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Microsoft Sends Linux Survey
GnrlFajita writes "According to Newsforge, Microsoft is sending Linux users a survey asking why they use Linux, and what can be done to make Windows better. The article suggests taking the survey (or surveys, one for business users and one for home users), then sharing your answers with others in the community." Newsforge and Slashdot are both part of OSDN.
...and what can be done to make Windows better.
Mr. Gates taking a long walk off a short pier?
--
Last four options in the "rank the reasons you like Linux for the home" section:
The satisfaction of not giving Microsoft more money.
I don't trust Microsoft.
I don't want to use proprietary software.
I don't want to use commercial software.
I was almost taking the survey seriously until I saw those options.
like when the retarded kid at school asks you how to become more popular..
Still, the biggest advantage I can think of is the open source model - the industry has been working for years on ways to increase reuse, but commercial licensing and patent issues get in the way of that.
First they were insulting Linux and saying it has problems bigger than windows, and in the last week they seem to have shown interest in learning from windows. this is like an admission that their software is worse than linux. just my $.02
Investing forum
That would make Windows better for customers.
Oh, you wanted to know how to make it better for MICROSOFT.
If we were all really non-hypocritical, and truly interested in security, and usability, and not just microsoft bashing, this is a great opportunity to help them out and point out their flaws.... NAH!!
But seriously, we all complain about MS's problems, now we've actually got a outlet to complain to. If you don't speak up now, you really have no room to speak later!
I find that most often I end up learning from necessity, rather than for enjoyment.
They apparently don't plan to release the results of their surveys...
They just don't get it, do they?
Otherwise, I agree with some of the respondants on NewsForge - don't do the survey. It's just free marketing etc. info for Microsoft. They're not worth it.
People say I'm crazy, I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes...
I use linux because..
[ ] I am a communist
[ ] I am a terrorist
[ ] All of the above
Come on now, be serious. We were thinking along the lines of a new Office Assistant(tm)? How about a nice talking fish?
-BillG
Could this possibly be a fake? You would think Microsoft would plaster the website with TMs, and legalese.
Also is it common practice for big corps to use SurveyMonkey. If they are being so open about it, why didn't they have it someplace on Microsoft's site?
Just a thought..
Why did MS choose to use surveymonkey? This seems like a hoax.
scott
Dear Mr MS Marketing,
I use linux because
1. I expect to own software I pay for
2. I expect software I pay for to work as advertised
3. I expect not to be foreced into downloading other components I don't want of said software to keep my machine secure. (IE media player has to be downloaded to make explorer secure)
4. I expect to not be forced to give up all and any reasonable legal rights when I open the package.
5. I do not want to deal with software that guarantees via the liscence agreeement that the publisher can remotely look at my computer at will.
As soon as the law makers get their opposable digit out of their anal orpheus, and restore a modicum of protection to consumers I don't have any faith that any of the points that I have outlined above will be addressed. Lets face it, you pay for the software, break open the box, and you have no legal expectation that the software will work, in any way shape or form.
AngryPeopleRule
"Science is about ego as much as it is about discovery and truth " - I said it, so sue me.
Why don't you specify a protocol or format in current use@MS that isn't fully documented?
NTFS, for one.
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
Dear Rebel Alliance
Why don't you like me anymore?
Love
Palpatine
Why is "Don't want to help hegemonic evil spread across the face of the Earth" not one of the options?
I took a look, at the first page. That was enough to make me hit the back button.
Any questionaire that starts out with a legal header is up to no good. Now, if Bill were to knock on my front door, and was willing to actually talk about it without getting bent cause I said his eula's were a work of the devil (the fact that they are isn't open for discussion IMO), then maybe we could have an informative discussion.
But you *know* what the chances of that are...
First, we kill all the lawyers.
--
Cheers, Gene
They already monitor the BSD email lists and know what all 25 of you think. :)
- Robin
(ducks and covers)
A. More evil
B. Less evil
C. Microsoft is just the right amount of evil right now.
Question 2: Concerning how much the next version of Windows should steal from Macintosh OS 10.3, Windows should:
A. Steal more from Apple
B. Steal a lot more from Apple
C. Still every single element of OS 10.3
D. The current crappy, half-assed ripoff of OS X is currently sufficient for all my computing needs.
Question 3: Next year, how many Windows-specific viruses would you like to receive in e-mail:
A. The same amount as now
B. More
C. A whole lot more
D. I have a Windows box still sending out copies of SoBig at this very moment.
Question 4: How large would you like the next Windows security hole to be?
