Comments on: microsoft’s “new big idea” (or lack of one)

By: nadya's basket

nadya's basket — Wed, 19 Jan 2005 15:44:14 +0000

Niche construction or improving the conversation

I’ve been so taken by the definition of the Long Tail as an

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 18 Jan 2005 07:12:16 +0000

Lotus 123, Wordperfect, Novell, Netscape all used to command 60% or more of their respective markets, now Microsoft “owns” the spreadsheet, word processing, LAN and browser domains.
The Windows GUI is often perceived to be less user friendly and technically inferior to MacOS — yet it dominates the personal computing desktop market.
There are many other successes too Powerpoint, Outlook, Exchange, Access, SQLServer, MSN messenger…None had been the first to market.
Sure there’s been failures too — but overall they have done (VERY) well.
Do they really need to know what “The Next Big Idea” is? Historically they have never been at the technical forefront in terms of offerings. They have just been very good at getting a lot of people using their products — by whatever means. They will only start going downhill if they forget how to do that.

By: peter

peter — Tue, 18 Jan 2005 00:13:30 +0000

Don’t you think a huge part of Apple’s success is that Steve Jobs has a better conversational rapport with his employees and customers than Bill Gates?

By: Sean Winstead

Sean Winstead — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 23:52:31 +0000

Why the choice of ‘a farting hamster’?

By: Marketing Playbook

Marketing Playbook — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 21:22:17 +0000

Microsoft, Build Me Tricorder

Great dialogue between Hugh of Gaping Void and Robert Scoble about what’s missing in Microsoft in both technology and marketing. If you like either to bash or defend Microsoft, you ought to give it a read.…

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 16:24:11 +0000

Great stuff, Robert =)
I just want to know what makes the whole thing tick.

By: Robert Scoble

Robert Scoble — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 10:41:03 +0000

Hugh: actually, you’re onto something there. Microsoft is actually run like 100 different companies. Very decentralized.
Apple is very centralized. Steve Jobs calls the shots (and gets most of the credit).
Personally, I think that longterm Microsoft’s approach makes more sense.
It also is why blogging is happening at Microsoft but not at Apple.
Could you imagine an Apple employee telling Steve Jobs how to make his company better on a public blog? I can’t.
But, longterm, which approach works best? I guess we’ll have to stick around to find out, but I doubt that in another decade that either Gates or Jobs will be running their companies. What then?
By the way, you’re asking the wrong question when you are asking for the next “big thing.“
Instead, look for the small things.
Hint: my brother-in-law at Apple told me that the Mac team never thought the iPod would be successful. They thought the iPod was too small to be a major success (small market, that is). Heck, even the analysts were saying that.
We’re not good at seeing the small things. It’s why there’s a Google today and why the iPod kicked our behind.

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 08:22:20 +0000

Yeah… I’m starting to think maybe the problem is a leadership vacuum at the top. I can’t rightly say I have a big, clear idea what Bill Gates stands for these days.
Steve Job’s schtick paints a much sharper picture in most people’s minds, I reckon. Gates is somehow far more aloof.
These things matter.

By: collin

collin — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 07:52:59 +0000

I have a lot of respect for Robert, but isn’t there some sort of cosmic law against MS employees claiming that what they do is the “long tail” approach? The fact that the “choice” between 15 years of MS and 15 years of Apple is rhetorical is itself evidence of which end of the curve MS occupies…
cgb

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 06:52:08 +0000

They definitely need help in the marketing department. Robert previously pointed to a download of Avalon, in which it is stated:
“This enables developers and designers to create visually-stunning, differentiated user experiences that improve customer connection.“
Say what?