- It depends. Right now, I work about a 6 hour day since we are just about to ship and there isn't a lot of work for the developers since we are pretty locked down and aren't starting on next version stuff. In the middle of the cycle, I was probably working 10 hour days when I was very heads down implementing new features. During some serious bug crunching cycles, I probably worked around 9-10. I'd say I average 8 hours a day over the course of the year
- I work 5 days a week. I used to work a weekend day here or there but I found I've gotten better at using my time at work where I can keep my weekends 100% open to myself. Sometimes I need to log on to kick off a build, but I rarely spend much time over the weekend at work now.
- My options from 4 years ago are paying very nicely. They stopped giving options after that and now give stock grants...that's fully vested stock...so that is paying very nicely as well when you start stacking the grants I have received over the last 4 years and them vesting every August. I have nothing to complain about here.
Re:It's not that your crazy not to go with Google
on
Microsoft or Google?
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· Score: 1
The parent post is completely untrue in terms of them not paying benefits or providing poor benefits to the employees. I have NEVER had a problem with the benefits they have provided:
Stock Purchase Plan 401k Health Care - $0 co-pay Dental Gym membership Reimbursement for recreational sports league fees etc. etc. etc. There are many many more.
Combine that with the stock grants every year, bonuses, and raises...and I can not complain about the compensation or the benefits. They have not tried to reneg on any of the benefits they offered me or any friends I have who work here.
Re:That depends on a lot more than you think
on
Microsoft or Google?
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· Score: 1
That is completely incorrect. I work at Microsoft and actually just mentioned this thread to some co-workers at lunch. There were no negative reactions at all and I think people at both companies would be interested to hear the pros and cons of working at each company.
Yes, the products compete and will probably compete against one another for a long time...but that doesn't make people at either company closed-minded and arrogant.
Before I get into the comment, let me preface this by saying I am sure I will be biased towards Microsoft because I work here although I like to think I do my best to keep an open mind.
As many of the other posters have mentioned, you need to look at the teams that made offers to you from both Microsoft and Google. Despite Microsoft being a large company, being on a team that you enjoy is what makes all of the difference. I work in the Microsoft Office division and have never felt that I am not making a large difference to the product I am working on. I get to talk to customers once in a while, help with usability studies, decide on new features, and code the new product. The last point there is my main job so I spend most of my time coding and desiging...but I get to help in the process from start to finish and really feel that my opinions are heard and considered when directing the new product. That said, I have been in Office for 5 years and am considering a move to other teams in Microsoft. Microsoft is very understanding here and encourages moves internally so that an employee doesn't become bored and burnt out with their current product.
I find that I work with extremely smart people every day here and I get to work on programs which are used by millions of people (which is usually a good thing:-)). I would expect the same at Google...I know people working there and have heard the same things about the employees there.
The benefits are great at both companies...the employees are smart...the products are new and exciting to work on...the flex hours are great so I can have both a life and a career.
Basically, it is going to come down to the teams you have offers from. Look at them closely and consider which product seems more intersting and has a better feel for you and your passions. If you think the Google teams are better aligned with you, go there and have a great career. If you think the Microsoft teams are better for you, come here and have a great career.
True...Linux itself isn't at fault. However, if it is not economically worthwhile, the manufacturer won't find the need to 'care about the customer'. If there customer is going to contribute 5% of the revenue but creating a driver here will cost more (or close to) 5% of the expected revenue, why spend the time there?
The 'data mining' effort? Do you mean where they are trying to get feedback on the program? It is a BETA release...where I would think the main idea is to get feedback.
What was troublesome about the font changing mechanism? What didn't work about the terminal environment? What could be done to improve Outlook? Feedback is always welcome I would assume, but there isn't much that Microsoft can do without feedback explaining what you felt was wrong and how you feel it could be made better.
I don't remember this golden age of software that you describe. I remember playing games on my old TI computer and hitting totally crazy bugs. I remember NES games with some pretty bizarre bugs. I definitely remember software and games on my old 286/386 machines which were chock full of bugs.
