No Windows Mobile 6.5 on May 11
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News Commentary. Over the weekend, several blogs reported that Windows Mobile 6.5 would release on May 11. That's simply not true. |
Today, a company spokesperson confirmed that Microsoft doesn't plan to launch the next version of the software during next month's TechEd. But you'd think otherwise from misinformation spreading out across the InterWebs. I want to correct the record and also explain why Microsoft Watch didn't make the same mistake as many other sites.
On Friday and Saturday, several sites reported the May 11 launch based on a Windows Mobile blog post about a Microsoft TechEd conference session. I started to write something myself, stating the same date. But in reading the Microsoft blog post I didn't come away with the same interpretation as other bloggers or journalists—that Windows Mobile 6.5 would launch May 11. The post read:
Stephanie Ferguson, GM of Business Experiences at Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business, is going to deliver the kick off presentation of Windows Mobile 6.5 on Monday, May 11th at 1:00PM - 2:15PM. This Tech Ed 2009 session focuses on Windows Mobile 6.5 and is targeted at both IT Professionals and Developers, with a cool demo and an outline of great stuff to come. Be sure to join us as we are giving away 5 Samsung Blackjack II's!
I interpreted "kick-off presentation" to mean first one. Nothing more. Launch date? Based on what? I wasn't going to jump to a May 11 date, certainly without trying to confirm it with Microsoft, just because other sites reported it.
I never assume that just because everyone else is reporting something that it's true. For example, I see the problem on a monthly basis with Net Applications usage share data. Repeatedly, numerous blogs and news sites state the data as representing market share; it is not. But some bloggers and journalists write that Internet Explorer has lost X amount of market share based on the data, which is plain, pure and simply wrong. Or perhaps that Apple's Safari has made big share gains. The data collected by Net Apps cannot show market share because browsers are not a finite market. Market share is the measure of X number of widgets shipped, sold or used over Y time period. In addition to this problem with methodology, people use multiple browsers, which negates any market share claims. But once one site writes about market share, many more follow.
eWEEK Colleague Darryl Taft and I covered the 1997 Microsoft antitrust trial that preceded the big case filed in May 1998. We would tag team at the courthouse to get good interviews and write analyses of the day's proceedings. Time and time and time again, we would read about something happening in the trial that we hadn't reported; editors would knock our heads together for not having the story, too. But when we stepped back and did our own, fresh reporting, in nearly every case the feeding frenzy of stories would be wrong. We would write something better, and it was accurate.
My point: Even before there were blogs, social networks or Twitter, there would be misreporting—as journalists followed other reporting. Matters are worse now. There's a dark side to the social Web, particularly as more people blog for money: They become purveyors of gossip. Blog B quotes Blog A, which somehow is enough fact checking, which of course it's not. Far worse is the issue of whether it's more important to get the story first or to get it right. First is good for the Digg, Google News or Techmeme ranking and the likelihood of more traffic.
No doubt the sites misreporting about the May 11 launch got good traffic, especially for a weekend. But they also got the story wrong. These bloggers and journalists decided that being first was more important than waiting to get confirmation from Microsoft. Surely there is a balance between being first and being right. It's a balance better achieved by not blindly following the crowd, as so many bloggers and journalists did by misreporting about Windows Mobile 6.5's launch.
And who are these unidentified bloggers or journalists? I won't say. Google for yourself. Here's my reasoning for holding back: I once corrected someone else's misreporting and then sent a friendly IM. There was no expressed concern about having gotten the story wrong but a "Woo Hoo" for my linking back to the misreported story; the person craved traffic, by any means. I don't want to send even more traffic to these sites, except for one. Boy Genius Report posted a new story acknowledging that its first one was wrong. BGR deserves a link for that responsible action.
Bloggers and journalists were equally culpable for misreporting Windows 6.5's launch date. But I want to single out the bloggers because Wall Street Journal published a story about them today. The Journal's Mark Penn (with E. Kinney Zalesne) writes: "The best studies we can find say we are a nation of over 20 million bloggers, with 1.7 million profiting from the work, and 452,000 of those using blogging as their primary source of income."
I see the trend pretty much as do Mark and Kinney: "Less and less of our information flow is devoted to gathering facts, and more and more is going toward popularizing opinion."
Perhaps better stated: gossip. What was that May 11 date if not gossip? "Say, did you hear about Windows Mobile 6.5?"
