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Technology Stocks : Siebel Systems (SEBL) - strong buy? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hardly B. Solipsist who wrote (6516)	10/24/2002 7:33:48 PM
From: Kevin Rose	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6974

As a programmer who worked with MSFT products in the enterprise, and who worked closely with MSFT as both a vendor and consumer, I'd like to jump in on the point: Why do programmers hate MSFT? Yes, part of it is the Big Brother thing. Programmers are an independent lot, and whatever trait causes them (us?) to be independent also seems to make them great programmers. Independents seem to have a natural dislike for the Big Guy, and MSFT is that. However, there are also many other reasons for programmers to dislike MSFT. Too many to enumerate here, but basically it boils down to this: MSFT acts like a monopoly instead of a business. They release half-baked products that don't do what they say, take a long time to fix them, change things when they feel like it, and expect the world to be their QA. To top it off, they really don't care one iota that their 'development process' pisses off everyone. Because, basically, if you are using MSFT products, it is probably because you have no alternative. The strange thing is that they are pleasant enough people, at least the ones I worked with. They just have been programmed that the MSFT way is THE way, and users will accept it. So what if they change technical directions faster than a knuckleball. So what if they release products that are only half done. So what if their mantra is 'embrace and extend' (code for copy and undersell). Not surprisingly, their attitude is one of the reasons that the 'rebel' side (Sun/UNIX/Linux/Apple) stays alive. Let me tell you, most programmers would LOVE there to be one platform to program against; one universal standard of language, libraries, tools, etc. I've programmed on Apple machines, and they can be every bit the pain in the ass that MSFT is. The difference is in the attitude. MSFT rant over. On the SEBL side, I believe the reason that you don't see them getting more in bed with MSFT is that basic mistrust. MSFT has been known to deal harshly with any 'friends' who dare be cross platform (the Bristol horror show was just one I saw close up). And let's face it: the enterprise world is still UNIX and Oracle, and any enterprise vendor that doesn't have it as a product is missing half the potential market. No technology, .Net included, will allow MSFT to achieve its goal of World Domination. They need a radical attitude adjustment for that to happen.