What's in a Name?
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Microsoft really should hire a CNO, as in chief naming officer. |
Recent nomenclature showed real signs of improvement with product names like Expression, Mediaroom, Silverlight, Surface and Zune. Then, last week, Microsoft announced the banal Office Online, preserved the equally bland Office Live and foolishly created Office Live Small Business.
Microsoft has a long history of pathetically generic names like Online. Need I really point to Excel, Outlook, Word and Windows as examples? Then there are the unwieldy over-branded, overlong names, like Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Vista. I'll stick to the generic names, which are awful from a marketing perspective and, perhaps, worse from a search engine optimization perspective. Office Live and Online are about as bad—as in they're really good examples—as generic naming gets.
For the term "online" Google brings back 2,130,000,000 results. Windows Live Search brings back more: 3,333,091,483 results. The top hits for "online" using Google is www.elearners.com and E! Online for Live Search. Is there a technology term, other than perhaps computer or PC, more generic than "online?"
Surely, Microsoft branding brains see the situation differently. To them, Office is the main brand and "Online" the derivative, or sub, brand. People will search for Office Online, rather than online. Maybe, but what does the generic term tell them about the product? One conclusion that could be drawn would be Office available on online, which isn't the case. Office Online is a series of Microsoft hosted services supporting the productivity suite. There is little lasting brand recognition or marketing value to "Office Online."
Generic terms don't often work well with search engines, when factors like incoming links affect page ranking. Google and Live Search searches for "Office Online" get to lots of other stuff, too, like ThinkFree Office and a computer office equipment company based in the UK.
For fun, I did Google and Live Search searches for "Windows Vista SP1," which lead to news stories and blog posts about the upcoming service pack.
I've never been a fan of "Live" as a brand. It's too generic, and the connotations are all wrong. What was Windows before it was Live, dead? There is no action verb opportunity like Google. The best option, "Live It!," has long been used by, among others, a Catholic school and parish program and by a program dedicated to promoting children's health.
I've even got gripes with Office Live Small Business branding. What business wants to be small? The name pigeonholes the buyer as being small.
The Live branding problem isn't just about generic naming. Live is a loaded gun of bad connotations. Search engines show how. I used Google and Live Search to search for the term "Live" with the safety filters turned off. Google's top hit was for the excellent rock band "Live," followed by Live Search. But an image search brought up porn, because term "live" is so often associated with sex. Over at Live Search, the "related searches" column offers links for "live chats" and "live cams," which both lead to results containing porn. Like Google, Live Search for "live" led to porn in the image search.
What about Hotmail, which also adds "Live" to the branding? Image searches for terms "hotmail" and "hot mail" at Google produced mostly expected Microsoft results, with some skin for the latter term. Live Search image search for "hotmail" produced some porn, while "hot mail" produced a whole lot of it. The point is that somebody at Microsoft failed to consider the connotations associated with Live as a brand.
Talking Connotations
In marketing, connotations are everything. The right combination of words can communicate what the product is used for or elicit feelings that could make or break sales. Sometimes, the best product name has no connotations, giving marketers a clean slate. In other cases, hidden meaning taps into people's emotions in almost subliminal fashion.
Apple's "i" products are good examples of the latter. When Apple launched iMac, the idea behind the "i" was Internet. Now the "i" is commonly used among Apple products like iMovie, iPhoto, iPod or iTunes. While people read "i" pod or "i" tunes, they say, or think, "I" pod or "I" tunes. It's become a capital "I", as in, me or mine. "I" is very personal and loaded with positive subliminal-like connotations. The concept of "I" is sheer marketing brilliance.
I had an interesting experience in marketing just last week. My family is moving to San Diego from metropolitan Washington, DC. But our two rabbits can't go with us. For weeks, we asked around for people to take a couple of cute bunnies. My wife posted on several online mailing lists she subscribes to. Even the mailing lists turned up no inquiries.
Sunday last, I told my wife that we would have to take the rabbits to the shelter—something no one in the family wanted—in another week if there were no takers. She asked about posting to the mailing lists again. Initially, I said no. But as an afterthought, I decided to share our desperation. I asked my wife to make follow-up posts to the three mailing lists with the subject line: "Save our bunnies from the shelter."