More from Mark and Kinney:
It is hard to think of another job category that has grown so quickly and become such a force in society without having any tests, degrees, or regulation of virtually any kind. Courses on blogging are now cropping up, and we can't be far away from the Columbia School of Bloggerism. There is a lot of interest now in Twittering and Facebooking—but those venues don't offer the career opportunities of blogging. Not since eBay opened its doors have so many been able to sit at their computer screens and make some money, or even make a whole living.
What about Twitter? I use it sparingly. While there is plenty of good information, there is just as much misinformation. Twitter has its uses. I've quoted some tweets because I knew who the person was. Not that I see Twitter as being very social. I've called it the anti-social service because most people don't know most of the people subscribing to them. Strangers listen to strangers, like on an airplane or at the bus stop.
As for May 11, a few facts:
- 131st day of the year.
- 60th anniversary of Israel's admission to the United Nations.
- 151st anniversary of Minnesota becoming 32nd state.
- 189th anniversary of launching HMS Beagle (in 1820). A decade later, the vessel carried Charles Darwin on the naturalist expedition that led him to develop the theory of natural selection.
May 11 is a Monday, the first day of the second work week of the month.
[Please send your tips or rumors to watchtips at gmail.com.]
Comments (50)
Joe, do you remember reporting incorrect figures for the cut Apple gives developers in the App Store?
Then you didn't correct the story or even acknowledge your mistake. Really the entire post should have been removed because it was based on false reporting.
You could have fact-checked in 2 minutes of searching the Apple site.
P.S. Net Apps is an indicator of browser usage marketshare, not browser install marketshare or anything else. It shows trends in the use of browsers over time so it is useful as long as you understand what the stats mean. So long as their methods for measuring remain the same then their figures are meaningful.
Posted by billybob | April 21, 2009 8:45 PM
Windows Mobile has to be just another bottom line loser for M$. All in all, with Linux, Android, and other alternatives out there for cell phones, who wants to pay good money for this? And it must look like an area that M$ could save some big bucks by not continuing making newer versions. Cost cutting will be key at M$ soon.
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 21, 2009 8:48 PM
Gee, from all the press, I thought it was released last year. Oh well, too little, way way too late. Leveraging the Windows monopoly doesn't seem to be helping at all in mobile.
Posted by smist08 | April 21, 2009 10:03 PM
Good article.
As you know, your comments about the state of blogging/journalism are much more important than the specific release date of WinMo 6.5.
Posted by JohnJ | April 21, 2009 11:55 PM
What a boring post. The news is not that wm6.5 is not releasing on may 11 but "wm6.5 has already leaked". I am using a cooked version of wm6.5 for last one week. only cool feature about it is the browser, it is not as good as apple IPhone but close enough! May be Microsoft is taking more time to make the WM6.5 more cooler that Apple IPhone!
Posted by ppindia | April 22, 2009 3:31 AM
Does anyone think Microsoft is relevant anymore? Seriously they are declining in market share and declining in share price and getting sued into oblivion, and all because they are defending the patent system. They could have used their clout to get rid of the patent system and save themselves money but no they thought they could game the system and beat everyone. They thought they were the only ones that could afford this type of litigation. They didnt foresee that patent attorneys would work for years for nothing in the hope of a multi milliond dollar payoff that would set them up for ever. They didnt see that they would ever lose, and now they didnt see that they would die. They could have done good and they did evil, which is now going to cost them their life. Good riddence to such a vile disgusting company.
Posted by Clump_takes_a_Dump | April 22, 2009 10:16 AM
chips, there you go again. But Windows Mobile 6.5 should be a smashing success. My wife has a Windows Dumb Phone (I mean SMART phone). It is awesome chips. It freezes and crashes as much, perhaps even more than?!? Windows on the P.C. She has become so accustomed to it that I don't think she could handle anything else. The stability and reliability of a Linux-based cell phone O.S. would perplex her. She would probably find herself pulling the battery out every once in awhile just to get that old comfy Windows Mobile feeling again. The added cost of Windows? Hey, it's good for the economy for us consumers to spend. Freebies (like Linux - and your free gorgeous Asus netbook - btw: I ordered mine today), are part of what is damaging the global economy.
Posted by Evan2K | April 22, 2009 11:18 AM
Evan, you dissapointed me. You ordered an Asus netbook?
