the presentation quickly becomes repetitive and annoying. Imagine what Madden could be if it had to compete with other products it might actually get better.

This year's Madden is being billed as the best ever. Perhaps it is, but some of its "New" features could be found in ESPN NFL2k5 which means these are not new ideas being brought to the table and we football fans have gotten the short end of the stick. I hope the NFL does not pursue an additional exclusive contract with EA or any other company. I believe that like real football the game is made better by real competition.

RRREEAAALLLYYY Stupid Microsoft

I cannot get over how dumb Microsoft can be. First let me say this, I am absolutely a Microsoft guy. I have a million microsoft certs, I ditched my iPod for a Zune, I use a Microsoft created app for just about everything I do. Still they seem to not get what their customers want no matter how OBVIOUS it may be. Take this article for example: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/30/microsoft_mobile_bach/

"Microsoft Kills Zune Phone" gee I wonder if anybody has proven that a music first phone with a bunch of apps can be highly in demand?? And I wonder if they might have accidently saddled their device to perhaps the worst network available. Man, I bet if somone made a competing touchscreen phone that was available on any network if some of that pent up demand might go that way? Perhaps you might think that if you are a normal person, but apparently in Redmond that is crazy talk. What make something that people actually want? Take the fight to Apple instead of being the butt of jokes? Nah!! Let's be the company that is allergic to money!! In fact, let's not admit that all of our windows phones pretty much suck and definitely are boring, instead let's enhance their boringness and kill the idea of giving them some caché. Or maybe the Redmondians aren't willing to give up their iPhones. Yeah maybe that's it they just don't want to be saddled with a device that works better than the iPhone as a music player, allows you to share songs, can pick up HD Radio, can play movies (even though there are still none in the Zune Marketplace), browse the web, and has a GIANT leg up on integrating email. That sounds too much like a not for profit enterprise. I guess we'll have to wait for some guy to start a company that makes a fantastic phone OS and let them innovate by buying it for an ungodly sum. Or perhaps just after its impossible for them to make any money at it then they will start making one. Good old stupid Microsoft always late to the party...

Well, that's my rant for the day, tell me what you think about Microsoft's ingenious decision..