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Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

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Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#11

Post by morgante »

ferentchak wrote: post #10
anon987 wrote: post #5

Microsoft continues to try to convince us that they are great with press releases and non-organic stories such as this. I, my peers, and my co-workers just don't see it. With billions in reserve it's no surprise they are trying to buy popularity.

Have you played with Azure or .Net Core? People tend to enjoy the Surface products too. In this regard I would not say they are "back" but better than Microsoft has ever been. Are they the best at everything... nah but heck the fact that I am saying many of their products are compelling is a big improvement

I've played with Azure and it's terrible. If a client wants me to use Azure instead of Google or Amazon, I literally charge a premium because it's so much more painful.

Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#13

Post by cylo »

cannonpr wrote: post #6

Not to say that Microsoft hasn't done some good work in say Linux lately because of Azure, but I just don't see Microsoft as an innovator, it's very hard to see a company that makes 2 billion a year off android patent's as innovative... I wonder how much of Microsoft in the future will be a tech leader, versus a patents company.

I don't think this is an accurate view at all. How can you say they aren't innovating when you've got Microsoft Research still going strong with the fruits of its labor becoming visible in commercial applications such as speech, augmented reality, etc.

Not to mention the open source efforts they've put forth with .NET -- which admittedly is still in rough shape but certainly seems to have a future.

I don't think it's quite right to discount Microsoft entirely and see them as the next IBM.

Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#14

Post by rb808 »

I dont understand the new Microsoft business model. I've stopped using office, Windows is now free(?), but most stuff is in the browser anyway. We used to pay a lot of money for SQL server but now there are lots of free open source alternatives.

Sure Azure might make some money but its a commodity business, I can't see how it will replace the old cash cows.

Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#15

Post by marricks »

I was going to rag on this article for touting the the same non-specific garbage we've seen the past couple days like, "more mac users switching to surface than ever!" without any hard numbers, did is go from 20 to 25? But this article is actually pretty interesting.

It focuses on how Satya Nadella has respected the leaders of Companies he's bought out and invited them to key meetings. Using their insight not only for product and company direction, but importantly creating culture as well. Very key to Microsoft and any tech company's success.

I recall hearing many stories about how Microsoft had like 3 managers per programmer, probably exaggeration, but the point remains, who would want to work there if you skilled/lucky enough to choose? Looks like they may be changing in some good ways.

Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#16

Post by meddlepal »

anon987 wrote: post #5

Microsoft continues to try to convince us that they are great with press releases and non-organic stories such as this. I, my peers, and my co-workers just don't see it. With billions in reserve it's no surprise they are trying to buy popularity.

I haven't used Azure but I know people that have and they all say it's a pleasure to work with most of the time.

As a JVM developer the .NET Core stuff is really interesting to me and I'd love to figure out a way to start using it.

I'd pretty much written MS off several years ago as a fading giant but they're cranking out products and services I want to use now and that I just need to figure out how to get them into my life.

Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#17

Post by ferentchak »

cmdrfred wrote: post #9
anon987 wrote: post #5

Microsoft continues to try to convince us that they are great with press releases and non-organic stories such as this. I, my peers, and my co-workers just don't see it. With billions in reserve it's no surprise they are trying to buy popularity.

I've been saying the same thing. My coworkers bring up the surface when I mention it, but I don't see it. Tech in general has felt low innovation lately. Its time for silicon valley 2.

Well old Silicon Valley is not done marketing billion dollar web versions of 30 line Unix utilities.

Maybe we can make all these things again in VIRTUAL REALITY!!!!

Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#18

Post by cmdrfred »

ferentchak wrote: post #10
anon987 wrote: post #5

Microsoft continues to try to convince us that they are great with press releases and non-organic stories such as this. I, my peers, and my co-workers just don't see it. With billions in reserve it's no surprise they are trying to buy popularity.

Have you played with Azure or .Net Core? People tend to enjoy the Surface products too. In this regard I would not say they are "back" but better than Microsoft has ever been. Are they the best at everything... nah but heck the fact that I am saying many of their products are compelling is a big improvement

For me Microsoft was at its best when they cut the cost of the average PC to low enough that nearly everyone could afford one. That's innovative, this stuff is window dressing.

Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#19

Post by ctvo »

cylo wrote: post #13
cannonpr wrote: post #6

Not to say that Microsoft hasn't done some good work in say Linux lately because of Azure, but I just don't see Microsoft as an innovator, it's very hard to see a company that makes 2 billion a year off android patent's as innovative... I wonder how much of Microsoft in the future will be a tech leader, versus a patents company.

I don't think this is an accurate view at all. How can you say they aren't innovating when you've got Microsoft Research still going strong with the fruits of its labor becoming visible in commercial applications such as speech, augmented reality, etc. Not to mention the open source efforts they've put forth with .NET -- which admittedly is still in rough shape but certainly seems to have a future. I don't think it's…

Agree, even when Microsoft was unpopular and declining in relevancy MS Research was putting out the best information out of any tech company.

Please browse https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/ and try to find a comparable resource from anyone else.

Re: Microsoft, Rebooted, Emerges as a Tech Leader

#20

Post by bengale »

morgante wrote: post #11
ferentchak wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you played with Azure or .Net Core? People tend to enjoy the Surface products too. In this regard I would not say they are "back" but better than Microsoft has ever been. Are they the best at everything... nah but heck the fact that I am saying many of their products are compelling is a big improvement

I've played with Azure and it's terrible. If a client wants me to use Azure instead of Google or Amazon, I literally charge a premium because it's so much more painful.

Yeah, every experience I've had with Azure outside of the demonstrated samples tends to be a complete headache.
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