Why didn't you order MSI? It is as good as Asus (high return rates of MSI Wind because of hardware malfunctioning aside), but comes loaded with great operating system from microsoft subsidiary called monovell: SUSE microsoft linux! It does not only come with all microsoft patents included (therefore completely legal unlike Red (Soviet) Hat or Unbuntho), but also it includes great .NET immitation called Monkey (Mono). Because of Mono, all your windows viruses will function as expected, entirely replicating great MS Wormdows experience. And the best thing about MSI netbooks (apart from horrible hardware bugs) is: if you don't like Microsoft SUSE Linux, you can replace it with original Microsoft only-3-app Wormdows 7 (and make Gartner statistics even more in favour of Wormdows)!
Posted by Ridley XP | April 22, 2009 11:48 AM
@Ridley
Maybe I can cancel my order? Or at least wipe the Asus drive and put SUSE microsoft Linux on it. Or Vista! Oh yeah, gotta love that Vista!
Posted by Evan2K | April 22, 2009 12:05 PM
couldn't vista be manually tweaked through msconfig and the services module to run as lean as windows 7? so, start with vists sp2, tweak it and you get a performance upgrade similar to 7? or is there far more under the hood?
Posted by Gregory | April 22, 2009 12:19 PM
Evan, Vista is a great operating system and it's doing just great on the market with ever increasing number of coorporate customers switching to Vista from Lunix, which is losing market share every second. Any day now, total luser share of Lunix lusers will be below zero percent if not less. I've already seen some Gartner statistics based on serious research and not sponsored by microsoft in any way, showing that only -217 people in total use Lunix (yes, that's -217, not a typo). So, my answer to you is: yes, you shold wipe illegal Lunix from Asus drive and install properly licenced Vista. But the moment VistaSE(ven) comes out, you must but it. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with Vista, it's just that VistaSE(ven) is so much better than any other OS in history! SE(ven) fixes all bugs in Vista (I'm not suggesting that Vista actually has any bugs) and brings unprecedented security and stability (not that Vista isn't secure or stable, because it is). Vista SE(ven) also improves UI (BTW, Vista's UI is just fine, but SE(ven)'s is even better) bringing all those features that users requested, such as KDE taskbar (which was ripped years ago in advance by the illegal KDE team before it even existed on Windows). And that's it basically. I got tired of typing just how great Vista is on my Kubuntu Har...umm, I ment Vista Ultimate laptop!
Posted by Ridley XP | April 22, 2009 12:44 PM
RidleyXP:
And that number (-217) is decreasing daily. Projections for end of year 2009 are -1,177 Linux users. A huge drop from a percentage perspective.
Posted by Evan2K | April 22, 2009 1:21 PM
Thanks for taking the time to report accurately, Joe
Posted by Russell R. Rutledge | April 22, 2009 3:01 PM
Evan, so true. It's a drop in the order of magnitude from 0.000001% to 0.0000001% for Lunix. I've never seen user share declining so rapidly for any platform. No doubt, it's a serious blow for evil megacoorporation "The Linux Foundation" (the same megacorp which produced the most expensive commercial in history, trying to market a failed product which nobody wants, unlike Windows Vista which has over 3 billion users, even more than total number of PC machines).
Posted by Ridley XP | April 22, 2009 3:17 PM
Only a corporation as honest, true and compassionate as Microsoft could have Vista user base higher than the total number of PC machines. The numbers on XP are very good also. Over 6 billion users!
Posted by Evan2K | April 22, 2009 3:28 PM
Joe,
what are you going to do about people impersonating me and others?
I changed my name from evan to evan2k (as I said in a comment on a previous article) and he is now impersonating evan2k, while I am sure he is impersonating others as well.
This is probably a sinble person.Can't you ban him? or is it that your Linux/Apache based App server has no way of doing this?
Posted by evan2k | April 22, 2009 4:20 PM
Well.... that's it for me. I'll still read your articles Joe, as I find them informative and sometimes entertaining. But I'm not reading anymore comments or posting any more. Why? Because most of the comments have nothing do do with the subject matter. It's just flame baiting, OS bashing, and vulgarity. Not to mention unchecked impersonation.
I wonder if you even read this stuff anymore.
See ya in the funny papers. Or hey maybe I'll run into you at Fry's San Diego. You can autograph my copy of E-Week or something.
Posted by Massive Quasars | April 22, 2009 5:19 PM
@Massive Quasars
This sort of thing only happens on Microsoft-Watch because all the Linux hosers hang out here to bash all things Microsoft.