Within minutes, responses poured in and continued to do so for the next day. We placed the rabbits with a nice family within hours of making the more plaintive request. My wife's first post was quite generic but the second subject line hit an emotional chord, because it had a suggestion of death—that unclaimed animals going to an animal shelter will be euthanized. We were sincere in the message, by the way. The desperation was real, but there is a good marketing lesson here, nevertheless.
Live has some good connotations, same as it has some, ah, other connotations. Surely, everybody wants to live, to be alive. But the term is still too broad to have good marketing value. Microsoft needs to add something else. Office Online branding is much worse. I'm appalled that Microsoft could go for Online naming; a string of pretty good brands, like Silverlight and Surface, preceded Online.
Microsoft isn't alone in making dumb naming decisions. I'm still mortified that, following the Macromedia acquisition, Adobe renamed the lovely Breeze Connect. Breeze had good brand awareness and wonderful connotations. Connect is, well, boring and banal.
Microsoft Watch commenters, I have a request. Please share what you consider to be the absolute worst-ever Microsoft product names.
Related Posts:
- Office Goes Live and Online, Microsoft Watch, Oct. 1, 2007
- Brand Matters, Microsoft Watch, Aug. 19, 2007
- Microsoft's Pie in the Sky, Microsoft Watch, Aug. 9, 2007
- Why Google Succeeds, Part 2, Microsoft Watch, June 15, 2007
- One Redmond Way | Razorfish, Microsoft Watch, May 21, 2007
- Silverlight: What's In a Name?, Microsoft Watch, April 16, 2007
- Windows Live Hotmail Is Too Hot, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 8, 2007
- Ouch! You've Been Live Branded, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 2, 2007
- Why I Killed Office Live, Microsoft Watch, Dec. 29, 2006
Comments (50)
"Watch" brings back 261,000,000 hits and none on the first page point to this site!
Posted by DCMonkey | October 9, 2007 4:43 PM
Now?.... simply Microsoft, it's synonymous of Monopoly, arrogance, covetousness, abuse and not very good products.The sad thing is that before was not thus.
Posted by Marco | October 9, 2007 5:09 PM
Microsoft Update
"What's the use for a company to be updated?"
Posted by Haaglander | October 9, 2007 5:10 PM
You speak such nonsense such somestimes Joe. What is wrong with you????
"Microsoft has a long history of pathetically generic names like Online. Need I really point to Excel, Outlook, Word and Windows as examples? Then there are the unwieldy over-branded, overlong names, like Windows Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Vista."
Windows - Its a logical brand name for the product. When it was released in 1985 the product was marketed as a Graphical User Interface that displayed information in boxes on the screen called "windows"! What pathetic about that? It still does that today! Were you expecting them to call it Microsoft Boxes? Generic "Microsoft Operating System" which would sound technical and intimidating to the end user? Windows is a name that is soothing, it evokes opportunity, opening, room, freedom, fresh air, social. What is Mac OS suppose to signify? It does not relate to anything remotely human or functional in nature or design. Mac Daddy, Big Mac (calories, obesity), Mac-10 (gun, violence, death, crime). Get your facts together Joe.
Excel - Its a Office productivity application used in the realms of finance and accounting. What were you expecting? Count my 10 fingers, 12345, Calculator, ledger sheet? The word Excel signifies growth, prosperity, productivity, results, information. I think its one of the best product names in software nomenclatures next to PowerPoint.
Outlook - Control, perspective, insight, management. These are things persons want when it relates to managing contact information and email and thats what "Outlook" does.
Word - so basic, yet so powerful, its a word processor and it types "Words" on a screen. How simple and effective can you get Joe?
Windows Internet Explorer 7 - Its just the official branding of the product, everybody on planet earth does not call it that, not me or the product developers. I call it IE 7 or simply IE. The addition of the word Windows is to align it to the product family and brand called Windows. There is no Internet Explorer for Mac or Solaris anymore. It is solely a Windows product and Microsoft wants to emphasize that. 7 is just to emphasize its a new version, new features, new functionality, its different from IE 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
You just hate Microsoft in every way. I swear, you have some secret vendetta against the Company you are not telling us. Did you apply for a job there and got turned down?
