I Walk The Line
So Robert Scoble has an interesting post about what he thinks of the changes to Microsoft. It's also very interesting how he seems unhappy yet strangely complacent. Be sure to note what he says at the end of that post. Then, for further insight and some explanation of Scoble's thoughts, see this article. The skinny? The skinny is that Microsoft is nearing middle-age, something that is damn near unescapable.
The big idea is that Ballmer, and his wild monkey dance tactics, can somehow cut a shitload of spending (here's an example: they spend about $300k per employee) while at the same time motivating them and creating innovation.
Creating innovation. Think about that. What it means. What it could mean. How in the fuck it could work. Because honestly, I don't see it happening.
Microsoft is a monster company. They are owned by shareholders. This fact alone means that while they can throw a billion into a disasterously failing business and not blink an eye, it also means that they can't help but be the copycat and company enveloper of the industry. They specialize in finding and exploiting good ideas, not creating them.
Scoble seems to think that since small teams create good software, which is not unheard of (particularly in my line of work), that somehow this means some Microsoft coder will become the superstar of tomorrow. Which is complete, and total, bullshit. The realization that they aren't the ominopotent business of the industry is a big step for them. Admitting you have a problem is the first step in solving it. But how they go about it is their business, and the situation at hand.
I think that above all, Microsoft will flounder as they try to both 'create innovaton' (I love saying that, it's the best oxymoron I've found in a long time) and 'cut costs'. Apparently they spent four billion each year in Research and Development, yet the best business they've ever come up with is MSN. And that one's just broke even.
The XBox is failing and has lost them as much money as they wish to save each year since it's debut. They're rushing the XBox 2 out for next year and it will fail spectacularly because of the Sega Saturn factor. It's too much too early, and the market won't bear an overpriced replacement of an already sufficient system (ie, PS2). Halo 2 will be a hit, but will it resurrect the Box of X? I think not.
Microsoft should simply realize that they can't ride that wave which brought their stock price to insane levels and split it 9 times. Now they're lying in a bed they made, and they shit in it with bad ideas.
How they go about cleaning that up is part of the fun of being on the outside. Now who's got some popcorn?
The big idea is that Ballmer, and his wild monkey dance tactics, can somehow cut a shitload of spending (here's an example: they spend about $300k per employee) while at the same time motivating them and creating innovation.
Creating innovation. Think about that. What it means. What it could mean. How in the fuck it could work. Because honestly, I don't see it happening.
Microsoft is a monster company. They are owned by shareholders. This fact alone means that while they can throw a billion into a disasterously failing business and not blink an eye, it also means that they can't help but be the copycat and company enveloper of the industry. They specialize in finding and exploiting good ideas, not creating them.
Scoble seems to think that since small teams create good software, which is not unheard of (particularly in my line of work), that somehow this means some Microsoft coder will become the superstar of tomorrow. Which is complete, and total, bullshit. The realization that they aren't the ominopotent business of the industry is a big step for them. Admitting you have a problem is the first step in solving it. But how they go about it is their business, and the situation at hand.
I think that above all, Microsoft will flounder as they try to both 'create innovaton' (I love saying that, it's the best oxymoron I've found in a long time) and 'cut costs'. Apparently they spent four billion each year in Research and Development, yet the best business they've ever come up with is MSN. And that one's just broke even.
The XBox is failing and has lost them as much money as they wish to save each year since it's debut. They're rushing the XBox 2 out for next year and it will fail spectacularly because of the Sega Saturn factor. It's too much too early, and the market won't bear an overpriced replacement of an already sufficient system (ie, PS2). Halo 2 will be a hit, but will it resurrect the Box of X? I think not.
Microsoft should simply realize that they can't ride that wave which brought their stock price to insane levels and split it 9 times. Now they're lying in a bed they made, and they shit in it with bad ideas.
How they go about cleaning that up is part of the fun of being on the outside. Now who's got some popcorn?
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