I'd tell them to get a life, but I can't stop laughing at the very idea of that long enough to form a coherent sentence.
Posted by Funny Thing Is | April 22, 2009 5:22 PM
Yes, weve seen the only argument that can counter a Linux one is one of impersonation and vulgarity.
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I thought the purpose of comments was to encourage debate and alternative views, otherwise it would simply be a list of people all agreeing with each other.
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I ask anyone (not one of our childish MS faithful promoters) just to consider why no Microsoft faithful cant have a proper debate like adults? Why do they have to impersonate or be vulgar? Why cant we simply debate the issues?
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I would like to know where we "bash" microsoft as that to me suggests posting something untrue. Are any of the posts about Microsoft that the regular Linux posters type lies? Or is, as I suggest the other way around, where we get the MS faithful spouting lies like "you need a compiler to play a dvd in linux".
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Ill leave you to answer this and consider also, why is so fuss made of a alternative view here? If, as our MS faithful would have you believe that there is no better product range than Microsoft, why would they bother responding at all? it should be obvious to everyone (afterall as they like to say, market penetration of Microsoft products is overwhelming)
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http://openbytes.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/microsoft-fail-news-roundup/
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Posted by Goblin | April 22, 2009 7:12 PM
@Gobln:
Well said and nice link. Ballmer at a lost for words??? (that has to be a first)
Quote: "In this business, by the time you realize you're in trouble, it's too late to save yourself. Unless you're running scared all the time, you're gone." (Bill Gates) (Think ARM, but think more the low low prices on netbooks)
@evan: Sorry, I did think some of those posts were yours at first.
@Ridley: You posts are funny, but I hope that you are not the same poster that is impersonating Evan. And I don't know you are either. Even though I seldom agree with Evan, whoever is impersonating him, his opinion and identity should be his and be respected.
ARM's Feeling Lucky; Netbook 'Battle' Just Beginning?
http://www.osnews.com/story/21313/ARM_s_Feeling_Lucky_Netbook_Battle_Just_Beginning_
"This is where ARM steps in. The attractive netbook sub-$200 price point has basically been an imaginary line always on the horizon, but ARM believes it'll finally be able to reach this market in mass. Morris said that there even may be ARM-powered netbooks soon for $110-$120, and if that's the case, I'm definitely in. These sub-$200 netbooks would become more of an item bought on impulse -- an almost disposable commodity instead of a well thought-out investment."
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 22, 2009 8:01 PM
go the F away you dumb a-- goblin. this site is about microsoft, not your stupid, luser, gay ass piece of crap linux. go play on linux posts if you love linux so much. you are just an instigator and a fool. why bother having micorosft-watch if all you lusers can do is bring up linux. go the f away and play in your linux land.
Posted by Ridley | April 22, 2009 8:02 PM
@Goblin:
I think there is more than one impersonator. Hopefully Joe Wilcox will start policing the comments a little better and deleting the profane posts with no value whatever.
Microsoft faces tough competition in netbook sales
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/Home/News.asp?id=52706&PageMem=2
"Windows XP is the current OS of choice on netbooks, but the emergence of ARM processor netbooks using Linux threatens that dominance. Add the possibility of Google Android netbooks, and Microsoft could be facing a price war. Gartner reported in January that revenue from the sale of PCs dropped between 15 and 20 percent during the fourth quarter of 2008 as sales of cheaper netbooks forced OEMs to reduce laptop prices."
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 22, 2009 8:13 PM
Funny Thing Is
@Goblin:
Debate what?
Joe writes an article about windows mobile 6.5's perspective release date. And here we go with the Linux crap.
What does Linux have to do with Windows mobile 6.5's release date? Not a thing.
If the title of the post had been oh say.... Android Vs. Winmo 6.5 then we'd have something to talk about. But you assholes have to interject your Linux bullshit into every fucking post.
You've ruined this site for people who just want news and speculation. Instead you've turned it into a parody of a good site. Funny thing is I'm a Linux user and thank god I know enough about it that I can avoid the so called community.
If you people are the typical Linux evangelists I can see why it's a failed religion.
Choke on a cock man.
Posted by Funny Thing Is | April 22, 2009 8:19 PM
Acer and Intel: Crippled Windows 7 netbooks won't sell
http://blogs.computerworld.com/acer_and_intel_crippled_windows_7_netbooks_wont_sell
"The crippled version of Windows 7 that will ship with some netbooks may be a non-starter --- partners Acer and Intel have both said they don't believe that netbooks equipped that way will sell."
