“Microsoft isn’t an innovator, and never was. They are always playing catch-up, by design. That’s their M.O. They describe their development approach as ‘chasing tail lights.’ They aren’t interested in markets until they’re worth billions, so they let others develop the markets, and have been content to catch-up. This worked well for them in the 80s and through the mid-90s, when they were a more nimble company with stock options that were attractive to bright young people, when Bill G had something to prove, and was current on the latest technology. Maybe it still does work (obviously I have doubts), but it sure isn’t innovation, in any usual sense of the word,” Dave Winer writes for The Wall Street Journal Online.
Winer writes, “Microsoft is troubled. They’ve grown to the size of IBM when they ran circles around them, and they behave like IBM, they even talk about themselves like IBM used to talk about themselves, showing a dangerous confidence that is very un-Microsoft. Their strength, even charm, was their lack of hubris. Gates could always see their demise, vividly and clearly, this was a picture he drew for the people of Microsoft so they would always be looking for the angle that would save them from their demise. Today they seem to believe they’re as permanent as IBM thought they were in the 80s, when the conventional wisdom said that no one got fired for buying IBM. That didn’t save them when the PC industry changed the rules on them, much the way the rules are being changed on Microsoft.”
“Further, the one thing they used to do better than most tech companies, empathize with the user, is now a weak spot. I was an exclusive Windows user myself until mid-last year, when I switched to the Macintosh, because the malware situation had become so awful on Windows. I feel Microsoft could have done something about this before it became so bad, but they didn’t,” Winer writes.
Winer writes, “Their usual excuse for making difficult systems is their reliance on hardware [original equipment manufacturers], that’s why Windows is so hard to install and manage, they say. But who can they blame for the security problems of Windows?”
Winer writes, “No one wants to change operating systems, so this has given Microsoft many years to address the problem. They boast that they have solved them in Vista. I kind of doubt they have, but I we’ll have to see.”
Full article, really an online debate in which Robert Scoble fruitlessly tries to ascribe some measure of innovativeness to Microsoft, here.
MacDailyNews Note: Dave Winer, 51, is a software developer and author of the Scripting News blog, which he has written since 1997. Mr. Winer has helped create several standards related to Web publishing, including Really Simple Syndication or RSS. He was the founder and chief executive of UserLand Software Inc., and a founder of Symantec Corp.
Related articles:
Microsoft’s Windows Vista vulnerable to malware from 2004 – November 30, 2006
Microsoft Windows Vista developers used Apple Macs for inspiration – November 27, 2006
Microsoft’s Windows Vista is basically Microsoft’s version of Mac OS 9.3 – October 11, 2006
Microsoft Windows Vista: If you can’t innovate… try to impersonate Apple’s Mac OS X – August 10, 2006
Ballmer: I’m Microsoft’s ‘primary champion of innovation’ – July 27, 2006
Microsoft botches another copy job: Windows Vista Flip3D vs. Apple Mac OS X Exposé – June 26, 2006
Windows Vista rips-off Mac OS X at great hardware cost (and Apple gains in the end) – June 13, 2006
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Thurrott: Microsoft going to get eaten alive over Windows Vista’s resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X – March 09, 2006
NY Times’ Pogue on Gates’ CES demo: Most of Vista features unadulterated ripoffs from Apple Mac OS X – January 05, 2006
Analyst: Windows Vista may still impress many consumers because they have not seen Apple’s Mac OS X – January 05, 2006
Apple’s talent and innovation vs. Microsoft’s hype – October 25, 2005
Microsoft’s Windows Vista strives to deliver what Apple’s Mac OS X already offers – October 10, 2005
Thurrott: many of Windows Vista’s upcoming features appeared first in Apple’s Mac OS X – September 26, 2005
Microsoft’s Ballmer: It’s true, some of Windows Vista’s features are ‘kissing cousins’ to Mac OS X – September 18, 2005
PC World: Microsoft innovation – an oxymoron – September 14, 2005
As usual, Apple leads, Microsoft tries to follow – June 02, 2005
eWEEK Editor Coursey: Longhorn so far ‘looks shockingly like a Macintosh’ – April 25, 2005
Due in late 2006, many of Windows Longhorn’s features have been in Mac OS X since 2001 – April 25, 2005
Microsoft’s new mantra: ‘It Just Works’ ripped straight from Apple’s ‘Switch’ campaign – April 22, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Microsoft’s Longhorn: ‘They are shamelessly copying us’ – April 21, 2005
Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn will bear more than just a passing resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X – April 15, 2005
Steve Jobs: Microsoft copied original Apple Mac with Windows 95, now they’re copying us again – February 08, 2005
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Novell CEO: ‘Microsoft sucked $60 billion out of IT industry that could have used for innovation’ – September 13, 2004
Apple CEO Steve Jobs: Mac OS X Tiger ‘is going to drive the copycats crazy – June 28, 2004
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I actually had this discussion with a potential switcher a few weeks ago. I have little respect for M$ because their goal is only to make money and use those who do the real innovation. And then, make make sub-rate copies. I would rather give my money to the originals and the ones with a little integrity.
