Microsoft Beta Attempt at Web Client
Windows Live and in a Coma!
The launch of Windows Live services in the form of a beta release show how behind the game Microsoft really is and how they are struggling to keep it together.
Visit www.live.com
What do you notice?
First of all if you are in Firefox, only simple html is displayed, a clever ploy by Microsoft to force users onto the Internet Explorer browser, they want to keep the user in control by proprietary software, nothing new. However, consumers are smarter these days and Microsoft underestimates the demand for liquidity. The users will want Microsoft's services to work no matter the browser and will simply use the alternative products from google and others.
Secondly, once you open it in IE, half the buttons do not work, It is as if a CO told them they need a presence in this market and to release regardless of its readiness. Creating posts in the different services is difficult and a waste of time for the consumer.
Here is why the MSFT Live products will not build momentum:
1. Browsing Requirements-MSFT has to compete for the first time in decades with diversity. The average computer user today knows 10 fold about technology compared to users in the past. They are not as easily intimidated towards Microsoft products. With the ease of immersion into web applications, OS skills are no longer preventing the masses from using alternatives like Linux and Free BSD. This is also bad news for those in the Mac camp, because the users are more diverse, more intelligent, and more likely to try new things, they will leave the kid gloves, and fisher price approach to computing that the Mac OS offers, demanding more for their money than cool colors and culture.
2. Web Application Diversity- Users find it easier to teach themselves new products and services on the web as they are provided a sea of valuable options from thousands of vendors for free. Whether it is a social network created by a high school drop out or a web desktop site, users go to the most intuitive and liquid solutions
3. Limited Market due to prerequisites-MSFT live services don't work with everything and if users are aware of this, will be driven away. For example, If I want to sell my boat, and I know that 20 million users use Firefox and I am looking at posting on a site only 4 million users on Internet Explorer with the proper MSFT credentials can use, do you think I would waste the time to post a for sale ad on their Live service? No. Users will go where the people are, they want to communicate to the world
4. Got Innovation?
With Vista mimicking OS X, and late launches of products, is Microsoft just a responder and not an innovator? Look at their record recently, all of their services and products have been responses or knock-offs of other inventions. What happened to the innovation? Take these products to new heights and new mediums that users haven't thought of and profits will follow. Otherwise, they are just getting in the way of consumers getting to the innovations. Microsoft has come up with great products and services like My Space. However, have those services, inspired innovations or created more problems and a new thing to veg in front of like the TV.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Live services are no where near completion, they have more bugs than Bill Gates has dollars, they limit the consumer both in option and market size, and they completely ignore their customer needs, Personal Digital Liquidity is paramount. I am an avid MSFT fan, but I don't see them even crossing the finish line in the race for the web 2.0 client desktop arena.
The launch of Windows Live services in the form of a beta release show how behind the game Microsoft really is and how they are struggling to keep it together.
Visit www.live.com
What do you notice?
First of all if you are in Firefox, only simple html is displayed, a clever ploy by Microsoft to force users onto the Internet Explorer browser, they want to keep the user in control by proprietary software, nothing new. However, consumers are smarter these days and Microsoft underestimates the demand for liquidity. The users will want Microsoft's services to work no matter the browser and will simply use the alternative products from google and others.
Secondly, once you open it in IE, half the buttons do not work, It is as if a CO told them they need a presence in this market and to release regardless of its readiness. Creating posts in the different services is difficult and a waste of time for the consumer.
Here is why the MSFT Live products will not build momentum:
1. Browsing Requirements-MSFT has to compete for the first time in decades with diversity. The average computer user today knows 10 fold about technology compared to users in the past. They are not as easily intimidated towards Microsoft products. With the ease of immersion into web applications, OS skills are no longer preventing the masses from using alternatives like Linux and Free BSD. This is also bad news for those in the Mac camp, because the users are more diverse, more intelligent, and more likely to try new things, they will leave the kid gloves, and fisher price approach to computing that the Mac OS offers, demanding more for their money than cool colors and culture.
2. Web Application Diversity- Users find it easier to teach themselves new products and services on the web as they are provided a sea of valuable options from thousands of vendors for free. Whether it is a social network created by a high school drop out or a web desktop site, users go to the most intuitive and liquid solutions
3. Limited Market due to prerequisites-MSFT live services don't work with everything and if users are aware of this, will be driven away. For example, If I want to sell my boat, and I know that 20 million users use Firefox and I am looking at posting on a site only 4 million users on Internet Explorer with the proper MSFT credentials can use, do you think I would waste the time to post a for sale ad on their Live service? No. Users will go where the people are, they want to communicate to the world
4. Got Innovation?
With Vista mimicking OS X, and late launches of products, is Microsoft just a responder and not an innovator? Look at their record recently, all of their services and products have been responses or knock-offs of other inventions. What happened to the innovation? Take these products to new heights and new mediums that users haven't thought of and profits will follow. Otherwise, they are just getting in the way of consumers getting to the innovations. Microsoft has come up with great products and services like My Space. However, have those services, inspired innovations or created more problems and a new thing to veg in front of like the TV.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Live services are no where near completion, they have more bugs than Bill Gates has dollars, they limit the consumer both in option and market size, and they completely ignore their customer needs, Personal Digital Liquidity is paramount. I am an avid MSFT fan, but I don't see them even crossing the finish line in the race for the web 2.0 client desktop arena.
posted by Nicholas at
10:58 PM
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