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Are we seeing some OEM and Partner rebellion in the making?
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 22, 2009 8:29 PM
And right on cue. The lead retard for posting un-related links chimes in about fucking netbooks.
Proving my fucking point.
Posted by Funny Thing Is | April 22, 2009 8:38 PM
Ok. That last post wasn't mine. Handle "Ridley" is impersonating handle "Ridley XP" which is me, who in turn is impersonating another handle "Ridley" previously also under the same handle name which was just "Ridley", who was not who he claimed not to be. If that sounds too complicated, here is how to tell us apart: I don't swear or curse! Also I have no idea who is not pretending not to be Evan, or how many different Evans are there, but I am not one of them!
Posted by Ridley XP | April 22, 2009 8:40 PM
@ Funny Thing Is who says:
"And right on cue. The lead retard for posting un-related links chimes in about fucking netbooks."
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Come on now, there's no need to beat around the bush, Tell us how you really feel? Don't hold back the "Inner (CC) Torment" that everyone knows is in you. LOL
@Goblin:
I see a day coming when M$ will have to cut back so far, that even the Shills will be cut back. A few months ago, would not have said that.
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 22, 2009 8:43 PM
Quote Funny thing is "Debate what?"
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My post was put here since that is the most recent thread and it was YOU who made the remark
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"This sort of thing only happens on Microsoft-Watch because all the Linux hosers hang out here to bash all things Microsoft."
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I challenged the "bashing" of Microsoft and since you cant highlight where anything has been posted which is untrue about them, I suggest that part of your argument falls flat on its face right there.
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Quote funny thing is "What does Linux have to do with Windows mobile 6.5's release date? Not a thing."
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Nothing at all. Maybe you would like to have a word with the MS faithful who are seeking to impersonate on the threads here. Id suggest that has nothing to do with Microsoft products either.
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Quote Funny thing is "You've ruined this site for people who just want news and speculation. Instead you've turned it into a parody of a good site."
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Have I? Or was it the MS supporters with their vulgar posts, impersonation (including but not limited to the impersonation of Joe Wilcox)
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Id love to see a site where "news and speculation." can be talked about without mentioning other products, oh wait there is one, its called Microsoft.com.
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Quote Funny thing is "If you people are the typical Linux evangelists I can see why it's a failed religion."
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I dont call it a religion, except maybe that its a religion of alternative viewpoints/software. I could care less if people have a MACos/Windows/Linux or even a ZX81, as long as they are aware of the options open to them.
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Quote Funny thing is "Choke on a cock man."
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And Im ruining this site? LOL
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Ok, moving on to Ridley who needs credit for managing to be rude and homophobic all in one post. I hope readers who are judging the worth of the Microsoft faithfulls argument will hold his post in the contempt it deserves.
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Sort of coincidental when you read this article:
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"Microsoft has quietly announced they have settled with game developer Jamie Durrant who had sued the software giant over alleged homophobia within the company. "
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http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/17468.cfm
Posted by Goblin | April 22, 2009 8:45 PM
good fricking gawd. you linux lusers are complete pieces of shit. you are nothing but time wasters and shills. what part of microsoft-watch do you not understand retards. chief retards goblin and chips are nothing but a couple lusers with nothing better to do than troll microsoft-themed sites spewing their waste-of-time garbage. go to linux-land you stupid shit heads. if i want to read about linux bullshit, i would look for a linux-themed site. you just dump your linux-pushing shit all over microsoft-themed sites. in your pathetic little minds, you think this makes it look like linux is so popular and up-and-coming. well linux is still nowhere moron retard idtiots. go the f away. go back to a linux site and stop wasting our time and space. get out of your mommy's basement and get some fresh air. probably an impossibility, what with not being able to get over your oedipus complex. f'n luser momma's boys.
Posted by Ridley | April 22, 2009 10:29 PM
Since Windows Mobile 6.5 is what runs on ARM cellphones, it is appropriate to talk about ARM cpu's and ARM netbooks as well.
ARM's Multicore Chips Aim for Netbooks
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2341032,00.asp
"BARCELONA—ARM, the company that has designed most of the processors in mobile phones, on Monday announced a new, low-cost processor called "Sparrow" at the Mobile World Congress trade show. The company said it is aiming to conquer the netbook market with its multi-core Cortex A9 architecture."
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So multi-core Cortex A9 ARM cpu's are coming as well.
