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Why Microsoft?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the because-google-is-pickier dept.

theodp writes "Before a large crowd of students at the University of Washington computer science department, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was asked why students should care about Microsoft enough to want to work there. Aside from the ending, which begs for an if-you're-happy-and-you-know-it-clap-your-hands remix, Ballmer seemed to handle the question adequately for an MBA-type, although TechCrunch has a different opinion, suggesting 'maybe it's time for the great salesman to hang it up.' Oddly enough, a recent resignation letter from a Microsoft developer en route to Facebook ('Microsoft has been an awesome place to work over the past twelve years. In college, I never thought I'd work for Microsoft. Then I interned in 1997 and fell in love.') may be more what the skeptical CS student was looking for in terms of a Microsoft endorsement."

3 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. In the End... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    We all trash Microsoft for making shitty products, but in the end we would all work for them given the chance.

    1. Re:In the End... by MoeDrippins · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Well, yes and no. It'd be interesting, but I have a friend in the Bing group and he's turned so totally fanboy about it that it's sickening on the level of listening to a true believer evangelist. Perhaps he always was and I never saw it, and perhaps it's more him than the company, but if working there turns off your critical thinking so wholly... no thanks.

      --
      Before you design for reuse, make sure to design it for use.
  2. Re:Because they are huge and have tons of cash by kangsterizer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Microsoft will pay you well and you feel you are part of a community.

    The downside is that you have to hide your MacBookPro and iPhone from public view.

    You're modded funny of course but it has quite a bit of truth.
    Apple does not pay well. Microsoft pays better.
    Microsoft makes you part of their community, Apple does not, everything is segmented and you have no access to other's information.

    Arguably, Google is more Microsoft-like, except you're also allowed to bring your MacBook at Google :P (however, forget about the iPhone, it's N1!!)