It's still pretty close to the same thing. In order for me to fix bug A, I need to know all of the scenarios that use the code I am changing. All of these new scenarios needs to be retested now as well as all of the different states that can hit this scenarios. Does it have an effect on multi-processor machines...how about different languages...right-to-left languages...etc. You then need to fix bugs found from this process and repeat again...
It boils down to how severe is the bug compared to how risky is the change in terms of introducing new bugs.
I wouldn't guarantee that this is because of gold farmers. I consistently buy materials in the AH when I think the price is low. If the item is on that doesn't require a deposit to post in the AH, I will probably keep trying to sell it at an above average price. I have never bought or sold gold and never will but what I am doing would classify me as a gold farmer by your reasoning.
The amount that Bill and Melinda Gates have donated way outweigh the maximum tax break he can get. He could donate quite a bit less during the year and get the same tax break.
Trust me...Microsoft didn't purposfully create a limited supply of this magnitude. It doesn't help them to not have virtually anyone be able to get the XBox 360 in time for Christmas sales. The manufacturer did not 'intentionally screw you over'.
If McDonalds didn't make enough Big Macs, I would go buy something else. Personally, I would love to have an XBox 360...but not enough to go wait overnight on opening day...so I'll keep playing with my original XBox or my Gamecube. The fact that someone decided it was cool to camp overnight at a Best Buy doesn't change things...that was their decision. The fact that the hardware is not working...that is Microsoft's problem and they should refund the money or replace the hardware. It does not entitle him/her to sue for 'pain and suffering' or whatever they are attaching to this lawsuit to try and get more money than the $299 or $399 he paid for the XBox 360.
So you would sue because you had to wait in line and decided to fight with other customers? Should you sue Best Buy then or wherever you bought it from? How about the customers who decided to start fighting? Did you spill some coffee during this fight? You could probably sue for that.
If I purchases an XBox 360 and it wasn't working, I'd be pissed...and I'd call Microsoft and demand a replacement. If they rejected that, I'd put a stop order on the credit card payment or I'd just return it to the store. Is this guy sueing for emotional damanges or something pathetic like that?
Not really. Considering it is described as "finally fully opening..." it sounds like Microsoft realizes it is behind the times in this area. I don't think they'd describe it as 'finally' doing something if they felt they were pioneering teh way.
Oh...and corporate blogs pretty much ARE a commercial...so you are correct on that on in my opinion.
I can not understand why any intelligent parent would stay there and put their kids through school where they are actively teaching religion in place of a scientific theory. Anyone with half of a brain would move out of their and take their kids out of a school system like that...leaving Kansas with an incredibly stupid population in the end because of the exodus of high IQs...
Will that happen? Probably not...but I guarantee that if I lived there with children, I would be pulling my kids out of the system and getting out of the state.
Access will be one of the most upgraded apps in the Office 12 package (in my opinion). A lot of work has been done to make it look more 21st centry (and less 19th century) and to make it easier for the average user to use (while still keeping any of the advanced design scenarios that currently exist). There will be a lot of work done to make tracking apps easier to create and use with Access 12 as well as some very nice integration with Sharepoint (if you and/or your business use Sharepoint).
He's the luckiest guy with no reason to be upset. Basically, he gets paid more than many people will make in a lifetime to do nothing for a year.
After using this, it actually does feel better
on
Office 12 Exposed
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· Score: 1
First off, let me state that, while I try my best to be objective with my comments, I am sure that because of employment reasons, I am going to be biased towards a pro-Microsoft stance. Secondly, any comments I make are my own personal feelings or thoughts and are not Microsoft's comments or stance on any matter.
I started using the new UI about a year ago...maybe more actually. When I first saw it, I though 'wow...this royally sucks and our customers are going to think it sucks'. I felt this way when it was in its early implementation...however, even when most of the necessary commands were there, I still felt this way. I found that I didn't know where to go for the commands and was just wishing that I had the old menus back.
However, after using it for a bit...and as the UI became more fine tuned and icons were placed in the 'correct' location...I have found the new UI to be growing on me. I don't need to pull down many drop down menus and almost always, the command that I need is available for me very easily. I have recently been working with some older versions and now find that it is much slower for me to do tasks in previous versions of Office.
