Technology Thoughts: hethatishere

hethatishere

Technology Thoughts

Apr 04, 2006 21:22

Microsoft Vista
It shouldn't come as a surprise to most people that, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (of Monkey-man fame) runs his home like a police state not allowing his children to use Google or own an iPod. What is surprising is how nonchalant he is about it in a CNN Money Interview. Superior products be damned, you have to use Daddy's crappier products because Daddy is insecure!

Of course, Microsoft isn't doing well with the recent announcement of yet another delay of Vista and of their cash-cow Microsoft Office. This has lead toa passing of blame throughout the ranks resulting in many workers becoming upset because the upper echelons seem intent on blaming them, in response they've began calling for a shake-down of upper management, including Ballmer himself. Currently, Microsoft is reorganizing itself for efficiency (for the third time in as many years). Has Microsoft gotten too big for itself? A recent column by Forbes Magazine paints Vista is not only buggy and incomplete but not 'people ready' - a scathing review coming from one of Microsoft's strongest allies. Very recently, Microsoft said it would consider "suing Linux" for patent infringement, a sure sign of desperation against the increasing popularity of the little system that could. With a strong anti-trust case rolling in the EU (which Microsoft's attempts to dawdle into a long protracted battle and eventual settlement have been met with stern rebukes). Could this be the beginning of the end? Here's another reason to hate Microsoft too!

Apple
On the other hand, Apple sure seems to be doing well especially with the iPod. Everything happening at Microsoft gives poises Apple in a great position to claim market-share this holiday season. There was a recent article detailing the market that Apple all but created. So far, the iPods only serious competition has been with Apple itself. No amount of blaming trendiness or social pressures can make up for the simple fact that it is the best product on the market for the needs of the majority of users. There will be a day when the other companies stop just trying to keep up with Apple by copying (often paling in comparison) and actually try and innovate, possibly even creating a superior product. But until then, the iPod will rule. Microsoft and Co. would do well to realize this (respecting consumers and the need for elegance would help too) if they want to be serious in unseating Apple's dominance of the digital entertainment sphere.

Sony UMD Format Tanking
I probably relish too much in reporting that yet another proprietary Sony format is getting ready to kick the bucket. Which one? The much touted UMD format for the PSP! While the PSP makes a little ground beyond its niche market, the market which to its credit it created, sales of UMD movies have been very poor. So poor, that most companies are getting ready to pull out of support for them entirely leaving Sony alone to provide movies for their users. Sales were initially strong for the movies, but once the novelty wore off as did the purchases consumers made. Sony plans to make their next generation device connect to the television, a stupid move which makes the device entirely redundant to superior technology such as a DVD player or a TiVo. (Sony, I'll give you a hint people don't like being ripped off. You'd make an absolute killing with a subscription movie download service, not by charging people more than they do for a DVD for less than they get with a DVD.)

microsoft, ipod, technology, punditry, sony, apple