Critical Windows fix on the way

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.... must ... get... ready... for... date... can't... resist... the... urge

It is always a pleasure to engage in honest debate. And I appreciate your point. As a small businessman, you have the advantage over a worldwide conglomerate with its fingers in many types of business (Microsoft if you couldn't tell ) - you have a defined customer base and you know what your customers want because they can come in or email you and tell you. Consider Microsoft - Bill Gates get 1 million unsolicited emails a day - A DAY. He has a staff that culls through this for the important stuff. How would he ever be able to have the same relationship with his customers as you have with yours? You are to be envied.

Size does matter and bigger is not always better. You lose touch with the little guy who just wants to have a secure email client without having to worry about viruses and other junk cluttering up the in-box. You can address this if half of your 1000 customers (I don't know your base, this is just for an example) complain to you over a week's period of time. If half of Microsoft's customers made just one demand, all the same thing, you would not be able to find the one voice that clearly outlines "exactly" what he or she means.

Right now, Microsoft runs a mswish@microsoft.com email address where customers can make feature requests. They get literally thousands of these every day, some constructive, some outlandish, and some just plain weird.** They use a database to catalogue them and address the ones that are most requested AND pose no security/patent, etc. problems. Will they all make it into the next version? I don't know.

I do know that they listen to their customers. They might not always agree with what the customer is saying or asking for or complaining about, but they do listen. The number one thing they are hearing right now is that they want their Microsoft products to be secure. They want to be able to use IE. They want to not get the phishing mail. They want spyware and adware not installed on their system. They want to control what belongs on their computer. And Microsoft is listening.

Microsoft is the 800 pound gorilla - it may take a while for it to get moving but get out of the way once it gets momentum. Microsoft has momentum on this now - they have been embarrassed, shamed, hacked and brought to their knees over the lack of security in their products. They are working on it. It is not an overnight process, nor will it be without hiccups (windows XP SP-2 notwithstanding), but it will happen. The big question is whether folks will still be hoping and buying their products by the time it becomes a practical reality. I hope so and many others do as well. Sadly, there are those who would rather drive a Ryder truck up to the front door of the Redmond campus and walk away whistling.

**Disclaimer - most of you folks know that I am a Microsoft MVP - Most Valuable Professional - for the Outlook product and have been for 6 years now. Am I a Microsoft shill? No, not really. Do I hold them to a higher standard because of the award? No, not really. Do I gain insight into their internal workings moreso than the average Joe? Yes, definitely. Everything I have posted in this rather long (need to get that makeup on) reply is happening - I have it from the horse's (not Monkey boy's) mouth. Do I believe him? You betcha! Why? Because they are nothing if not shrewd businessmen and know where their bread is buttered - satisfied customers. They know they need to go the extra 1000 miles to regain the trust of the computing public. And they are willing and able to do it.

I really gotta run now or else someone really cute and really big is going to be a little upset we missed the opening of the movie.

Posted by: Confused by religion   Posted on: 01/07/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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