Microsoft Responds to DOT Ban on Vista, Office, IE

roscoetoon writes "From the blog of Mary Jo Foley: What's Microsoft's response to the DOT's charges? A corporate spokeswoman sent this statement, via e-mail: (caution: microbrain double-speak ahead) ... "We respect the customer's decision. As with any of our other Federal customers, it's our job to help DOT maximize the value of its Enterprise Agreement through the adoption of our technology. We are engaged with large, strategic customers across government at every level, and are working closely with them on these products through their participation in our Technical Adoption Programs.""

Comments

Dramatic improvements?

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

"Windows Vista, Office 2007, and IE7 are widely recognized by independent analysts to offer dramatic improvements in security, management features, new collaboration capabilities and productivity enhancements.

That's UAC, Ribbons & (still) broken CSS respectively ;-)

Really?

[zappepcs]

FTFA: "Windows Vista, Office 2007, and IE7 are widely recognized by independent analysts to offer dramatic improvements in security, management features, new collaboration capabilities and productivity enhancements. Ultimately we think we can help DOT understand how these products can help its enterprise organization.

Q: When did MS start using truly independent analysts? Would that part of the statement be necessary if they had no reputation for using paid shills?

FTFA: "As DOT goes through the natural process of exploring the new capabilities of these products we expect they will continue to embrace Windows and Office as the departmental standard of DOT.

Q: Doesn't she mean that "they will eventually be forced to once again drink the koolaid?"

FTFA: "Overall our government customers are excited about the technology as well as our product pipeline.

Q: Does anyone else remember that old Chinese curse? "May your life be exciting!"

FTFA: Just last week more than 500 Public Sector CIOs from across the country joined us for our annual US Public Sector CIO Summit.

- 500 guests for free food and drink and hopefully cheaper software != 500 new customers.

FTFA: The Summit offered these CIOs to see firsthand how Microsoft is working to be a strategic partner to government and educational institutions of every size."

- They obviously didn't spend much time on all the govt. agencies, schools, even countries that are not interested in using MS products anymore. A sales pitch is a sales pitch. I hope they got some good swag!

Translation...

[doormat]

We got their money because they're on a subscription. So we really dont care what they do. Random PR speak about how great our stuff is anyways.

Re:Translation...

[cmacb]

Alternate translation:

"it's our job to help DOT maximize the value of its Enterprise Agreement through the adoption of our technology. We are engaged with large, strategic customers across government at every level,"

really means:

It's our job to sabotage this in any way possible, but we haven't adopted a strategy just yet. If necessary we will go to your boss, or your boss's boss, including, if necessary our many opportunities to influence the law in our favor.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117328195388829568 .html?mod=djemTECH

Re:Watch out

[theshowmecanuck]

I'm not sure if anyone should have marked this funny. It seems so close to what is likely to happen that it should be marked insightful (but only because there is no category titled "scary as hell").