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Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

seattletimes.nwsource.com

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Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#181

Post by dredmorbius »

debacle wrote: post #37
mbesto wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm assuming I don't have to explain to you the sentiment over Microsoft's product base (consumer mainly) in the past 5-10 years in comparison to it's biggest competitor, Apple, right?

Apple is a single, targeted competitor to a fraction of Microsoft's business. The XBox 360 is a great console, MS hardware is still top notch, Office is still Office and Exchange is still Exchange. Windows 7 has been widely well received, and IE 10 is on track to be the most compliant browser in the IE line.

Half (or more) of Microsoft's business, and far more of their profit, is two product lines: Windows, and Office.

They're also synergystically linked: if you're running on Windows, you're far more likely to want/need Office, and if you're using Office, you're far more likely to want Windows.

Crack either side of that diptych, and you've vastly undermined the business. Apple is attacking both. The OS through both its laptop and desktop (yes, you can still buy desktop Macs) offerings, but increasingly, mobile (iPhone, iPad, even iPod). Apple iWork is a competitor to Office, and some products (notably Keynote) are vastly superior to the Microsoft offerings.

Apple's not the only competition, of course. Google appear primed to take on more of the space as well (Google Apps, Android). And there's even Linux on the desktop. One of these years.

Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#182

Post by gnaffle »

bjornsteffanson wrote: post #172
rahoulb wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've said it before, but I feel Microsoft's problem is that they cannot say no to things. This serves them well in the Enterprise, where every installation requires customisations (and people can afford to pay for the maintenance of those customisations) but spills over into everything they do, meaning they cannot keep things simple.

Interesting idea. Do you have any examples at the individual consumer level?

The dozens of different Windows versions, the fact that their new flagship tablet ships in two versions with incompatible instruction sets, where one will only run "Windows 8 style" applications, and that the operating system itself has two completely different user interfaces that doesn't interoperate well. Actually taking the Kin to product launch instead of killing it off internally and refocusing efforts at a time when Windows Mobile was losing market share.

Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#183

Post by epo »

RegEx wrote: post #84
debacle wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do people buy MacBooks out of goodwill to Apple, or because they're kickass hardware?

I'd actually assert a portion of people buy Apple products out of goodwill to Apple. This should not be taken as a compliment, though.

So you're suggesting some purchasers of Apple products are vapid enough (and monied enough) to buy them out of "goodwill" towards Apple? It's possible, of course an alternative is that you haven't a clue what you are talking about. I know which way I'd bet.

Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#184

Post by ricardobeat »

ThomPete wrote: post #166
ricardobeat wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a question of whether it works for everybody, and unless somente here wants to do free research, we can only extrapolate from our on perceptions.

No it's not a question of whether it works for everybody. The world is filled with successful companies with ugly logos. The purpose of the logo is not to look pretty but to identify.

That's the definition of working in this context: fulfilling it's purpose as a logo.

Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#185

Post by notatoad »

notatoad wrote: post #127
mbesto wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Microsoft isn't changing their brand, they're updating their brand. Semantics. > it's not a sign of the apocalypse. I'm sorry if I implied it's a sign of the apocalypse. I didn't mean it that way. The point is Microsoft has suffered greatly due to the massive success of Apple. This is no news to anyone. They're not going to die anytime soon, but they have a MASSIVE threat. The Wire's portrayal of the character's br…

>How many people here think Google should change it's logo? The logo itself lacks any sort of design principles and very clearly was created by a techie with lack of graphic design. So why on earth hasn't Google changed it? They have changed it. They subtly update it every couple years to keep the shading and the bevel in line with current trends. In any case, you're either missing my point, or you're missing the poi…

and your link to the top 10 brands only shows coke for me, but here's what i'm thinking of: golden arches, chevy bow tie, nike swoosh, apple logo, playboy bunny, wikipedia crossed W.

Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#186

Post by yew-right »

Does your TV need a "user-interface"?

Does your secretary need a touchscreen?

MS's last remaining market is business. As others bring to business the old power of UNIX, for less cost, and repackaged with now commonplace buzzwords like "opensource", "linux", and "cloud", MS is in big trouble. For most of the business world, software is an expense, not an asset. Inexpensive wins.

But those guys who could say "FU" in 1992, why should they care? MS has had a GREAT run.

Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#188

Post by jlgreco »

epo wrote: post #183
RegEx wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd actually assert a portion of people buy Apple products out of goodwill to Apple. This should not be taken as a compliment, though.

So you're suggesting some purchasers of Apple products are vapid enough (and monied enough) to buy them out of "goodwill" towards Apple? It's possible, of course an alternative is that you haven't a clue what you are talking about. I know which way I'd bet.

I do not thing that buying something because you think it has a good brand (or you have goodwill towards the brand, however you want to phrase it), makes you vapid.

High end consumer products like Apple hardware most certainly have a certain fashion aspect which is important to remember when you considering why people make the purchase decisions that they do.

While that may be something that you do not value when purchasing hardware and gadgets (I know I do not value it highly at all either), there is certainly nothing fundamentally wrong with those that think otherwise.

Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#189

Post by outworlder »

buro9 wrote: post #44

For me... personally, the logo doesn't work. I am slightly colour blind. The logo in the article I see just fine, and all of the squares are the same size. And I get it... Metro theme. The favicon.ico and small logo on Microsoft.com Those don't fair as well. The red and yellow squares are much larger than the green and blue, and my eyes see a throbbing line around the bottom and left of the red box, and a black line…

Aren't the "popping squares" related to subpixel ordering?

You could try on a different monitor.

Re: Microsoft gets a new logo for the first time since 1987

#190

Post by RegEx »

epo wrote: post #183
RegEx wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd actually assert a portion of people buy Apple products out of goodwill to Apple. This should not be taken as a compliment, though.

So you're suggesting some purchasers of Apple products are vapid enough (and monied enough) to buy them out of "goodwill" towards Apple? It's possible, of course an alternative is that you haven't a clue what you are talking about. I know which way I'd bet.

Ah, but that is one alternative! Now you'll have to excuse me, I'm off to buy a new MBP with the specs of the standard PC laptops of a few years ago for double the price, acting as a rational consumer.
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