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Being a specialist is dangerous.
Yes, this makes a lot of sense for Microsoft, but not so much so for the VAR or partner working with them. Let's face it, things change so quickly in the computing industry there simply is no way to know what is in store say three to five years down the road.

A case in point. Right now there is a good deal of desire on Microsoft's part for security specialist, but MS is tightening up security in Windows XP and promises much better security with Longhorn. Now I am not going to debate if they can come through with it, but it would be foolish to build a business on something Microsoft is doing their best to make moot in a couple of years. Sort of like starting a buggy whip manufacturing company at the turn of the century. In my own business we specialize in factory shop floor automation and data collection, but that represents only about half of the companies income. Why? Because I believe firmly in the old saying, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket".

The other problem I see is this would end up with multiple vendors at odds with each other at the customers site. The MS Small Business Manager support guy wants to do X, Y, and Z, the security specialist screams no your not, it will compromise security, the Office specialist is going on and on about XML, and the poor damned user just wants to get their work done so they can go home. If you have ever had a system problem and called tech support you are more than familiar with the finger pointing it causes when there are multiple vendors. It's ALWAYS the other guys fault.

No, in my opinion most small businesses are much better off with a well rounded support person that is just as comfortable securing a web server as he/she is at upgrading a video card...
Posted by: No_Ax_to_Grind   Posted on: 07/13/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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And...  Richard Flude | 07/12/04
Please specialize in Security and Patches.. thank you.  Xunil_Sierutuf | 07/12/04
What did they expect?  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 07/12/04
Sounds good  Enterprise. Analyst | 07/12/04
Do you understand what a wink means?  Richard Flude | 07/13/04
Mommy didn't explain it to him yet.  Xunil_Sierutuf | 07/13/04
Being a specialist is dangerous.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/13/04
Services from specialists  Anton Philidor | 07/13/04
A couple of points.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/13/04
General contractors  Anton Philidor | 07/13/04
Buggy whips...  k4_pacific | 07/13/04
Figured I'd see the usual responses...  Anton Philidor | 07/13/04
Intersting but you forget the consumer LOVES MS.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/13/04
Your popularity will now skyrocket.  Anton Philidor | 07/13/04
As a VAR, I don't think so.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 07/13/04
Doctors are a good example  Anton Philidor | 07/13/04
darn  Iain_Peters | 07/13/04
Specialization is right, execution will be difficult  mas90guru | 07/14/04

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