Just wanted to say that, from personal experiece, this new UI has grown on me and I find that I really do like it. If, a year ago, you had told me that I would feel that way, I would have laughed in your face.
I don't understand how the arguments could be so negative in this thread.
He signed a contract for a VERY large sum of money which, if he was going to receive this money and then quit at a future time, he couldn't work for a competing company doing the same things he did while working at Microsoft.
He then, on his own, decided to leave Microsoft (he wasn't fired) and work at Google working on the same thing he worked on at Microsoft.
The argument that he is not able to be self-sufficient is ridiculous when you look at the monetary figures. If this was being tried against a low level employee who was not privy to high level company decisions and was not being paid because of this, then I think this would be a different story (not legally...but maybe ethically). However, he was paid hansomely and part of the contract for him to be paid so much contained the non-competitive agreement.
Why sign the contract? Why leave Microsoft and then start working for a competitor in the same field he worked for at Microsoft in less than 1 year? He brought this on himself but since Google was willing to pay him for this as well, he really has nothing to lose.
When MSN Messenger first came out, you could talk with people on AOL IM. AOL then put a block in to prevent MSN Messenger from connecting. Microsoft then worked around the block...then AOL added a block...etc.
Finally they made a 'pact' to work on creating some IM global protocol which everyone could use...but it seems like that faded away into the background.
I still remember playing Trade Wars on local BBSs and Red Dragon as well. The fact that you could do things which impacted other player's games was amazing and I always remember dreading that I would log on and find that I was destroyed overnight.
When I found MUDs (Medievia was my main one), I was in heaven. I was simply amazed at what we could do and how you could interact with other players in real time. It didn't matter that there weren't any graphics, it was just simply amazing.
Slashdot Mirror
- It depends. Right now, I work about a 6 hour day since we are just about to ship and there isn't a lot of work for the developers since we are pretty locked down and aren't starting on next version stuff. In the middle of the cycle, I was probably working 10 hour days when I was very heads down implementing new features. During some serious bug crunching cycles, I probably worked around 9-10. I'd say I average 8 hours a day over the course of the year
- I work 5 days a week. I used to work a weekend day here or there but I found I've gotten better at using my time at work where I can keep my weekends 100% open to myself. Sometimes I need to log on to kick off a build, but I rarely spend much time over the weekend at work now.
- My options from 4 years ago are paying very nicely. They stopped giving options after that and now give stock grants...that's fully vested stock...so that is paying very nicely as well when you start stacking the grants I have received over the last 4 years and them vesting every August. I have nothing to complain about here.
The parent post is completely untrue in terms of them not paying benefits or providing poor benefits to the employees. I have NEVER had a problem with the benefits they have provided:
Stock Purchase Plan
401k
Health Care - $0 co-pay
Dental
Gym membership
Reimbursement for recreational sports league fees
etc. etc. etc. There are many many more.
Combine that with the stock grants every year, bonuses, and raises...and I can not complain about the compensation or the benefits. They have not tried to reneg on any of the benefits they offered me or any friends I have who work here.
That is completely incorrect. I work at Microsoft and actually just mentioned this thread to some co-workers at lunch. There were no negative reactions at all and I think people at both companies would be interested to hear the pros and cons of working at each company.
Yes, the products compete and will probably compete against one another for a long time...but that doesn't make people at either company closed-minded and arrogant.
Before I get into the comment, let me preface this by saying I am sure I will be biased towards Microsoft because I work here although I like to think I do my best to keep an open mind.
:-)). I would expect the same at Google...I know people working there and have heard the same things about the employees there.
As many of the other posters have mentioned, you need to look at the teams that made offers to you from both Microsoft and Google. Despite Microsoft being a large company, being on a team that you enjoy is what makes all of the difference. I work in the Microsoft Office division and have never felt that I am not making a large difference to the product I am working on. I get to talk to customers once in a while, help with usability studies, decide on new features, and code the new product. The last point there is my main job so I spend most of my time coding and desiging...but I get to help in the process from start to finish and really feel that my opinions are heard and considered when directing the new product. That said, I have been in Office for 5 years and am considering a move to other teams in Microsoft. Microsoft is very understanding here and encourages moves internally so that an employee doesn't become bored and burnt out with their current product.
