From Bill's letter:
Microsoft Principles
The popularity of Microsoft software reflects our commitment to four core business principles: We listen to customers; we believe in technologies that improve the quality of people's lives; we partner with other companies that share our vision of a powerful, affordable PC; and we work hard to create innovative products.
I will eschew the obvious oxymoron crack and just offer a couple quotes from stories of the last day or two, suitably juxtaposed.
we partner with other companies that share our vision of a powerful, affordable PC;
From www5.zdnet.com , on the OEM "partners" who've all expressed their love of Bill early and often of late:
"Everything Kempin does pisses us off," said an official with one of Microsoft's largest OEMs, who requested anonymity. "He even parks his silver Porsche in the visitors' spot at [OEM] Building 18," the OEM official continued, resulting in visiting hardware execs being forced to spend precious minutes circling while seeking parking on the Microsoft campus. . . .
In this story, not one hardware maker is on record. The word Sm@rt Reseller received was that no one crosses Kempin and keeps his job. Kempin also is not quoted.
The partners are a little aggrieved, but don't quote them on that.
we work hard to create innovative products.
From infoworld.com (why people harbor some animosity toward a certain large software vendor)
Your business strategy appears to be: Buy -- If you can't buy, crush. Just to be clear, this is not seen as friendly nor innovative.
And, from the same source, one that's a little more intemperate, but somehow seems appropriate here.
Nobody likes big, rich, know-it-alls who keep telling everyone else how great their lives are going to be.
Oh dear. Worms still on the menu in Redmond, I guess.
Cheers, Dan. |
