Microsoft Taps Bloggers to Promote Longhorn

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Microsoft Taps Bloggers to Promote Longhorn

Posted by timothy on Monday May 2, 2005 @05:32AM from the it's-like-totally-cool dept.

Tim writes "With Beta 1 of Longhorn less than two months away, Microsoft is looking at a new marketing tool to help promote its new Windows: bloggers. According to BetaNews, Microsoft's "Team 99" evangelism effort will be composed of bloggers that will become Microsoft's voice to the masses. Robert Scoble said Team 99 was once secret, but has been revived and Microsoft is now accepting nominations. It's nice to see Microsoft recognizing the power of blogs, but the move is likely going to draw accusations that Redmond is trying to buy off bloggers to hype Longhorn."

18 of 415 comments (clear)

Weird names by maotx · 2005-05-02 05:33 · Score: 5, Funny

...Longhorn...Team 99....how do they come up with these unusual names?
My favorite quote FTA (and I'm not making this up):

"Longhorn got its name from the bar that's between Whistler and Blackcomb up in British Columbia. 99 is the road you drive from my house to get up to the Longhorn bar. So, Team 99 is the team that'll take us to Longhorn's launch," he said.

And people make fun of Linux names!

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I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
1. Re:Weird names by 0x461FAB0BD7D2 · 2005-05-02 05:39 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I'll take Sarge or Woody over Bob or Clippy any day.
2. Re:Weird names by Anonymous Coward · 2005-05-02 05:41 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  That bar now has a case for sueing for copyright / trademark inringment...
  
  MS said they stole the name from a bar.
3. Re:Weird names by lilmouse · 2005-05-02 05:44 · Score: 5, Funny
  "And people make fun of Linux names!"
  
  Ubuntu - Humanity for others - in my OS?
  
  Gentoo - I know there's something about a cow involved
  
  Mandrivel (Mandriva? Condrake?) - Ok, Mandrake was at least a cool name, but come on
  
  Slackware - at least they're honest!
  
  Note I didn't even get to any of those lesser distributions with funny names...
  
  Even better, those are the names of the distributions - some have funny names for their versions, too!
  
  So, yes, people make fun of Linux names.
  
  --LWM
4. Re:Weird names by MrAnnoyanceToYou · 2005-05-02 05:45 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Yeah, now that bar has a case for 'defamation of character' as well... in five years, I bet I will be scared of drinking in a bar called the 'Longhorn' due to worries about the roof leaking, the stools having random stuff on them from the last person who used them, the prices being high, and an uneasy feeling that the whole structure was so unsound it could fall down on my head - oversized supporting timbers and all - at any time.
  
  --
  My little site.
MS is innovative by Anonymous Coward · 2005-05-02 05:36 · Score: 3, Funny

They just created Astro-blogging!
Re:Likely? by justforaday · 2005-05-02 05:38 · Score: 5, Funny

Yeah, because while the patch cures cancer, it'll end up giving you syphilis instead...

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I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
Longhorn Rocks! by Shadow+Wrought · 2005-05-02 05:42 · Score: 5, Funny

Longhorn is the best operating system I have ever used. It is a snappy and feature rich envrionment that allows me to leverage my work schedule and makes leisure time a joy. I don't know what I ever did without it.
It also follows the long Microsoft tradition of providing an innovative product that people not only want to use, but actually look forward to using.

Longhorn truly completes me. And I say this as a former Linux power user for the last twenty years. Really. Now I know that Linux blows and it has nothing to do with that bimonthly check from Redmond. Nothing. Really.

--
If brevity is the soul of wit, then how does one explain Twitter?
Re:How much are they offering? by MisanthropicProgram · 2005-05-02 05:47 · Score: 4, Funny

You know, you have to wonder. If you gave a shitty review, would they let keep your Longhorn 99 or whatever status? I'd be more than happy to start a blog to promote MS products if they paid me! Then I can buy that Mac I've always wanted!
So what? by pangel83 · 2005-05-02 05:51 · Score: 5, Funny

Slashdot has been doing the same for Linux
Indeed, leverage. by Anonymous Coward · 2005-05-02 05:56 · Score: 3, Funny

Compared to Linux, Longhorn is an extensible paradigm shift in operating systems that is designed to facility business agility while improving new customer acquisition. Offering the most secure federation based authenticity validation system Longhorn improves the value proposition while streamlining your business processes and enhancing shareholder value.

Longhorn r0x0rz and Linux sux0rz.
I don't know what you're ... by MisanthropicProgram · 2005-05-02 05:58 · Score: 5, Funny

talking about. Microsoft (TM) makes the best software on the planet - ever - they don't need paid shills at all. The quality and excellence of Microsoft products are second to none! Such as
Microsoft Office

Microsoft XP

Microsoft Flight Simualtor

and any other Microsoft products out there!
Re:How many Slashdot accounts? by justforaday · 2005-05-02 06:04 · Score: 5, Funny

*looks around and slowly raises hand*

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I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
Bill Gates' blog... by node+3 · 2005-05-02 06:05 · Score: 3, Funny

Not worth my time [April 20th, 2005]

Today at the airport I saw a $100 bill, but left it lying there. It's just not worth it.

[Post a comment] [Trackback]

Sweetest Thing [April 25th, 2005]

Bono stopped by for a visit. You can never tell what he's thinking though. I think that's why he wears those sunglasses. Ballmer kept trying to iChat me like every five minutes trying to talk with Bono, but I didn't didn't want to completely negate the Bono's coolness, I know how he can get when he's excited.

[Post a comment] [Trackback]

Tiger Fever! [April 29th, 6:31PM]

Just installed Tiger (waiting for the FedEx truck was *torture*!). I can't believe how great it is. I can't stop hitting F12. Oh, and Spotlight! I'll post a more in-depth review later. Until then, check out the one at Ars Technica, it's really good.

[Post a comment] [Trackback]
Re:Shills by tbone1 · 2005-05-02 06:15 · Score: 4, Funny

Eh.. anyone with a positive outlook on Longhorn is gonna get called a shill (especially here), their contract status with Microsoft notwithstanding.
Shill!

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The Independent: Reverend Spooner Arrested in Friar Tuck Incident - ISIHAC, Historical Headlines
Re:Sure, I'll blog about Longhorn ... by drsquare · 2005-05-02 07:14 · Score: 3, Funny

I bought my OWN iPod. Get off your lazy asses, you cheapskates. It's not THAT hard.

Actually, it IS. Have you seen the price of those things? You need to be like a millionaire to buy one. For what you get for your money, they should be about £50. Although it doesn't matter to me, I stole mine from some kid who wasn't exactly being discreet about the fact that he had one. Note: change the headphones. They look awful and showy, and just lead to muggings.
last call by SethJohnson · 2005-05-02 07:14 · Score: 4, Funny

On the plus side, Last Call won't mean the end to your drinking at this bar. After they lock the doors, I'm sure there'll be windows or some other back entrance that can be easily opened back up.

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$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
No, see... by abulafia · 2005-05-02 08:07 · Score: 3, Funny

The way it works is, go to "start", select "drinking", in the dialog that pops up, select "stop", wait for the pink elephants to finish their dance, and then go to "go home".
If that makes sense, you're too drunk, and should go home.

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I forget what 8 was for.