A. Large enough to accommodate a small dog.
B. Large enough to drive an SUV through.
C. Large enough to drive a Mack truck through.
D. You know that huge crawler thing NASA uses to take the space shuttle out to the pad? Yeah, that big.
Question 5: C'mon, be serious. How much for your soul?
A. Already sold mine.
B. An Xbox with the complete library of available games.
C. 10000 shares of Microsoft stock.
D. Natalie Portman
E. CowboyNeal
Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)
http://www.lawrenceperson.com/
The replication protocol for WINS servers (which is why samba can't be a backup WINS server).
The Exchange Server protocol is another example.
void*x=(*((void*(*)())&(x=(void*)0xfdeb58)))();
Why? Because they don't want a free replacement available so no one can do to that like SAMBA did and is still doing to SMB/CIFS.
Want to see why they do this? Load up a Win2K/WinXP file server/domain controller. Measure its performance. Reformat the hard drives and install Linux/SAMBA. Measure the much better performance now.
I answered the survey...with random answers that didn't reflect reality
NNNOOOOOOOO!!!
That's how they designed Windows in the first place!!!
Pavlov wouldn't be so famous if he'd used a can opener instead of a bell.
In 1999 or so, when I started using Linux for most time, Windows WAS a lot better for most purposes -- if you forget stability. For example, there was no decent web browser for Linux, only Netscape 4 which crashed all the time. Basically, it was really hard to get even basic desktop functionality.
Today, Mozilla Firebird is much better than IE, and in general, Linux has a good or at least useable solution for any need I have. In addition, it's getting better every month. Bad fonts were fixed with BitstreamVera and OpenOffice 1.1 is finally "good enough". Programming tools, etc, were much better for Linux back in 1995. On the other hand, MS products have mainly become slower, more bloated and even clumsier to use.
I would choose Linux over Windows based on merit and usability alone even in the case both were equally free.
Auferre trucidare rapere falsis nominibus imperium, atque ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
Naw, if Bill Gates really is interesting in trying to woo Linux users, he'll give 'em a talking Penguin.
This is golden. Right off the survey, written by microsoft employee(s), suggested reasons you might not like M$!
foo mane padme hum
Now, if Bill were to knock on my front door, and was willing to actually talk about it ...
But you *know* what the chances of that are...
Um, you are indeed right, the chances are pretty low. Go figure.
I mean, if Santa can visit EVERY SINGLE HOUSE ON THE PLANET in one night, delivering presents to each child in the world, you'd think the richest man in the world would be able to figure out how to personally speak with each Linux user. Geez....
I prefer the professor.
Bill Gates would also be an idea, if they implemented an agression-relief feature in the Office Assistant, like weapons etc.
where's all that Karma?
... how about fully documenting all protocols and formats used (under a nice license) so that people can make products interoperable?
How about a nice talking fish?
How about a nice talking penguin with duck feet? That must be what Linux users want....
The bottom line for me is exactly what you stated. They have a legal statement at the beginning that says they can make use of your answers however they want. Frankly, my comments about both Windows and Linux are professional opinions. People pay me for those. Microsoft explicitly stated that they weren't paying.
Also, when it comes to a decision about what OS to put on my own hardware, they must discuss it on my terms, not theirs. Here's what Windows would have to have to compete with Linux:
There is nothing to trust about Microsoft.
Question 1: Do you think Microsoft should be:
A. More evil
B. Less evil
C. Microsoft is just the right amount of evil right now.
Question 2: Concerning how much the next version of Windows should steal from Macintosh OS 10.3, Windows should:
A. Steal more from Apple
B. Steal a lot more from Apple
C. Still every single element of OS 10.3
D. The current crappy, half-assed ripoff of OS X is currently sufficient for all my computing needs.
Question 3: Next year, how many Windows-specific viruses would you like to receive in e-mail:
A. The same amount as now
B. More
C. A whole lot more
D. I have a Windows box still sending out copies of SoBig at this very moment.
Question 4: How large would you like the next Windows security hole to be?
A. Large enough to accommodate a small dog.
B. Large enough to drive an SUV through.
C. Large enough to drive a Mack truck through.
D. You know that huge crawler thing NASA uses to take the space shuttle out to the pad? Yeah, that big.
Question 5: C'mon, be serious. How much for your soul?
A. Already sold mine.
B. An Xbox with the complete library of available games.
C. 10000 shares of Microsoft stock.
D. Natalie Portman
E. CowboyNeal
Full source code for all Microsoft products released under the GPL.
You could have ended your list here. The GPL addresses all of the remaining items.
Of course they will, but Linux users can always say, "Hey, Microsoft knows they have an inferior product, so they came to us for help." As much as /. people hate Windows, this is, I think, a good thing.