In terms of their own business and the financial bottom line, Microsoft made one good move in licensing in the way they did – it was very profitable. Unfortunately, once they had that success they basically have coasted ever since and become bloated and lazy. Had they gone on and used their position and finances to really improve computing, to innovate etc then kudos to them. Sadly for us they haven’t.
I don’t knowwwww.
His name Winer.
Can his opinion reaaally be trusteddddd.
The simple fact is that Microsoft doesn’t really need to innovate in order to succeed. The joke is that they always insist that they do innovate and the bad news is that they don’t even imitate very well.
All Microsoft needs to do to stay on top is to produce products that are good enough so that customers won’t switch to alternatives. Increasingly we hear of people who are discovering that Microsoft can no longer ship products that are good enough and things don’t look much better for the future.
The great thing for Apple and other Microsoft alternatives is that Microsoft has a bombastic CEO who insists that the current situation is absolutely wonderful and I would pity any Microsoft employee who tried to say otherwise. With somebody with Ballmer’s qualities leading Microsoft, things are set to drastically change …… and not to Microsoft’s advantage.
Dave Winer was one of the original Macintosh developers. He created an outline software that was a best-of-class applications, and the Frontier scripting environment that was incorporated into Quark Xpress rather than AppleScript a few versions back.
His switch from Apple to Windows was rather public and happened about the time Apple bottomed out and the world was predicting “beleagured” Apple’s demise.
So… the prodigal son returns.
Wow, what’s wrong. he only comment from MDN is a tribute to Dave Winer. No caustic commentary? No biting comebacks. No belittling of any of the featured people. Are you guys under the weather today?
Ketchup-a bloody sport.
Well, a fake bloody sport.
Ok, just a fake.
if Ms doesn’t have enough money not to think about the future, they can’t do this stupid advanture. all they believe is money. MS seems only company to run by 1000% of money. a long time ago, Rome empior was ruined because of so much lavishing, spending their wealth without seeing he future. it went to curruption. MS will be the same. actually I can’t believe how software company doesn’t have any motivation on creation? why do they sh##?
Monkey boy was on TV today crapping on about Wispa and the innovations M$ have given the world. The interviewer didn’t push it far enough and challenge the fat bugger.
I see “Winer writes” at least 4 times in there, and I wasn’t even looking hard. MDN needs a thesaurus.
Mr. Winer: Robert, I was right there with you nodding my head up and down until you got to the part about Microsoft mashing together blogs, wikis and search, thinking we were talking about software, and then realizing it had turned into a horror story. ;->
Robert, my good friend, they couldn’t even do a decent job of copying RSS aggregators, and the prior art was already a half-dozen years old when they decided to enter the market. Today’s Microsoft isn’t even good at copying. You’re right, the Microsoft of 1989 was at the top of its game, copying Lotus, Wordperfect, Borland, Ashton-Tate and Novell. By 1992, they had wrapped it all up, only to see it unravel again and again. The problem is that the computer industry was never meant to be dominated by one company, but it’s tantalizing, they came so close, only to be dethroned by the next layer of technology, which never comes from the market leader, it usually comes from the users, who, having been locked-in, finally figure out how to get unlocked. For too many reasons, when they (Microsoft, and IBM before them) try to cement their win, they end up the ones in cement and the market continues to grow around them, driven by the inexorable Moore’s Law.
