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iPod Most Popular Music Player on Microsoft Campus
bblazer writes "Wired is running an article about how despite the displeasure of management, the iPod is the most popular music player on the Microsoft campus. The article states that 80% of those who have digital music players have an iPod. Employees have even started using different headphones to be a bit more stealthy about it."
Can you imagine people using the most popular product of it's kind?? I bet many of them drive HONDAS too!!!! What will Bill do?? Micorsoft doesn't compete with Apples Ipod, why would anyone at Microsoft care?
So a Microsoft manager is comparing their own products to mind-altering substances? I won't dispute that!
Quick! Put that thing away!
Happiness is like peeing yourself. Everybody can see it but only you can feel its warmth.
Here you have it folks. Not everyone at Microsoft is hatching ill-conceived ideas; apparently it's only the Management.
Exactly! 'Cause I know I certainly keep hearing about these muggings that happen to all these people wearing iPods in upper-middle class neighborhoods, schools, universities, and especially large, patrolled software giant campuses.
...
It's such a fine line between stupid and clever.
At my work, we are not allowed to use company resources for personal use. This includes playing audio CDs on our computers, playing digital audio on our workstations, etc. So a portable player is a good solution. I should probably not be posting to slashdot either...hmmm.
So apple invented the hard drive based mp3 player? Holy crap, that's amazing.
You got served.
Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
Why the hell would they use Macs?
Everyone needs a role model.
-- Microsoft is the most expensive commodity operating system and office suite vendor in the marketplace.
Microsoft is staffed entirely by cocks from what I can tell.
No wonder their software is so full of holes.
Wow, couldn't use your real name? What's the matter Ballmer? Were you afraid that somebody would castigate you for it? Eh, MonkeyBoy? :P
Holy cow. What an incisive summary of Microsoft's attitude, from the grandest corporate strategy all the way down to the microcosmic world of the individual employee.
This reminds me of an analogy that I read somewhere, perhaps from Robert X Cringely... it said there are three types of tech companies:
1) The Commandos
These guys are doing crazy new stuff in wacky situations, inventing and improvising and breaking new ground. They are happiest going where no-one has gone before, creating new products and whole new markets. If they aren't doing wild new stuff, they get bored and go somewhere else. In many ways, this is Apple.
2) The Soldiers
Soldiers go in once markets and products have been established by the commandos. They take these original ideas and solidify them, securing the area with polish and marketing glitz. In many ways, this is Microsoft.
3) The Police
Once the war is won, the Police maintain the status quo. They aren't interested in creating markets or inventing new products, they just want things to say the same and keep making cash for their organization. In many ways, this is Dell.
Now I can see holes in these descriptions already, but I do get the feeling that Microsoft isn't in the insanely great new product business. It's risky, requires rare and volatile skills, and it doesn't end up making that much money in the long run. And that last point is the key, because Microsoft really isn't a tech company. They are a money company. They make tonnes and tonnes of money, and they don't care about the other stuff.
"The innovator is usually the one who ends up going out of business. Apple is (currently) the exception."
Yes, that beleaguered company should be going out of business any decade now, I can feel it...
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge." - Daniel Boorstin
A little image I fixed up in photoshop :)
Here
Are you saying that Microsoft employees have to share cubicles? You don't even get your own grey box to sit in?
That was you!?
It's much worse when a Pepsi employee tests positive for coke....
...richie - It is a good day to code.