Well, I got to go back to my original response. Yes, putting quotes in the paper for the opposition to tape to their lockers isn't in general a good idea. But, Microsoft is mighty good at those quotes too. It's like I used to say to Sal, McNealy makes fun of Bill? Bill makes fun of everyone. And somehow, when it comes down to it, I doubt all the diplomacy in the world would have kept Microsoft from using "standard business practices", like that threat to Compaq, when push came to shove.
The other thing to remember is that the internet was becoming a big deal at the same time that Microsoft was struggling to get Windows95 finally out the door, with the usual co-development of 32bit version of the bread and butter Office apps. I don't know when "Chicago" was originally scheduled for, but I muchly doubt it was August '95. The day of infamy was only a few months after the Windows 95 lauch. Obviously, there was internet awareness before that, as the Spyglass deal in Jan. 95 shows, but there was probably a real limit on resources until Win95 hit the streets. I'd guess that had more to do with the "slow" response of Microsoft than anything.
And, on a more current subject, that's where the whole "kinder, gentler" Microsoft thing becomes, well, ironic at best. The old PR line was much more truthful to "One Microsoft Way", at least according to everything I've learned here. Now, a few conciliatory words are gong to make things all better? My line is Microsoft needs to be understood, and in keeping with that, the "gentler" PR offensive ought to be understood for what it is. Kind words don't mean much, I'll be impressed when Microsoft stops treating everyone that doesn't believe in the inevitability of Bill's dreams as idiots.
Cheers, Dan. |
