I have been a big fan of Microsoft for over 20 years. I bought one of the first IBM PC-XT’s instead of an Apple II because I could tell that the IBM-MSFT combination would bring killer productivity to the business world — and it has.
The problem is that my time is becoming too valuable to play with Microsoft products anymore. MSFT is designed for business IT folks who are concerned about job security. Just witness the error message you get when your wireless card cannot get an IP address on a Dell Laptop running XP Media Center Addition, supposedly a consumer oriented product — The message says stuff about limited connectivity — whatever that means and then it says
“….Contact your Network Administrator”. What network administrator? In my house, I have to be the network administrator!!
And there is the difference — Apple is designed for consumers — MSFT for engineers. I don’t have the time or energy to deal with all of the hidden costs and issues that come from an apparently open architecture. I say apparently, because Apple now has almost as much openness as MSFT.
And MSFT’s redesign of Office 2007 — an unmitigated design disaster. I have been using Office for over 15 years and I was completely lost in their new UI. What bonehead engineer came up with this UI?
Why would I know that I have to go to the “Home’ tab to change font stuff? I have wasted hours just trying to do the basics that were in Office 2003. Yes, I am not as smart as MSFT engineers, but I am significantly more skilled than the vast population out there.
MSFT is heading for a fall.