Haaglander - I guess "Microsoft Word" is a Company too. People are not as naive as you are.
Posted by Andre Da Costa | October 9, 2007 8:01 PM
The worst-ever name is eWeek :Microsoft Watch
It should be renamed as Microsoft Bash or
It should be renamed as Microsoft Hate or
Posted by John | October 9, 2007 8:03 PM
How about that teeth gnashing outright fraud, Windows Genuine Advantage. It is not genuine (but, like much of the MSFT offering, an outright falsehood) nor is it an advantage.
That said, it typifies MSFT: falsehood covering up further falsehood.
If MSFT was an automobile or consumer products withoutout the attached monopoly, it would long ago have ceased to exist because of all of its shoddy falsehoods (The Wow is Now!).
How about some truth in advertising: Windows Genuine Junk!
As an MSFT/Windows user of more than two decades, I hope the ugly bloated mess is soon destroyed.
(I do not own a Mac or any other computer; long frustrating experience leads me to hope fervantly for the destruction of this shoddy heap of rotting dung. It cannot come soon enough.)
Posted by Jeremy W | October 9, 2007 8:07 PM
I've been challenged to shut up about technology issues... obviously from those who need to fuzz up Microsoft's reputation in the technology arena.
I tell you what... here's a simple little test. Search XML + Microsoft and see what comes up. 2005, right? Yep. They USED to be very proud of XML but after the November 2004 patent grant to VCSY, Microsoft's boasting about XML slid right off into the ditch.
Now, search XML + IBM. What do you see. Current stuff, right?
Now, look at the content. Microsoft talks about XML editing and little or no XML implementation or products. IBM? All XML all the time.
I rest my case.
Posted by I-Man | October 9, 2007 8:32 PM
DCMonkey wrote: "Watch" brings back 261,000,000 hits and none on the first page point to this site!
LOL. Google "Microsoft" and it brings back 664,000,000 hits and Microsoft Watch is #12. Granted, Windows Live Search isn't as kind to Microsoft Watch in the results.
Joe
Posted by Joe | October 9, 2007 8:54 PM
Jeremy W. Don't expect the Windows user base to dwindle down to 23 million from 900 million anytime soon. ;)
I assume why you hate Windows Genuine Advantage its because you were caught by it? Use genuine non pirated software and you will not be refused access to those certain downloads on microsoft.com you want, ok?
Posted by Andre Da Costa | October 9, 2007 9:16 PM
I agree with John !
Microsoft Bash is more the correct name for this site !
Joe Wilcox you said you never censor the comments ... well you remember the one that I posted the other day that NEVER showed up regarding SJVN (your collegue) ....what's that called then .... "The Ultimate Delay" ??!!
Posted by Neil | October 9, 2007 10:43 PM
The worst ever name is changing from PC Week to Eweek.
PC Week wrote PC news previously. Over the years, its columnist start to write anything but PC, therefore it changed to eWeek.
Then what is the "e" got to to with IT news ?
Now Eweek even allows its columnists to write rubbish
Posted by Eder | October 9, 2007 11:16 PM
Worst MS name...lets see, they have so many to choose from...Access worked for a terminal tool, but is weak for a database...Windows, it describes a visual element that all GUIs use....but I guess my winner is ... BOB...the product and name were a perfect match...both bad....
Posted by Mark | October 10, 2007 12:15 AM
Eder
The "e" most likely stood for "Electronic". That way it COULD allow them basically to write about anything !!!
And see ... they do !
It is too wide !
SJVN is a classic example of what you have written about Eder. Other IT news sites think that he is a one eyed Linux idiot, and for Joe Wilcox to give him creedence in some of his articles of late does not show very good judgement at all !
SJVN got ridiculed like you would not believe on neowin for basically being an "idiot" (there words not mine) !!
Lastly PC Week may have also wanted to change their name due to wearing the name "PC Week" out, a new name you can start over again, but I think they made a botch of that too !!
As you say "Now Eweek even allows its columnists to write rubbish".