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 22, 2009 11:21 PM
@Chips MC Hemroids.
mmm NO IT'S NOT. The two have NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER AND YOU AND THE OTHER MORONS ARE JUST USING THIS SITE AS ADVERTISING FOR AN OS NO ONE GIVES A FUCK ABOUT. I'm looking at you mister OpenBytes. Like I'd waste my time giving you traffic. Nice try nerd.
And on another note shit-heel.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=844#more-844
From someone who .... tested before opening up his penguin hole and inserting his fucking foot.
And wake up. Micrsoft is not claiming to aim at conquering the Netbook market. Linux did it for them by being TEH SUCK. Do you really think an instant on feature will change that? Ever hear of hibernate? I barely EVER turn my laptop off. Are you that far behind or just that fucking stupid?
Posted by The Funniest fucking thing is. | April 23, 2009 12:14 AM
@The Funniest thing & Fake Ridley impersonator (sockpuppets?)
Trolling just got more desperate. Somebody should delete their foul-mouthed garbage. Mr. Wilcox?
Posted by Myfraudsoft | April 23, 2009 12:27 AM
Joe - I just wanted to say, Windows Mobile dates aside, that was one of the best articles/posts/whatever I've seen online in far, far too long.
(I just hate that I actually scrolled through all the crap in most of the comments to get to the Post a Comment field. YUK.)
Posted by DLSHeel | April 23, 2009 1:42 AM
Im an idiot and i know it. I troll all day long for my masters Microsoft and i hate linux because i do. I dont know why i hate linux i just think i do so i do. lol. I know linux is more stable and generally more efficient at getting work done but im a moron so i dont think. lol. IM a stupid idiot. And i am vulgar as well. lol.
Posted by Idiot_Ridley | April 23, 2009 2:23 AM
Im 5 foot 7 inches tall. I have blue eyes. I use windows all day everyday. I suck at tech. I am looking for an aggressive chick that says what she feels all the time. I need to be kept in line. I am living in my mothers basement. I am a retard. I suck at all things. I cant see what linux people are going on about. I know something is wrong with windows but im not technically competant to even understand what that something is when i fall over it. I am a retard, oh did i say that already. Please phone me if your a genuine chick and interested. my name is moron.
Posted by Personal_Profile | April 23, 2009 2:30 AM
"Like I'd waste my time giving you traffic. Nice try nerd."
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Well one of your kin already did by linking to it a while ago (in an attempt to cheapen me that backfired). 4 months = 20000+ hits. Not bad eh? Someone obviously likes reading it. But thats by the by, my small blog is of little consequence and its not a popularity contest. If it was then Id highlight that even though Microsoft faithful Mr Da Costa has been on Twitter alot longer than me, Ive already got more followers than him. Of course I wont say that. It wouldnt be very nice.
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What this is showing is that you Microsoft faithful are of incredibly low moral fibre, you refuse to debate and become offensive when your weak arguments are exposed.
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Shall we bring it back on topic then:
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So Windows 6.5 wont be released on May the 5th? Just as well, should I make an entire post on my experiences with WM on my MDAmail?
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An awful experience from beginning to end (I cam elaborate if you wish, in the spirit of talking about Microsoft products)
Posted by Goblin | April 23, 2009 3:24 AM
Im gonna use nothin but linux on my netbooks.
No more Wintards for me. lol.
Posted by Linux_Netbook | April 23, 2009 6:11 AM
Linux User = Luser
Posted by Scott Ridley | April 23, 2009 9:36 AM
@JOE WILCOX!!
This is the last time I will post unless you do something. I believe in free speech, but this is ridiculous. I come to here for news daily, but the comments make a mockery of any serious reporting that you do.
I believe you should let us flag comments that are laden with attacks and vulgarity (if not disable them altogether, like some news sites do when comments are out of hand). Even if not, can't you even MENTION something in an article? Perhaps people should have to join to be able to post comments, and be kicked out for being inappropriate.
Those who attack and curse others in comments are driving away anyone new to this site with the disgusting things that are written here.
For all you who comment, attack, and impersonate one another daily: you make a fool of yourselves and your causes. Attack me all you want, but you know it is the truth. Thank you.
Posted by The Lady | April 23, 2009 10:41 AM
On the main page of Microsoft-watch on the right hand side, is a box titled: "Microsoft Windows News." Currently as this is being written, there are 9 articles linked in that box, 2 of which are about Ubuntu 9.04 and one about Apple.
