Ensight – Jeremy Wright

I rambled through it earlier.

Scott nailed it: I’m ambivalent about Microsoft.

This is important:

I’m not angry at Microsoft, I’m worse. I’m ambivalent. That’s really what should worry Microsoft. For every angry voice they hear, there are probably three or four that just don’t care enough to give feedback.

Yep. I chat through this in the book. In fact, here’s a brief passage:

The problem most companies have is that they are unable to create passionate customers. They have mediocre products, service that’s “just good enough” and a marketing campaign which rarely changes. There’s a saying about customers: the only bad ones are lukewarm. As I’ve said before, the only thing worse than hearing bad things in the conversation is hearing nothing at all!

I’m seeing more and more people, developers specifically, becoming lukewarm about Microsoft. Sure, each rev of .NET and Visual Studio is good, but it only solves a handful of problems. .NET was exciting. Visual Studio.NET was exciting.

But these days? The only product that excites me is one that’s so “un-Microsoft” that it doesn’t even count: XBox 360.

Pathetic. What’s even more pathetic is having people like Vic trying to defend Microsoft. This isn’t the only time Vic’s taken this overly defensive tone either. In fact, every one of his posts has this sad, sorry tone to them. Like he’s trying to be excited.

Vic, seriously, what’s one thing that should excite me about Microsoft right now? Don’t say Longhorn. Not because it won’t excite me, but because now is too early to get excited. And don’t say IE7. It’ll be lucky to catch up to the other browsers out there (even though I know the team are trying to do more than catch up).

Give me one reason, one product, one team that should excite me. Please…