First, by asking Linux users what they can do to improve Windows, it is a de facto admission that Windows is an inferior product. Second, maybe we could get some good things out of it, like fully-documented APIs and more-open protocols from Microsoft.
However, don't expect Microsoft to release jack under the GPL. Put it out of your mind, because it'll never happen. And don't expect that Linux users are going to go easy on Microsoft. We have put them in our sights and will take them down, not through legal wrangling, but because the open-source community will out-build them.
- Clear, documented interactions between components
- Error messages that can be traced back to the faulting component, rather than just to the error reporter. (Microsoft crash error messages have become progressively less useful. Windows NT blue screens, and Win95/98 application crash errors were actually useful. Windows XP blue screens, and application crash messages are useless.)
- Documentation of all registry settings, regardless of if they should be modified manually or not. Most Linux apps have all the configuration settings documented in the appropriate man pages, or when that fails, there's the source code.
These are the three things that get in my way more often than not when trying to troubleshoot a problem. The answer to format, and reinstall is rarely, if ever, acceptable.I used up all my sick days, so I'm calling in dead.
So, Microsoft should bundle *more* software?
I'm all for it, but you that for every item added, there's gonna be somebody unhappy because MSFT has (somehow or other) reduced the user's choice. And they'll be right in line behind those bemoaning the disk space reuqired to install Windows.
Before: Windows doesn't include MP3 ripping software!
After: Call the laywers! Microsoft is freezing out competitors by including MP3 ripping software!
Java is the blue pill
Choose the red pill
Only on Slashdot could you find someone who says, "Frankly, my comments about both Windows and Linux are professional opinions. People pay me for those," followed by a bulleted list of exactly the things Microsoft had asked for. For free.
For starters: how about issueing online surveys that don't demand cookies to be accepted?
A World in a Grain of Sand / Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Infinity in the Palm of your Hand / And Eternity in an Hour.
Ummm.... I hate to tell you this, but Bill Gates doesn't exist.
a world in progress...
(I'm sure no one will read this comment because I'm about 3 hours too late, but whatever...)
First, IAAMR (I am a market researcher.) I wasn't able to get into the survey, but a Newsforge reader posted the questions here.
I've seen a lot of consumer surveys over the years, and this looks fairly typical. Most surveys of this nature are proprietary -- the research results will be for internal use only and will not be released to the public, mainly because most companies don't want their competitors or detractors to find out about their product development or marketing plans in advance. Whenever possible, companies will try to prevent anyone from even knowing that they're conducting a survey. [1] Obviously, in this case, there's no way that Microsoft can prevent the (Linux-using) world at large from finding out that they're doing a survey, but I guarantee you that they do not plan to release the results to anyone outside Microsoft.
This sort of questionnaire is designed to find out:
The questions that are of the most interest to Microsoft will be those asking for the respondent's opinions:
The rest of the questions require factual responses, and the responses gathered from them will be used to see if there are any patterns in the opinion data. In market research data analysis, we're not looking at the opinions of any specific individual; only those of various groups (Linux novices vs. experts, dual-booters vs. non, etc.), so you needn't worry about any personal retribution from Microsoft. They won't care that John Doe in Nebraska likes Linux for the home because it's "More secure than Windows", but they will be interested to learn that in general, the people who dual boot (Question 14) are more likely than those who don't to say that they like Linux for the home because it has "Better command line" (Question 11).
You may have noticed the italicized phrase "in our target market" in point (c) above. Microsoft isn't going to try to convince the hardcore Linux zealots(TM) to switch to Windows. They're going after people who aren't totally committed to either Linux or Windows yet. People who have a strong preference for Windows are already in the bag; and it would be a waste of time and money to try to convert the diehard Linux advocates. Any product development or advertising based on the results of this survey will have only 2 aims: to make the lukewarm Windows users feel that they've made the right decision, and to make the lukewarm Linux users feel that they're missing out on something better.
[1] Case in point: While I was typing this, my phone rang. It was a market research company (one of my company's competitors) conducting a survey. I agreed to participate, and lied when they asked, "Do you work for a market research company?" (People in my field do this all the time to find out what contracts our competitors have been awarded. We like to call it "gathering competitive intelligence".) Unfortunately, one of my responses to another question disqualified me from the survey. But now I know that our competitor has a contract to conduct research about tooth whitening for a manufacturer of dental care products. I'll be checking with our sales department on Monday to see if we recently lost out on a bid for this contract.
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I always thought it would be neat to write something that would add a "Fuck you!" button or something similar - clicking on it would be the same as clicking on the "ok" button, but at least the user would feel better.