Unfaithful thoughts about Microsoft

While working on a .NET versus Java report I cannot but become impressed with Microsoft ... Not the technology, but jesus, these guys pamper developers. I am now comparing the APIs so I am switching between .NET and Java. .NET is smooth searching, clicking seeing. Java is searching, browsing, browsing, clicking, license clicking, another license clicking, download clicking, unzip clicking, etc ... At Sun (and their followers), they actually think that intellectual property should be written with upper case.

I bought an MSDN subscription for only ?900 and they shipped it to Sweden (ok that was dumb of them, because I told them to BILL it to sweden and ship it to France). I just called them and they ship it express AGAIN to France, no extra cost. I got an upgrade, because 7 years ago I once had bought VC++! This subscription contains licenses to their operating systems, Office suite, VS.NET and untold utilities. I realize this is a kind of a bribe, but oh boy, does it feel good to be bribed in this way!

I also recently had a problem with windows update, have to share some of the lines of the guy that helped me (He even contacted me after a couple of days when I had not reacted!)

How are you keeping today? I am writing to see if you have received my last e-mail and had an opportunity to try my suggestions. If you encounter any difficulties, please do not hesitate to let me know. If possible kindly drop me a note and let me know the status of this issue. It's my pleasure to be of continual assistance! You can reach me by sending an e-mail message to compmail@microsoft.com Please do not forget to include your case number, SRZ040226000811, in the subject line. NOTE: - If you are sending me attachments, please do not reply to this message, I will not be able to get the attachment. In this case compose a new mail, attach your files and send it to john.doe@mssupport.microsoft.com Have a wonderful time!

Thank you for promplty replying to my follow-ups. I am very sorry to hear that you had to put your system for repairs. I regret for missing this oppurtunity of assisting you with your issue. ... [lot of text, but NOT boilerplate!] ... case number, SRZ040226000811, in the subject line. Your case stays with me. Thank you for choosing Microsoft! It's been a great pleasure to be with you on this issue. Have a pleasant day!

Look at the spelling/grammar errors, these are not templates (unless the MS Bob developers continuned working on MS Indira).

So what can the Java community learn from this? Obviously pampering developers is an expensive hobby and not always compatible with the bottom line. However, we should stop treating the intellectual property as our precious, instead the information should flow more freely. Trying to make sense of the complex Java eco-system is horribly complicated because the information is in so many different places. A central repository is not possible due the license agreements Sun enforces, they even make it hard to distribute Java on Linux distrubitions. Sun is completely paranoia about this issue, it tracks all downloads and remembers them forever, even a criminal offense is wiped of your slate after a couple of years, a Sun download is never forgotten. But Sun is not the only one, the practice is rampant in the Java community. Several companies required me to sign and fax complicated contracts, that seem to make me almost without any rights, just to evalute their technology.

The value of Java is that it is used and supported by as many people and companies as possible. It is the de-facto standard that makes it relevant, not its technology. Yes, there will be culprits that steal your precious thoughts and use them without paying. However, you can also see this as an incubation period. When they become succesful, you can charge them and they will pay. If they do not become succesful, why bother? If not ... well looked at what happened with Gollum and his precious ip, ehh, ring.

I am starting to understand more and more why Microsoft has such a large following while historically they have not provided very exciting technology. However, they have caught up technology wise but the Java community has not understood that getting the developers (also the ones that just write the mundane, one of a million type applications) is more important then having the best technology. Of course having both is even better!

   Peter Kriens

posted by Peter @ Friday, March 05, 2004