Oh Joe, tell me it ain't so
- Thread starter Artdeco
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Commodus
Diamond Member
- Oct 9, 2004
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Yeah, this has already been hashed out -- the leave is giving him a chance to test non-Microsoft platforms that he can't normally try while at work (since he has to test Windows 10 Mobile builds, of course).
Besides, part of why Microsoft couldn't topple the iPod, iPhone or iPad was because Ballmer hated the idea that any of his employees might even be carrying non-Windows gear. People frequently felt compelled to hide their Apple- and Google-powered devices, even! As such, a lot of employees (particularly upper management) were woefully ignorant of what rivals were doing better.
The company is much better under Nadella, who realizes that you need to understand the competition before you can beat it.
Besides, part of why Microsoft couldn't topple the iPod, iPhone or iPad was because Ballmer hated the idea that any of his employees might even be carrying non-Windows gear. People frequently felt compelled to hide their Apple- and Google-powered devices, even! As such, a lot of employees (particularly upper management) were woefully ignorant of what rivals were doing better.
The company is much better under Nadella, who realizes that you need to understand the competition before you can beat it.
Deeko
Lifer
- Jun 16, 2000
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Of course he is. I do this all the time. You don't actually understand competing products unless you _ACTUALLY_USE_THEM_. I don't mean for 5 minutes in a store. Or, if it's your job, in a controlled office setting. Real life usage is just different, no matter how you look at it - so you don't truly understand the competition, what you're lacking, or what you do better, unless you truly use their products for a period of time.
Don't like the example of competing platforms? Fine - how about testing within a stack? For example - I write apps. I do performance testing when I'm developing so that I think things are fast on low-end devices. But, as anyone who has used a low end device knows, actually using those devices day to day is different than in a controlled environment. You'll have random hiccups, cases where your memory is full due to multitasking or something going on in the OS where everything just slows down. So unless you actually put your SIM card in one of those low end phones and walk around with it for some time, you don't actually understand what that usage is like.
If his job is to be intricately involved in the day to day development of Windows Phone, you have to assume he's using it - on multiple Windows phone devices - every day, all day. Which doesn't leave a lot of time for this sort of competitive analysis. Now that he has a temporary break from those day to day responsibilities he can actually focus on the competition. That's what I would expect a company executive *should* do, there's nothing wrong with it, and it's certainly not a vote of confidence / lack of confidence in his product.
Can we move on? This isn't rocket science.
Don't like the example of competing platforms? Fine - how about testing within a stack? For example - I write apps. I do performance testing when I'm developing so that I think things are fast on low-end devices. But, as anyone who has used a low end device knows, actually using those devices day to day is different than in a controlled environment. You'll have random hiccups, cases where your memory is full due to multitasking or something going on in the OS where everything just slows down. So unless you actually put your SIM card in one of those low end phones and walk around with it for some time, you don't actually understand what that usage is like.
If his job is to be intricately involved in the day to day development of Windows Phone, you have to assume he's using it - on multiple Windows phone devices - every day, all day. Which doesn't leave a lot of time for this sort of competitive analysis. Now that he has a temporary break from those day to day responsibilities he can actually focus on the competition. That's what I would expect a company executive *should* do, there's nothing wrong with it, and it's certainly not a vote of confidence / lack of confidence in his product.
Can we move on? This isn't rocket science.
Zaap
Diamond Member
- Jun 12, 2008
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Meh. I'm a tech geek and I didn't even know (or care) WP had a 'public face'.
I imagine the average Joe and Jane couldn't possibly care less.
And anyway, so what? Why shouldn't the he use the competitor's products and be completely educated about them? Heck, if I were in such a position, I'd use *everything* and hopefully have some real world gauge on where my product really stands compared to everything else, not just blowing smoke in my product's echo-chamber.
The imaginations of people that companies don't use other companies products/services is rather silly to me. I work for Fox- we routinely have to rent out sound stages from Warner Brothers. "*GASP!* the competition.....!!!!"
I imagine the average Joe and Jane couldn't possibly care less.
And anyway, so what? Why shouldn't the he use the competitor's products and be completely educated about them? Heck, if I were in such a position, I'd use *everything* and hopefully have some real world gauge on where my product really stands compared to everything else, not just blowing smoke in my product's echo-chamber.
The imaginations of people that companies don't use other companies products/services is rather silly to me. I work for Fox- we routinely have to rent out sound stages from Warner Brothers. "*GASP!* the competition.....!!!!"
- Mar 14, 2015
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It's a SS Explorer that used to belong to my father, no one even notices it's a Rolex except people that are into watches.
Commodus
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I'd add that a lot of fanboy/fangirl behaviour in the tech world comes precisely from an inability/reluctance to try other platforms. Die-hard Android fans get sucked into Anything But Apple hatred because they've either never used iOS or used it only fleetingly. Apple loyalists act as if Android is a bug-ridden, no-privacy mess without really living with Google's platform. And yes, there's the would-be Steve Ballmers who are so into Windows that they can't understand why PC and Windows phone sales are shrinking.
Ironically, Belfiore is probably more level-headed than many smartphone fans... he has to be, or it hurts his bottom line.
Ironically, Belfiore is probably more level-headed than many smartphone fans... he has to be, or it hurts his bottom line.
It didn't help that it took MS forever to put out decent phones and always added caveats to them when they did.
They also have their constant battles with Google, so there is a lack of support there too. As litigious as Apple has been against Android partners, they've never told Google to keep their stuff off of their devices. Why? Because people use them.
They also have their constant battles with Google, so there is a lack of support there too. As litigious as Apple has been against Android partners, they've never told Google to keep their stuff off of their devices. Why? Because people use them.
You would have to be stupid and/or incredibly arrogant to not check out the competition. The (mild) controversy is unwarranted.
Deeko
Lifer
- Jun 16, 2000
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Yes, I read quite well, thank you. How the hell is he even trying to float that spin? If he's really that unaware of the competition now, no small wonder Windows Phone is so totally and thoroughly screwed.
The funniest thing is that you-all buy the spin. Ever feel like you're part of an echo chamber?
Hell, they're more clueless than BlackBerry was. But hey, they're big in Russia, right, with the lies and cooked numbers.
Deeko
Lifer
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Platforms change. If you didn't know, there's a new iPhone released every year, along with a new version of iOS. And, again, you missed the part about how it's different to live with a product than use it at a store or read about it in a slide deck. He also announced ahead of time "hey don't freak out, I'll be using other phones while I'm on this trip"...naturally, since despite the fact that most people CAN read, they seem to choose not to, they freaked out anyway.
You can feel free to look at everything in the world negatively if you'd like, that's your prerogative, but it doesn't make it accurate.
You can feel free to look at everything in the world negatively if you'd like, that's your prerogative, but it doesn't make it accurate.
Deeko
Lifer
- Jun 16, 2000
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openwheel
Platinum Member
- Apr 30, 2012
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Here is OP, isn't it cute?
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