Without a Clue: Harry McCracken

Okay, so I'm introducing, "Without a Clue" a part where I will occasionally rip apart another person's writing for being clueless, much like Paul Thurrott does on his site.

On today's agenda I'm going to take a crack at this PCWorld article.

1. Stop trying to be everything to everybody.

The core OS/Office software trite is a reoccurring argument. Note that while Microsoft is first and foremost a software company (meaning that software like say, video games published by Microsoft Studios, is still their "core business"), Microsoft has done extremely well in the consumer electronics market with their computer peripherals, the Xbox, and has created quiet a buzz with the Surface. They also do services that make heavy use of software. Yes, a lot of areas to cover, but I think Microsoft has the capital to cover those areas fairly nicely.

2. Upgrade continuously, not once every few years.

Every month. Automatically.

Couldn't Microsoft Update evolve from a tedious patching system to a cool way to make Windows, Office, and other applications better on a day-by-day basis?

Oh, you mean like more features or something. Like XP SP2? Or Powertoys? Perhaps you've heard of Windows Live, which allows MS to continuously update parts of Windows more easily?

3. Be innovative--no, seriously.

Ha hah hah ha ha ha hah ah hah hah ha ha ha hah ha ha hah ah ha.

Oh my, you were serious. Well, may I point you to Microsoft Research? Live Labs? Ever use Spotlight, er, Desktop Search? Or maybe Time Machine, er, Shadow Copies? And just to be clear, Gadgets were part of the Vista beta before Tiger was released (not that the concept wasn't in computer science before; Active Desktop in Windows 98 did the same thing).

4. Treat customers like kings, not peons.

Where's the free software update for the iPod? Why was SP2 free and not a new OS? What other company is willing to give you a copy of their software from back in the nineties as part of downgrade rights? Who decided (rightly) that the browser should be free?

5. Make Windows a seamless desktop-Web experience.

What rock have you been under? Internet Explorer? MSN? .NET? Windows Live? Any of this ring a bell?

6. Reboot Windows.

Ah... the old Microsoft-needs-to-rebuild-Windows trite. Anyone forget that they did that back in the nineties? Or that the bastardized Mach Kernel with FreeBSD userlands that Apple made the core of their OS is based on code and concepts from a half century ago? But wait, there's more:

"MinWin," a stripped-down version of the Windows kernel, might be that fresh start, but scuttlebutt says MinWin is not part of Windows 7, Vista's successor.

MinWin is not a rewrite. And the concepts that are making it over to Seven where already apparent in Vista and more so, Server 2008, as per the Thurrott article he linked.

7. Split Windows in two.

For someone telling Microsoft to be more original, this guy sure isn't.

This is part of the same keep selling XP crap. You can still get XP, and this isn't anything new either, its Microsoft policy from years past, again. And Microsoft doesn't need to rewrite!

8. Make Windows more boring.

If I wanted boring I would use a DOS. Progress is progress. And seriously, are you sure your not hiding under a rock? Windows Live is very satisfying.

9. Make Windows Mobile the flagship.

Note that this contradicts with a wildly crazy statement coming up.

10. Leapfrog Google Docs.

Albany has done pretty well, but look at the lack of understanding of what it is in the next inane comment.

11. Bundle Office with an online suite.

Nah, y'think?

12. Make the Office file formats indispensable on the Web.

Microsoft has Office format viewers for free download already.

How about a unified Office file viewer--ideally with some basic editing features--that would be a cinch to find, install, and use?

Basic editing features? Isn't that what the online Office bits are for? Or maybe even Microsoft Works?

13. Take a studio approach to software.

Maybe, just maybe, Microsoft knows better then you on how to develop software.

14. Build Internet Explorer on top of Firefox.

The PR from this alone would hurt Microsoft so much. Plus the legal. Mozilla was able to fix the memory leaking monster that was Firefox 2, and Firefox isn't even the most standards compliant browser out there! Microsoft has the manpower to fight their browser war. Let them without revealing your Firefox fanboy  status. Its not the Golden Fleece. Its not the Holy Grail. Just a good browser.

15. Be a leading iPhone developer.

Four things on this one. First, they are a leading developer for OS X already with the Mac Business Unit. Second, the Mac business unit just started a hiring spree. Third, Microsoft already licensed sync technology and Exchange for the iPhone, making their technology a lead source for the iPhone. Last, take a look at #9 on this list. How can they support the iPhone when their Mobile OS needs to be "flagship"?

At least you didn't try to tell Microsoft to be consistent McCracken. You sure weren't.