Posted by Neil | October 10, 2007 12:18 AM
The Great Chairman Mao Tze-tung once said " I don't bother it is a white or black cat or whatever name , the one that can catch the rats is a good cat !"
So why bother it is Word , Excel or Access, most of us using it of us and for me I am a happy Microsoft Office 2007 (by the way, with wonderful Vista)!
Mr Joe Wilcox , can you publicly annouce to us that you are absolutely not using Microsoft Office from Bill Gates ?
Wanna take my challenge ?
Prove to us that you are not the columnist who write rubbish !@
Posted by Eder | October 10, 2007 1:07 AM
Mark, since you find Office Access which is one of the best known, easy to use desktop database management systems to have a really bad name, what are your thoughts on stupid names like the following:
Corel Paradox
Lotus Approach
Kexi
Those database names have nothing to do with databases but they are known as databases. Paradox and Approach being two of the most popular.
Posted by Andre Da Costa | October 10, 2007 1:36 AM
Andre
Nice comment !!
Does what something is called "really" matter at all. To me not at all !
Actually it reminds me of a TV ad here in Australia about a blind guy and his Black labrador seeing eye dog he calls "Blondie" !!
Posted by Neil | October 10, 2007 3:48 AM
Wow. I knew that for Joe, all the reasons are good for criticizing MS, but bad choices of product names? Come on!
If you really want to complain about silly names, how about we take a look at what the open source community can come up with. The list is long.
Tell the truth, Joe. You're doing this to get attention, so people will post comments; you're a provocateur.
Posted by Ryannoyed | October 10, 2007 6:57 AM
Famous Quotes:
Neil :
When was the last time "Microsoft Watch" actually wrote an article that was "complementary" to Microsoft ... answer a very very long time indeed !
This site should be known as "Microsoft Bash" and encites hatred against microsoft !
I have written to Microsoft about it and spoken to several people in microsoft about particular articles and ...they know what going on here that's for sure !!
Answer: Chip:
Perhaps there is little that Micro$oft is doing to warrant a "complementary" article. Certainly MS needs to be held accountable for whats its been up to.
I guess we should all be scared now that Neil has come out in the open as a Micro$oft stoolie and informed on all of us that have "bashed" and said things that were not nice about the Evil Empire.
If anyone would know who to snitch to at MS, or who has contacts at Redmond, it would be Neil, for sure.
----------------
Andre Da Costa :"Acer Ferrari 5000 I received in January of 2007 "
Answer: http://laughingsquid.com/microsoft-sent-a-free-laptop-with-windows-vista/
Quote:Microsoft Sent An Acer Ferrari Laptop With Windows Vista: Scott Beale on Tuesday, December 26th, 2006
"I’m not sure how I was selected to be one of the people receiving this (I’m assuming there are others, but I haven’t come across any yet)"
"So, today the laptop arrived (here are some photos) and it wasn’t just some generic laptop, but a really cool, supercompact Acer Ferrari 1000 12.1” notebook, with an 1.80GHz AMD Turion 64×2 with 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a SATA 160GB hard drive."
------------------
Very interesting, apparently it's very difficult for MS find out true defenders.
Posted by Marco | October 10, 2007 7:08 AM
Joe
Concerning the rabbits there is a better solution. A nice rabbit stew with onions. A little heavy on the stomach but delicious nevertheless!
Posted by Dimitris | October 10, 2007 8:26 AM
Calling twice ....
Mr Joe Wilcox , can you publicly annouce to us that you are absolutely not using any Microsoft Office from Bill Gates ?
Wanna take my challenge ?
Prove to us that you are not the columnist who write rubbish !@
Posted by Eder | October 10, 2007 9:05 AM
Marco
You are an idiot just like SJVN and boy that is no compliment I can tell you.
I was speaking to people from microsoft in AUSTRALIA, not Redmond ! As I live in Australia and was speaking to people from Microsoft in Australia you idiot !!
And the comment that you stated was done months ago, not days, not weeks, but a long time ago.
Ryannoyed
I am sure that there are plenty of wierdly named programs out there, and I agree with you totally. The more weird they are the more likely it is to attract someones attention really !
