Daily Techno-Babble

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Lately it sure seems like Microsoft is pandering to the misguided notion that they need to counter Google in all markets to the point of total obsession. This has even gotten to the point where they are trying to buy Yahoo in a crazy attempt at forcing themselves into the online software market. They are clearly fixed on the this as being so critical to the company they are showing systemic signs of failing at their own core business. As any reader of this blog already knows I just love to pick on Microsoft for the complete pile of you-know-what that is Windows Vista but that’s not the only thing Microsoft is doing that is starting to get under my skin. This whole “Google” fixation has gone way to far. Here are four reasons why whey need to quit chasing the car and get back to peeing on the hydrants…

Technorati Tags: Apple, google, microsoft, yahoo, Vista, Windows

1. Linux/Mac is getting better while Windows is getting worse.
If Microsoft keeps up this Google-chase they are going to lose out when everyone notices that Linux (and also OSX) has gone mainstream along with Mac OSX. If they don’t fix what’s wrong with Vista soon Google will be the least of their problems.

2. Google is not always right.
There is this misconception that everything Google does must be the right thing for the marketplace and will of course succeed. This could not be further from the truth. Case in point; Google Picasa vs. Flickr. This is no contest, Flickr rocks in comparison to what Google is offering. But who cares? Why does Microsoft even need this crap? What they need is to focus on integration with these services and establishing advertiser revenue sharing with them for the privilege. Let them do the hard work, just make sure your OS is the best platform to use for these services and you win.

3. Online applications are nice…but what do you when you are not online?
Yes, I know this is not something that will be a huge deal for all those folks who are never offline but what about the large numbers of people who don’t connect 100% of the time? I suspect that the market for traditional software applications will continue to be a solid performer right alongside the online applications market for the foreseeable future.

4. Keep it simple stupid!
All anyone wants in today’s computing environment is just enough features to get the job done without all the crazy fluff that has accumulated over the last 10 years. As much as I do like Office 2007 I still get annoyed at the sheer number of buttons and toolbars I am forced to navigate just to get simple things done. Microsoft needs to stop worrying about competing with Google on features or product offerings and instead focus on much more productive activities such as understanding user workflow better. Good example of this is the fantastic job Apple has been doing with iLife and iWork. Design software for what your users are doing today and forget about legacy or you will become a victim of it.