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Chat with Microsoft Beat Journalist Preston Gralla (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the do-androids-dream-of-electrified-windows? dept.

Preston Gralla hasn't really been following Microsoft since 1820, but he's been doing it so long that it sometimes seems as if he has. His popular Seeing Through Windows blog on Computerworld.com or possibly his IT World blog, The Power of One, may be the main reasons his name is familiar to a lot of people, but he's also written an amazing stack of IT-related books. Obviously, if you look at the lists of blog posts and books Preston has written, he writes about plenty besides Microsoft, and isn't particularly pro-Microsoft. In fact, when we asked him for tablet-buying advice, he recommended iOS tablets if you have plenty of budget, and maybe an Android tablet (specifically the Nexus 7) if your budget is a little tight. Windows? He didn't recommend Windows at all in this context. (Sorry, Microsoft.)

29 comments

  1. Famous, where? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry to dissapoint you really, but I've never heard of him, even though I've been working almost 30 years in this industry and haven't lived under the rock either.

    1. Re: Famous, where? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I think the point is to make him famous now, thanks to /. links.

    2. Re:Famous, where? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A magazine most nerds haven't read since the 90s and self help books for end users (generally "how to use $device / $os" type things)

      Its kind of like here's an interview with a guy who "writes stuff you mum might read if she didn't call you to find out how to send e-mail on her tablet"

    3. Re: Famous, where? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Didn't you know, he's actually a comedian!
      http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/330846/Windows_7_The_Linux_killer

    4. Re: Famous, where? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How would a link on an irrelevant site make him famous?

    5. Re: Famous, where? by Desler · · Score: 1

      I thought the bigger joke of that article was:

      Clearly, the future is in netbooks.

      Yeah, that panned out as expected.

    6. Re: Famous, where? by Xest · · Score: 1

      Don't be harsh, it's probably the only site he could afford to self-publicise himself on.

  2. Since 1820? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What gives?

  3. is there by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Supposed to be a link somewhere?

  4. Windows, iOS, Android, surface, windows phone, ... by behrooz0az · · Score: 1

    And no linux? Why in the hell is this on slashdot then?

    --
    Moderating "-1, Disagree" is simple censorship. Have the guts to post your opinion. -- Spazmania (174582)
  5. Re:Microsoft Beat Journalist by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1

    No, really, you should actually clarify your points. Not nearly enough said to even get more than "I don't like Microsoft" from it.

  6. Preston Gralla installing Firefox on Linux .. by codeusirae · · Score: 1

    "Installing Firefox 3.6 on Linux: Only Pros Need Apply"

    1. Re:Preston Gralla installing Firefox on Linux .. by H0p313ss · · Score: 1

      Was any part of that incorrect or misleading?

      Package management is possibly a Debian based distributions greatest strength, however if you want to be on the bleeding edge it does handcuff you.

      Similarly, try getting up to date versions of boost and ogre actually installed and be sure to report back so we can drink your tears.

      --
      XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
    2. Re:Preston Gralla installing Firefox on Linux .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      This is the same guy who wrote up a breathless preview of Window 7 proclaiming it the 'Linux Killer!' His credibility regarding Linux is naught but pure hysterics. His Dunning-Kruger effect confidence to post ignorant drivel as a 'valid smart computer person opinion' damages both his own reputation and Microsoft's, and he'd be best to shut the hell up on the topic and keep to that which he actually knows.

    3. Re:Preston Gralla installing Firefox on Linux .. by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      As Sysadm1n said in that comments:
            'And what the heck is "Unbuntu"?'

      If the author can't even spell Ubuntu properly even AFTER someone points it out( comment is dated 01/22/2010), he is probably just astroturfing / fanboi of MS.

      --
      Only Cowards Censor

    4. Re:Preston Gralla installing Firefox on Linux .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you want bleeding edge you don't use Debian, you use Arch and the like. Installing the nightly version of Firefox is as hard as typing yaourt -S firefox-nightly. Boost and ogre are already at the latest versions. If the current release isn't new enough you can always get the git/svn/hg version with yaourt, and easily compile it locally with minimal effort.
      GNU/Linux used to be hard in the 90s, times have changed.

    5. Re:Preston Gralla installing Firefox on Linux .. by H0p313ss · · Score: 1

      No disagreements, but would you honestly recommend Arch to lessor mortals?

      I've been using Linux since 0.9 and even I can't be bothered with it.

      --
      XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
  7. Re:Microsoft Beat Journalist by H0p313ss · · Score: 1

    Not nearly enough said to even get more than "I don't like Microsoft" from it.

    I'm pretty sure that was his whole point... though perhaps point is stretching it bit. How about, yes, that's what he's whining about.

    --
    XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
  8. According to Preston, Windows 7 was going to be... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The final nail in the coffin of Linux users, with their silly non-windows way of doing things...

    http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/330846/Windows_7_The_Linux_killer

    Just consider quality of source material before you go singing the guys praises too highly... Being one of the few professional author's being willing to pretend to be excited about Microsoft's blah bullshit does not make him credible.

  9. Write off quack; thinks iOS greater than Android by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does following something for a long time automatically make you an expert in it? Cause I've been following it all for a VERY long time too.

  10. Re:Microsoft Beat Journalist by ozmanjusri · · Score: 1

    Not nearly enough said to even get more than "I don't like Microsoft" from it.

    I don't see anything about disliking Microsoft.

    The commenter was simply making it clear that Grallo is rarely more than a mouthpiece for a commercial entity, and far from being a journalist.

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  11. No kidding by HalAtWork · · Score: 2

    I don't think anyone has followed Microsoft since 1820. Partially because they'd be dead by now, and, oh yeah... Microsoft didn't exist until 1975. Very important detail.

    --
    Twinstiq, game news
    1. Re:No kidding by RaceProUK · · Score: 1

      That sound you hear is the joke flying over your head.

      --
      No colour or religion ever stopped the bullet from a gun
    2. Re:No kidding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wooosh !!!

    3. Re:No kidding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've been following microsoft since before noon.

  12. Re:Microsoft Beat Journalist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The fact that you two can't agree on what he was saying proves that he didn't make it clear at all, and that it isn't "Nuff said".

    I picked up the "I don't like Microsoft" vibe first, tbh, though I see your point too. Maybe more accurately, you can determine that he means "I don't think this is worth listening to" or "I don't like Grallo" without reference as to exactly why.

  13. mg by KulcsarMaria · · Score: 1

    http://www.marketglory.com/strategygame/indi30 free to play strategy game in wich the profit can be transformed in --REAL MONEY--! http://www.image-share.com/ijpg-2372-1.html