One is supposed to do research before a product release. However, this is Microsoft we're concerning ourselves with. If you are Microsoft, you have all of the rights and privileges that come to those who dominate market share:
- The right to do whatever the hell you want, whenever you want.
- Have the belief that you know what's best for the consumer - even when they tell you otherwise.
- That you may abuse the "uneducated" consumer whenever you wish, via a graphical user interface, or other means.
- A perfectly legitimate and exclusive concern for your bottom line alone - without regard to what that means for the quality of your product.
- The delusion that people will be happy with things like DRM, WGA, and OGA, if they'd just give them a chance.
- The delusion that DRM, WGA, and OGA will not get in the way of normal people doing normal, legal business related tasks.
- The short-sightedness that only a good, solid ivory tower provides.
- Great benefits for all of your employees.
So, no - they don't have to ask the consumer anything.
Slashdot Mirror
One is supposed to do research before a product release. However, this is Microsoft we're concerning ourselves with. If you are Microsoft, you have all of the rights and privileges that come to those who dominate market share:
- The right to do whatever the hell you want, whenever you want.
- Have the belief that you know what's best for the consumer - even when they tell you otherwise.
- That you may abuse the "uneducated" consumer whenever you wish, via a graphical user interface, or other means.
- A perfectly legitimate and exclusive concern for your bottom line alone - without regard to what that means for the quality of your product.
- The delusion that people will be happy with things like DRM, WGA, and OGA, if they'd just give them a chance.
- The delusion that DRM, WGA, and OGA will not get in the way of normal people doing normal, legal business related tasks.
- The short-sightedness that only a good, solid ivory tower provides.
- Great benefits for all of your employees.
So, no - they don't have to ask the consumer anything.