Their demise, unlikely as it is, would be like a breath of fresh air upon the planet.
Here’s another one today that hit’s Microsoft between the eyes.
MS is in deep trouble, there’s no doubt about it.
I think we can expect some dirty fighting and for it to get much worse as their backs go up against the wall (figuratively not literally, because the money roles in, and will).
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Q4.06/D0BC712B-7DBA-46CA-AA44-19376E64FBA6.html
Who does this guy think he is? Typical nonsense form a Mac user.
Who switches from Windows to a Mac anyway? Dork.
There’s safety in numbers. Microsoft’s massive market share and prowess in writing fantastic software keeps you safe. This guy thinks he’s a hero using some toy computer and bad-mouthing his Windows machine. Enjoy your computing experience with the 2 or 3 other OS X users. Hey Winer, let me know if you find any software to run on that thing, after you clear out the spyware and viruses and do a couple of more reinstalls and patches of your 30-year old OS X. Does smoke come out of your Mac when you try to print too? Don’t spout off about that, do ya?
Loving XP on a computer I built myself and I can play games on it. Cost a third as much as your overpriced sissy toy. Jerk.
Your potential. Our passion.
An excellant example of Microsoft’s “innovation”…
“Mr. Scoble: Ahh, have you ever played Halo? That’s from Microsoft too.”
Yes, I’ve played Halo. I bought an Xbox JUST tp play it. Great game. Developed by Bungie, at around the same time that MS bought them out. Then, under Microsoft’s control they came out with Halo II. It went straight to hell in a handbasket. Couldn’t suck any worse if it was a 50 horsepower Dyson.
Methinks we now have multiple Zune Tangs. Either that, or it’s developing a multiple personality disorder.
Userland’s Frontier was an awesome sortadoeverything (but paint your house): db, web, scripting, etc.etc. environment.
Boy did that bring back some memories. Am I showing my age?
Dave Winer is/was a computer/web/app pioneer; and is a first class innovator. His opinion is worth slightly more than 2 cents!
zac
MDN,
I probably speak for the majority or readers here when i say that I’m tired of Zune Tangs insane bullshit.
I come hear to read apple related tech news. Most of the comments on article are based on reality and are somewhat informative.
Please delete Zune Tangs comments as they are flat out lies that make no intelligent contribution to this site.
MDN,
I probably speak for the majority or readers here when i say that I’m Irritated by posters saying that they “probably speak for the majority of readers here”.
I don’t come hear to read apple related tech news, I go to macsurfer for that. I come for entertainment.
Please delete Irritated’s comment as it is flat out lies that make no intelligent contribution to this site.
Yeah, I get a good laugh out of Zune Tang’s bullsh*t. Like the fact that I can run more software on my Mac (including his beloved XP) than he (or should I say it?) can on his cheap P.O.S. toy PC.
Dave Winer: ‘Microsoft isn’t an innovator, and never was – they are always playing catch-up’.
Should be Patch-up.
I agree with b.
For news I go to MacSurfer.
I come here for the rants, and to occasionally contribute to them. And it’s fun noting how many posters don’t get the none-too-subtle, and ‘slightly past its use-by date’ satire of Zune Tang.
(Note to self: Must check I’ve used “its and it’s” correctly before posting).
I see “Winer writes” at least 4 times in there, and I wasn’t even looking hard. MDN needs a thesaurus.
Don’t be stupid. That would be like the naive wannabe author trying as hard as possible to avoid “he said.”
I’m sorry, RC, but Zune Tang jumped the shark days ago. Once or twice was funny. Now it’s just annoying. As the joke goes on, it gets harder and harder to distinguish from a common troll. I’m sick of it, just like I was sick of Sputnik.
Zune.
Tang.
Is.
Satire.
‘Get it’?
-c
MW: ‘slowly’ (with feeling this time)
Dear Irritated,
You couldn’ speak for the majority of readers if your life depended on it. What planet are you from?