Posted by Neil | October 10, 2007 9:17 AM
He,he
Knowing Neil, the Shill: (facts)
1. 12 to 18 hours online per day. You need to be paid for this, if you need to work for a living.
2. Tries to discredit anyone who says anything bad about MS. Even more so if the blogger does it.
3. Creates personae who support him .
Advantages:
To be paid for doing so.
High volume of messages in blogs (If not quality, quantity)
12 to 18 hours online, unlike normal people, who spend a lot less time doing so. So they can be insulted when they're absent.
Disadvantages:
Weakness of arguments-or a total lack of them. This tends to drive him to lie, offend or even insult, by the use of ad hominem (understandable, since it's hard to defend Ms)
Desperation and stress. This is a personal problem reflected on his behaviour.
All of these translate in the loss of personal prestige.
Conclusion:
Any of these reasonings can be proven by going through Joe's blog's messages.
A last proof could be to write some other posts against MS, and a group (including Neil) will attack you, regardless of whether you quoted them or not.
-------
Old but applicable
Posted by Marco | October 10, 2007 10:11 AM
"Microsoft really should hire a CNO, as in chief naming officer. "
And ....
Eweek should really hire a CRC, as in Chief Rubbish Collector as it still keeping Mr Joe Wilcox ,the rubbish writer
Posted by Marty | October 10, 2007 10:22 AM
Months?.....September 7, 2007 2:17 AM...YOU LIE,YOU LIEEEEEE...HA,HA,HA (Do you remember Chips?)
Neil :
n0ne_n0ne
When was the last time "Microsoft Watch" actually wrote an article that was "complementary" to Microsoft ... answer a very very long time indeed !
This site should be known as "Microsoft Bash" and encites hatred against microsoft !
I have written to Microsoft about it and spoken to several people in microsoft about particular articles and ...they know what going on here that's for sure !!
Posted by Neil | September 7, 2007 2:17 AM
The presecutor :
Lord Ballmer: with all my respect and admiration I am writing you to denounce something incredible, horrible and frightening, the site that should be known as "Microsoft Bash" encites hatred against Microsoft !,letting people to issue comments not favourables to Microsoft,without any kind of censure!!!(the word Microsoft has been said with all due respect and keeping my chin down)
I am sure when they have knowledge of the existence of this letter the fear will take their souls and they will be falling to the ground on their knees, the way I am doing it.
Yours truly, your ever-informing servant who is always be alert of the way of defending Microsoft's interests.
PS: Please, if possible, I want my laptop computer to be black, and with a good video card if available.
Thanks again: The Prosecutor.
Posted by The presecutor | September 7, 2007 7:53 AM
Posted by Marco | October 10, 2007 10:23 AM
Frankly speaking, I respect Microsoft as although the morons from Eweek keeps bad mouth them, they just ignore and don't take any action on them
Posted by jack | October 10, 2007 10:31 AM
I just love Microsoft Office 2007,especially Excel 2007.
Is naming so important ?
If it is so bad , MIcrosoft should have gone bankrupt many years ago.
I can not the imagine this entry was written by an adult #$@
I do hope that someday we will have a blog filter that automatically delete stupid and rubbish content on Internet
Till then ......
Posted by Laker | October 10, 2007 10:38 AM
Although,really Joe I think the name's perception is more important that the name itself, for example AMD is not very attractive but the people's perception-sympathy- is positive (yes, I recognize that the first impression is import too, but for little time.)
Posted by Marco | October 10, 2007 11:20 AM
Marco, you are nothing but a lousy jealous bastard who does not have a life. Go to hell and stop linking to that crap. What is wrong with you???
It was a review unit delivered to a group of 90 bloggers on behalf of "AMD", "ACER INC" and MICROSOFT. Post it again and you will prove my point that you are a Dumb A$$
Linus Torvald receives money from IBM, Novell, and many other Corporations for his work on Linux. Why aren't you linking to that? Huh? Stupid Marco!
Posted by Andre Da Costa | October 10, 2007 2:41 PM
Wow, people really will complain about anything won't they?
Posted by Jeremy | October 10, 2007 3:38 PM
Marco
I still maintain that you are an idiot !
I must have taken YOU a long time to find everything ...don't you work ?? I do ...and not for microsoft either and (as I said before) if you can read !