I find that I work with extremely smart people every day here and I get to work on programs which are used by millions of people (which is usually a good thing
The benefits are great at both companies...the employees are smart...the products are new and exciting to work on...the flex hours are great so I can have both a life and a career.
Basically, it is going to come down to the teams you have offers from. Look at them closely and consider which product seems more intersting and has a better feel for you and your passions. If you think the Google teams are better aligned with you, go there and have a great career. If you think the Microsoft teams are better for you, come here and have a great career.
Save that for the sequel: "Halo X: The Search for More Money"
True...Linux itself isn't at fault. However, if it is not economically worthwhile, the manufacturer won't find the need to 'care about the customer'. If there customer is going to contribute 5% of the revenue but creating a driver here will cost more (or close to) 5% of the expected revenue, why spend the time there?
The 'data mining' effort? Do you mean where they are trying to get feedback on the program? It is a BETA release...where I would think the main idea is to get feedback.
What was troublesome about the font changing mechanism? What didn't work about the terminal environment? What could be done to improve Outlook? Feedback is always welcome I would assume, but there isn't much that Microsoft can do without feedback explaining what you felt was wrong and how you feel it could be made better.
I don't remember this golden age of software that you describe. I remember playing games on my old TI computer and hitting totally crazy bugs. I remember NES games with some pretty bizarre bugs. I definitely remember software and games on my old 286/386 machines which were chock full of bugs.
It's still pretty close to the same thing. In order for me to fix bug A, I need to know all of the scenarios that use the code I am changing. All of these new scenarios needs to be retested now as well as all of the different states that can hit this scenarios. Does it have an effect on multi-processor machines...how about different languages...right-to-left languages...etc. You then need to fix bugs found from this process and repeat again...
It boils down to how severe is the bug compared to how risky is the change in terms of introducing new bugs.
I wouldn't guarantee that this is because of gold farmers. I consistently buy materials in the AH when I think the price is low. If the item is on that doesn't require a deposit to post in the AH, I will probably keep trying to sell it at an above average price. I have never bought or sold gold and never will but what I am doing would classify me as a gold farmer by your reasoning.
"We wanted to release our new World of Solitare game but Microsoft bundled their own version with the OS. We can't compete in a market like this."
-SA3Steve - Fake CEO of Blzzard
The amount that Bill and Melinda Gates have donated way outweigh the maximum tax break he can get. He could donate quite a bit less during the year and get the same tax break.
Trust me...Microsoft didn't purposfully create a limited supply of this magnitude. It doesn't help them to not have virtually anyone be able to get the XBox 360 in time for Christmas sales. The manufacturer did not 'intentionally screw you over'.
If McDonalds didn't make enough Big Macs, I would go buy something else. Personally, I would love to have an XBox 360...but not enough to go wait overnight on opening day...so I'll keep playing with my original XBox or my Gamecube. The fact that someone decided it was cool to camp overnight at a Best Buy doesn't change things...that was their decision. The fact that the hardware is not working...that is Microsoft's problem and they should refund the money or replace the hardware. It does not entitle him/her to sue for 'pain and suffering' or whatever they are attaching to this lawsuit to try and get more money than the $299 or $399 he paid for the XBox 360.
So you would sue because you had to wait in line and decided to fight with other customers? Should you sue Best Buy then or wherever you bought it from? How about the customers who decided to start fighting? Did you spill some coffee during this fight? You could probably sue for that.
If I purchases an XBox 360 and it wasn't working, I'd be pissed...and I'd call Microsoft and demand a replacement. If they rejected that, I'd put a stop order on the credit card payment or I'd just return it to the store. Is this guy sueing for emotional damanges or something pathetic like that?
Not really. Considering it is described as "finally fully opening..." it sounds like Microsoft realizes it is behind the times in this area. I don't think they'd describe it as 'finally' doing something if they felt they were pioneering teh way.
