If you ran MS.

[skyman8081]

Here is an interesting question for you.  If you were in control of Microsoft, what would you do to change the company?

You can't do anthing that would either eventualy put them out of business, or something that would incur a large amount of losses.  You are accountable to the stockholders.

It seems there is a lot of blind MS hate here and that people are opposed to ANYTHING microsoft does.  So I thought I would turn the tables.

I would release less info on Longhorn and not announce anything until we have concrete details and information, instead of blind speculation.  I would also create a new API that is more strict and secure with strict application guidlines to go with it and send it to all developers with an ultimatum, make your applications work with this new API, or you won't be able to run them on the next iteration of Windows.  I would also open the upgrade paths more to allow people to exchange their current version of Windows, provided thay have the install media and COA, and exchange it for free with the new one for the first 6 months of release, then charge a nominal fee for it.

[Aloone_Jonez]

I'm going to say this before anyone else does, I would open source all of the software.

[WMD]

You've already done this thread, skyman.  I can't seem to find the old thread however. :o

[Duo Maxwell]

1.) get out of the hardware business.
2.) release the code for all previous versions of windows
3.) cancel development of longhorn.
4.) rewrite Windows from scratch, using a whole new API system completely incompatible with previous windows renditions.
5.) fire the greedy big wigs and cut their golden parachute.
6.) make a version of all non OS products for any current OSs that are available that work, not works-ish.
7.) tie nothing into the OS but the OS, no media player or webrowser tied down so that the user can remove them without hassle.
8.) separate the system update to its own program.
9.) open the source of the new OS for the community to help with patches, possibly not fully public but to those that have asked for verification.
10.) 2 versions of the OS only if that, regular and server.

[skyman8081]

so then, I could direct all the pissed off stockholders and people with old versions of windows with no real incentive to upgrade to you?

and you would handle the unfair termination lawsuits?

[toadlife]

I would also create a new API that is more strict and secure with strict application guidlines to go with it and send it to all developers with an ultimatum, make your applications work with this new API, or you won't be able to run them on the next iteration of Windows.

That's easy to say, but in practice it's almost allways market suicide. Ditching backward compatibility is one of the primary factors that led to Apple losing almost all of their share in mainstream PC market in the mid to late eighties. When Apple moved away from the Apple II series to the Macintosh, users were forced wih a choice - Buy a Macintosh and replace every peice of software, or buy a PC - there was NO middle ground, as the two platforms were completely different, and completely incompatible. Users complained but it was too late for Apple to do anything. Most people ended up buying PC's, as you could buy an entire PC, plus software for the same price as just buying just the Machintosh. As a result of this, Apple's market share declined from something respectable (15%?) to almost nothing (1-2%?).

Ironically, Microsoft virtually "rescued" Apple from bankruptcy in 1997. Microsoft invested $150 Million in non-voting stock in 1997 - right around the time Steve jobs came back on the scene. This is how IE came to be the default browser in MacOS for a few years. Since the Macintosh arrived, all subsequent versions of MacOS have been backward compatible to previous MacOS versions, and they have slowly gained back a little bit if their marketshare. Apple learned their lesson, and was a painfull one.

[WMD]

As a result of this, Apple's market share declined from something respectable (15%?) to almost nothing (1-2%?).

The Apple II had 29% at its high point.  Macintosh had about 10% in 1990, and slowly bled to an apparent 3% as of last year.  Many question the current numbers, however.

[toadlife]

Ahh. That's why I put question marks by my marketshare numbers.

[toadlife]

Many question the current numbers, however.

It seems to me like Apple has been gaining marketshare in the past couple of years. This is just going by how many people I've met that owned Mac's compared to how many I knew several years ago. Perhaps the statistics are lagging, and the 3% was actually a reality a few years ago.

[BobTheHob]

I actually seem to remember noticing a "Top 50 growing corps" article in Information Week a couple weeks ago. They also had a top 25 list which apple was on and microsoft was not, lol. I'm at college atm, I'll dig it out the filing cabinet and post it when i get home tonight.

[Duo Maxwell]

so then, I could direct all the pissed off stockholders and people with old versions of windows with no real incentive to upgrade to you?

and you would handle the unfair termination lawsuits?

Easy, VPC to run the old stuff with patch support for 5 years from the time announced.

most ppl wont upgrade their OS anyways, they'll just buy a new machine, preloaded with the new OS. Maybe sign a deal with the box builders that they can't preinstall anything, just give a DVD with the software package they want to offer with the option to not install certain apps.

[MicroManny]

If I could change things, I would have a registery cleaner which automatically cleansed it without you having to download one and trying to read the instructions on how to use it. Not all people are computer literate and some of the stuff is beyond our comprehension.
 
 
But when you screw something up trying to clean the registry, you either must buy a new computer or pay someone to come straighten up your mess, and not all techs are knowledgable with the registry keys either. But buying a registry cleaner or even using one of the free ones, doesn't tell you much on how to use it. Besides that, the ones for sale, Microsoft probably owns those anyway!
 
Also, in order to open certain files, it says you need RAR to do it with, and if you don't have it, which most of the computers don't come loaded with, you have to buy that too. Anything to make a buck for the 'Rich Microsoft!!'   Also, in using the Microsoft Clipart, it's totally different from years ago where they made things much simplier.  Even now, it's hard to download clipart. They need to KISS (keep it simple stupid) !!  MicroManny:thumbdwn:

[BobTheHob]

I actually seem to remember noticing a "Top 50 growing corps" article in Information Week a couple weeks ago. They also had a top 25 list which apple was on and microsoft was not, lol. I'm at college atm, I'll dig it out the filing cabinet and post it when i get home tonight.

 According to the "Global Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies" April 11 issue of Information Week, year-over-year growth: Apple Computer is ranked #17 with a 33% total rev YOY growth last year, microsoft was nowhere to be found on the list, while Yahoo inc was #1 with 120% total YOY rev growth, eBay is ranked #8 with 51% , Symantec #18 with 33%

[adiment]

I'd keep everything and stop buying out other companys. I'd put that money into fixing windows and making it a stable OS. Also make an open-source program for some software  - not all, and not the OS. And pay people to find flaws so they can be fixed.

[Aloone_Jonez]

You've already done this thread, skyman.  I can't seem to find the old thread however. :o

I remember it was called "What can Microsoft do right?" and it appears to have vanished along with many posts/threads when we shut down in October and reopened on a new server back in January.