As a "shill" is paid for their efforts ... I am not (I keep telling you and you keep ignoring it)!
Posted by Neil | October 10, 2007 8:15 PM
Khaliq Musa Hadji
WTF ???
Go somewhere else to sell your gear ...I get spam from guys like you every bloody day, and quite frankly I didn't expect it here !
Posted by Neil | October 10, 2007 8:17 PM
Joe, can we have a public vote with regards to banning Neil. No doubt it is not just I who is absolutely sick of trolling and just how is it fine to insult other posters by calling them idiots and get away with it?
Maybe Neil is your alter ego eh Joe?
No matter, get rid of him, I am sick of his Spam.
Posted by William | October 11, 2007 3:41 AM
William
Joe did not ban "Chips" when it was discovered that he had lied regarding Skype.
I have not said or done anything anywhere near as bad as that so I don't think that you are going to get your wish today mate.
Anyway if you look at my arguement with Marco he was the one who called me a name (shill) I was simply retaliating to his slur on my character.
Joe knows perfectly well that I am not and never have been a "shill" and if you read this site often (which I know you do) you will know that I am not either.
As Chips said to me once "if you don't like what is said here, you are free to leave".
Posted by Neil | October 11, 2007 4:03 AM
US is support free speech
We only comdemn and bash each other
No weapons are used so far
The why we need to ban Neil ?
Posted by Laker | October 11, 2007 5:27 AM
After all people are going to use those names.MS should really come up with some good stuff.
Posted by Windows Web Hosting | October 11, 2007 12:28 PM
Neil wrote: Microsoft Bash is more the correct name for this site !
Neil, if you were the one writing this column, the appropriate name would be Micro$oft brown-noser.
It seems you just go into epileptic fits whenever anyone points out Micro$oft's faults. Wake up, Bill fanboy. The company whose name you love to stitch on your underwear behaves like a despicable bunch of bullies.
As for banning your sorry rearend, I am against it. We need someone ridiculous to laugh at once in a while.
Posted by Maddog | October 11, 2007 1:51 PM
The idea is that novice people who read the
commentaries don't get fooled for some Ms's worker (read; shill), I know that it could have a price (the insult) because the truth hurts but their behavior simply will be showing their cultural and moral levels.
Remember,the truth hurts.
Ah! and I never had an argument with Neil(insult is NOT an argument.) I did exhibit who is him.
Posted by Marco | October 11, 2007 5:56 PM
Whew! A bit off track boys!
Joe: My candidate for the worst name is "Microsoft." Why would a company name itself "micro"? (Besides, even though it may have been the little guy, what company aspires to staying that way? Microsoft did not, and it sure is the Goliath, now!) I could understand using "software" in a name, but just plain "soft" conjures up images of either children's bedtime companions or toilet paper--neither of which is suitable.
I'm sure this post will get a lot of rants from those who are overly sensitive or who want to point out that the name no longer matters. Nonetheless, the company has prospered in spite of, and not because of, its name.
Posted by 1st | October 11, 2007 6:02 PM
"Post it again and you will prove my point that you are a Dumb A$$"
do not worry, now the people know how are you.
Posted by Marco | October 11, 2007 6:35 PM
How about "WindowsXP"?
I grant that "Windows" made sense, a long time ago, to distinguish the OS from the command line OS's. Now the name is a valuable commodity (which, curiously, MS seems determined to throw away).
Tell me, though, what is an "XP"?
Posted by 30x7weyo46svji2 | October 12, 2007 8:50 AM
Marco, go learn proper grammar skills and get a life while you are at it.
Posted by Andre Da Costa | October 12, 2007 10:24 PM
Notice how bad an individual is perceived due to his lack of proper grammar usage? Well, the perception of individuals with a lack of ideas whom their only defense mechanism is to insult is worse. Nota bene: you are a sort of ambassador of your country, since people may think everyone in your country is similar to you-hence stereotyping. And that bothers me. I have lived and worked for a time on a third world country. I've seen penniless people remain dignified. So you don't have the excuse to say that the lack of economic means allows to sell oneself for a mere laptop. Stop insulting your people. Stop presenting them as they are not. Dignify yourself.