Oh...and corporate blogs pretty much ARE a commercial...so you are correct on that on in my opinion.
I can not understand why any intelligent parent would stay there and put their kids through school where they are actively teaching religion in place of a scientific theory. Anyone with half of a brain would move out of their and take their kids out of a school system like that...leaving Kansas with an incredibly stupid population in the end because of the exodus of high IQs...
Will that happen? Probably not...but I guarantee that if I lived there with children, I would be pulling my kids out of the system and getting out of the state.
Access will be one of the most upgraded apps in the Office 12 package (in my opinion). A lot of work has been done to make it look more 21st centry (and less 19th century) and to make it easier for the average user to use (while still keeping any of the advanced design scenarios that currently exist). There will be a lot of work done to make tracking apps easier to create and use with Access 12 as well as some very nice integration with Sharepoint (if you and/or your business use Sharepoint).
He's the luckiest guy with no reason to be upset. Basically, he gets paid more than many people will make in a lifetime to do nothing for a year.
First off, let me state that, while I try my best to be objective with my comments, I am sure that because of employment reasons, I am going to be biased towards a pro-Microsoft stance. Secondly, any comments I make are my own personal feelings or thoughts and are not Microsoft's comments or stance on any matter.
I started using the new UI about a year ago...maybe more actually. When I first saw it, I though 'wow...this royally sucks and our customers are going to think it sucks'. I felt this way when it was in its early implementation...however, even when most of the necessary commands were there, I still felt this way. I found that I didn't know where to go for the commands and was just wishing that I had the old menus back.
However, after using it for a bit...and as the UI became more fine tuned and icons were placed in the 'correct' location...I have found the new UI to be growing on me. I don't need to pull down many drop down menus and almost always, the command that I need is available for me very easily. I have recently been working with some older versions and now find that it is much slower for me to do tasks in previous versions of Office.
Just wanted to say that, from personal experiece, this new UI has grown on me and I find that I really do like it. If, a year ago, you had told me that I would feel that way, I would have laughed in your face.
Steve
I don't understand how the arguments could be so negative in this thread.
He signed a contract for a VERY large sum of money which, if he was going to receive this money and then quit at a future time, he couldn't work for a competing company doing the same things he did while working at Microsoft.
He then, on his own, decided to leave Microsoft (he wasn't fired) and work at Google working on the same thing he worked on at Microsoft.
The argument that he is not able to be self-sufficient is ridiculous when you look at the monetary figures. If this was being tried against a low level employee who was not privy to high level company decisions and was not being paid because of this, then I think this would be a different story (not legally...but maybe ethically). However, he was paid hansomely and part of the contract for him to be paid so much contained the non-competitive agreement.
Why sign the contract? Why leave Microsoft and then start working for a competitor in the same field he worked for at Microsoft in less than 1 year? He brought this on himself but since Google was willing to pay him for this as well, he really has nothing to lose.
For me, it breaks down like this:
5% ruined by other people
25% good movie experience
70% ruined by a bad/ridiculous movie
That is actually not true...
When MSN Messenger first came out, you could talk with people on AOL IM. AOL then put a block in to prevent MSN Messenger from connecting. Microsoft then worked around the block...then AOL added a block...etc.
Finally they made a 'pact' to work on creating some IM global protocol which everyone could use...but it seems like that faded away into the background.
But it wasn't cool when Microsoft or Yahoo did it...in fact it was a silly tie-in! Now that Google is doing it though, it's bloody brilliant!
Seriously, I don't really think we need another IM client...but then again I thought that when Yahoo and MSN released theirs...
I still remember playing Trade Wars on local BBSs and Red Dragon as well. The fact that you could do things which impacted other player's games was amazing and I always remember dreading that I would log on and find that I was destroyed overnight.
When I found MUDs (Medievia was my main one), I was in heaven. I was simply amazed at what we could do and how you could interact with other players in real time. It didn't matter that there weren't any graphics, it was just simply amazing.
Seriously...how does the parent post get modded up here as Interesting to a level 5?
I wish you could mod it as "talking out of his/her ass" or "making stuff up as he/she types"