Which brings me to the point. Since even MS Watch (eweek) will talk about the competition of MS, it stands to reason that those who make comments will as well.
How can you talk about the light (Linux) without talking about the dark (MSFT)?
Microsoft is not going away, so those of you who might truly be scared windows users, who are truly afraid of change, do not worry. MS will still be there for you in two years, (most likely) and still willing to take your money. For those others (shills) who post only because they depend on MS for some sort of financial gradtuatity, well maybe soon you need to line up something a little more promising long term.
Joe Wilcox, its not time to change the name yet from MS Watch, to MS Death-Watch. But this much is certain, MS has lost at least 7% of the desktop OS market in the last few years, and Netbooks with their cheap prices are turning Micro$oft two largest cash cows (windows and office) into commodities. And as commodities we are not witnesses to the falling prices of those products, as they compete with free open source and GNU/Linux. Even if you never use Linux, you will have to like the fact that the competition of Linux will drive down prices on computers and software.
Predition time, bring out the the crystal ball.
1. Windows and Office will lost more market share. In the next two years, MS could lose up to another 40% of desktop market share.
2. Expect XP to be reborn somehow, if Windows Seven is a failure.
3. Expect MS stock to take a beating, when those ARM netbooks come out, the truth of MS weakness can no longer be hide then.
4. MS profits are now on a path spiraling downwards with no end in sight.
5. MS will half (or more) its US workforce in the next two years, and move most of its software development force to India to save money paying cheap labor.
6. The Zune will become history after this next release.
7. At some point when it becomes too hard to sell windows, MS will come out with a "free ad-supported" windows.
8. Xbox360 errors like the E-74 (think RROD/2) will continue to eat up profits.
9. Expect further massive fines and regulations from the EU. And maybe even other governments with empty pockets. MS makes a fine target as long as it has cash reserves or income.
10. Yahoo, its the wild card in all of this. Ballmer knows he cannot afford to buy it outright now. MS needs the money to get them through the tuff times coming.
11. Desperation, expect more patent trolling by MS. And if things get too bad for them, maybe they go down the route as the record companies and sue their own customers.
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 23, 2009 3:40 PM
still nobody cares luser. linux-loving luser who has nothing better in this whole world to do. just go away. you are not wanted. you are not loved. you sir, are a complete luser.
Posted by Ridley | April 23, 2009 4:31 PM
Exactly.
If I wanted Linux news and Info I'd wander over to a fucking Linux site. Less than 1% of the installed user base are linux users...
AND THEY'RE ALWAYS OVER HERE.
Go home and tea-bag a penguin or something you frikken twerps.
Posted by Funny thing is | April 23, 2009 4:49 PM
More Predictions:
12. Ballmer in the next two years, retires, or is asked to by Bill Gates. Whoops, error, I mean by the "stockholders." Even though we know who has the most "stock." LOL So Stockholders will insist that Bill be brought back to save the company.
13. MS will cut back after Sweaty B leaves the company and focus more on its core software. It will no longer try to kill google, and will limit its internet advertising push.
14. Expect more class action lawsuits to be bought against MS, for XBox360 failures, selling XP Home without full support, etc.
15. Expect that Novell, which has a deal with MS, to try and sell out.
And yes that ASUS Eee PC 900 (Linux)
$247.56 is still advertised at distrowatch.com
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 23, 2009 5:09 PM
who are you now? friggin' miss cleo? idiot chips.
Posted by Ridley | April 23, 2009 5:14 PM
And this is not a prediction.
MS was to release its quarterly profit statement on Thursday. If it waits to release them late on Friday instead, that's a sign that the statement will be worse than expected. Big companies tend to release good statements when there is a lot of press to report it, but bad statements they release late on Friday hoping most news organizations will not report it as much.
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 23, 2009 5:39 PM
Microsoft 3Q Net Down 32% On PC, Server Market Weakness
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090423-720467.html
"Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) fiscal third-quarter net income fell 32% on weakness in the global personal computer and server markets. The software giant also recorded $710 million in charges.
Sales in the client, business and server and tools divisions were hurt by the global weakness and Chief Financial Officer Christopher Liddell said Microsoft expected market conditions to remain weak "through at least the next quarter."
Sales at Microsoft's client division, which makes the Windows operating system, fell 16% while earnings decreased 19%. Consumers have been cutting back on discretionary spending amid the global recession, particularly on big-ticket items like computers.