I am speaking directly to you because you come from the third world. And I'm tired of the stereotype many people bequeath to those who don't deserve it, thanks to people such as you (a minority)
Posted by Marco | October 13, 2007 9:33 AM
Joe is sarcastic on " Microsoft really should hire a CNO, as in chief naming officer. "
Does Eweek has any guideline for its columnists ?
Does EweeK allow its columnists to write rubbish ?
eWeek should hire a plain discipline master , no fancy name !!!
Posted by Marie | October 13, 2007 11:42 AM
The article reminded me of this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aeXAcwriid0
Posted by Richard S | October 14, 2007 1:16 AM
How about "Vista"? That name was already taken by the software used by all of the Veterans Administration Medical Centers for their electronic medical records (Open Source, too, I might add.). It has been proposed as "the" national electronic medical record, so this is software backwater!
Posted by svenz | October 15, 2007 3:40 PM
Funny, I don't remember Microsoft Watch claiming to be the Microsoft softballer!
He writes what he feels, and that is what matters.
Posted by John Obeto | October 16, 2007 12:53 AM
" He writes what he feels " .. BUT not bashing everyday ...
All the entries written are so negative and I wonder is Microsoft that bad and evil ?
Posted by Marty | October 16, 2007 4:03 AM
Eder:
a small historical correction:
The little pervert, Mao Tse Tung, (nothing about him was "great", except his propensity for killing his country and people) did NOT say that; Chou En Lai said, in a discussion about the benefits of commercial or "free" entreprise for China, said :It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice" - Mao's response was "What imperialist said that!" - Chou nearly got purged for his advice...
Bit like this forum - too many flames from immature people who are incapable of making an objective statement.
Microsoft, like so many US corporations has faults - (can you say ENRON) - get over it - it is your way of life - Joe documents them - why is that bad in a land of Free Speech?
Posted by Robert Prideaux | October 17, 2007 6:09 PM
WOW, that would again make M$ pioneers in starting such a position CNO, chief Naming Officer. LOL
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Step 2: Now take the number 1 name off the list below, and move the other names up (6 becomes 5, 5 becomes 4, 2 becomes 1, etc.) Make sure to add your name as number 6 on the list.
Step 3: Now post your article to at least 200 newsgroups and message boards. The more you post the more responses you’ll get, and the more money you’ll make!
DIRECTIONS TO POST: (1)=open a blank word processor file(MS Word, Notepad, etc.), and place your cursor at the top of the blank page. From the edit menu select paste. Past a copy of this letter onto the word processor document so you can add your name to the list. (2)=save your new word processor file as text file. (3)=Log on to search engines like yahoo.com, google.com, altavista.com, excite.com, etc. then you search with the subject “money making message board”, “millionaire message board” or “money making forum” etc. (4)=Visit these message boards and post this article as a new message by highlighting the text of the letter and selecting paste from the edit menu, paste it. Fill in the subject, this will be the header that everyone will see as they scroll through the list of the posted groups. Click the post button, submit button, etc. You are done with the first one! Just copy and paste the same letter to the other groups. It will take about 30 seconds for each group. Remember the more newsgroups or message boards you post the more money you will make! You have to post a minimum of 200. That’s it! You will be soon be receiving money from all over the world, you may eventually need to rent a P.O. Box due to the large amount of mail you will be receiving. If you want to stay anonymous, you can make up a name to use, as long as the postman will deliver it. Just make sure all addresses are correct. When your money begins to come in, give it the first 10 percent to charity with spirit and share a good fortune!
The List:
1.Nichlas St. Lawrence, 689A Victory Hwy., West Greenwich RI 02817
2.Ryan Joseph, 338 N.College St., Newcomerstown OH 43832
3.Meg Nunn, 528 17th Place, Snohomish WA 98290
4.Benjamin Richards, 1587 Moonbeam LN, Chula Vista CA 91915
5.Ryan Miller, 588 Railroad St., Newcomerstown OH 43832
6.Robert McLeod, PO Box 496, Oxon Hill MD 20750
Posted by Jim Day | March 25, 2008 7:48 PM