In online services, one of the company's smallest but potentially most important divisions, revenue decreased 14%. At the entertainment and devices division, sales fell 1.6%."
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And the economy is not getting any better yet. But by the end of the year, ARM netbooks will arrive, that ought to "help" M$. LOL
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 23, 2009 6:40 PM
But this site says it a little better:
Microsoft suffers first sales dip
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8015623.stm
"Microsoft has said sales in the first three months of 2009 fell 6% from the previous year - its first quarterly drop in 23 years as a public company.
The world's largest software maker said profit dropped by 32% to $2.98bn (£2bn). Sales slipped to $13.65bn."
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Profit dropped by 32% and next quarter maybe worse. And then by the end of the year--ARM.
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 23, 2009 6:46 PM
Microsoft: No Specific Guidance; Plans Additional Cost Cuts
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2009/04/23/microsoft-no-specific-guidance-plans-additional-cost-cuts/
"Microsoft said it estimates PC units were down 7%-9% in the march quarter, with a 17%-19% drop in non-netbook PCs. The company estimated that netbooks were about 10% of total PC shipments. The company said OEM units were down 6%, down less than overall unit sales, due to strong attach rates in netbooks - as much as 90% - but OEM revenues were down 19%, as sales of premiums Windows SKUs were off more than 20%.
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Anyone else read that as a lot of OEM pain? It looks like Netbooks are starting to affect the bottom line of both M$ and OEM's. At what point will OEM's wise up, and start shipping computers without windows?
Posted by Chips B Malroy | April 23, 2009 7:01 PM
just proving what a moron spam-head you are chips. keep it up. worthless spamming moron.
Posted by Ridley | April 24, 2009 8:18 AM
First off i came here to find out about 6.5 mobile just to see if there was something new on the horizon for my phone. But... let's face facts.. it's still just a phone and with 6.1 it can do everything anybody SHOULD be doing with a phone.... making calls, emailing, texts, calendar and occaisional browsing. Anything else is just gravy and mostly stupid. GPS, games, mp3 player...whatever. It's just noise and will always be better addressed with something ELSE.
since we're apparently in an OS flame war... let's talk flame. I've literally used them all and IMHO the best out-of-the-box OS is the Mac OS (name a version...doesn't matter....currently OSX). But it's not perfect and getting into the nuts and bolts (editing driver files for example) or upgrading within the Mac environment are sorely lacking. For me, Vista is a close second for a few reasons. They have managed to maintain an operating system that really does work on MOST machines, albeit there were/are problems with vista64 drivers for many devices, but it works and works well for most. For someone who does a little bit of everything from graphics to games, word processing to accounting, Vista blows the rest of them away because quite frankly the software that runs on it overall is better and they all play well with the OS. If i'm making a DVD from a trip or picture collection...yes my Mac owns. If i'm serving a webstore or a collection of websites, yes Linux owns, but in general Linux is (and will remain) a distant third for any "regular computer user". Linux doesn't cut it in any form and the closest version (IMHO) Ubuntu is still sorely lacking and it's not lacking because of the OS itself it's lacking because of the pervasive attitude and contributions of the "Linux gurus" who perpetuate the Open Sauce approach. Beware of what you wish for. Open Sauce software is garbage in my opinion and the ultimate reason why Linux will never be big. Invariably the software developed for Linux that is worthwhile incorporates too many cooks to the point that it tastes like dirt. Constant updates and module re-writes are the norm and reliability suffers greatly (even if it is virus proof and 256 doubly encrypted secure. You want an example? Try Drupal for example. Our company went full force to implement it professionally to manage our online store and customer support system. What a joke. There is a new version weekly and the updates require complete re-installs for the major upgrades. It has been garbage. We have had to hire additional people just to maintain it.
Here is the problem with Linux. When there is no significant $$ involved (or to be made) then there is no incentive to maintain it nor to cater to the majority of the people using it. The life of Linux software is at the mercy of the whims of the programmer, typically young men who drop the project as soon as they realize they can dump their '80s used car and their life of free software for a real job. Like i said.... Linux has it's place... excellent security based web serving (and that is all). Macs are great for your cool apartment and putting together graphic presentations and for ANY non-power user in general (which makes for good competion). EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE BETTER ON A PC! The bottom line is that until there is something truly better... then this is what the majority will actually use most.
Posted by FUOpenSauce | May 7, 2009 4:47 PM