Comments on: Hard Week for Microsoft, Next Week Likely Harder http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/ Free Software Sentry – watching and reporting maneuvers of those threatened by software freedom Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan O'Brian http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-10/#comment-57777 Dan O'Brian Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:19:28 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57777 His faulty intepretation of the "Linux Heat Map" is a great example. His lack of understanding in this article is yet another. The list is endless. His faulty intepretation of the “Linux Heat Map” is a great example. His lack of understanding in this article is yet another.

The list is endless.

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-9/#comment-57771 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:43:21 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57771 I'm sure he can make something up if you give him a few minutes. I’m sure he can make something up if you give him a few minutes.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-9/#comment-57770 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:34:31 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57770 Dan, Your message lacks content. Dan,

Your message lacks content.

]]> By: Dan O'Brian http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-9/#comment-57769 Dan O'Brian Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:32:14 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57769 Roy: go out and get some real-world experience, please, before you further humiliate yourself. Actually, on second thought, it's more funny if you don't. Roy: go out and get some real-world experience, please, before you further humiliate yourself.

Actually, on second thought, it’s more funny if you don’t.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-9/#comment-57768 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:17:59 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57768 Which memes? Be specific, please. Subsidy of entry does not mean that a product will not generate a loss throughout its lifetime. Which memes? Be specific, please. Subsidy of entry does not mean that a product will not generate a loss throughout its lifetime.

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-9/#comment-57767 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:15:01 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57767 It's not pedancy, Roy. You can't redefine "profitability" to your own term just because it suits your argument. This is a classic example of what I'm saying. Microsoft (and, to a lesser extent, Sony) have massively subsidized their entry into this market. That's fair enough criticism. But then you over-egg the pudding by basically padding it with fabrication. You repeat old memes which are no longer true, and meddle around with words. It’s not pedancy, Roy. You can’t redefine “profitability” to your own term just because it suits your argument.

This is a classic example of what I’m saying. Microsoft (and, to a lesser extent, Sony) have massively subsidized their entry into this market. That’s fair enough criticism.

But then you over-egg the pudding by basically padding it with fabrication. You repeat old memes which are no longer true, and meddle around with words.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-8/#comment-57766 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:07:48 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57766 'Pedancy' with literal meanings does not change the fact it is a piker from a financial perspective, ‘Pedancy’ with literal meanings does not change the fact it is a piker from a financial perspective,

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-8/#comment-57765 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:56:26 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57765 As I just said, the concept of profitability is not a cumulative one for obvious reasons. No-one measures it like that. Call it spin if you like; it's actually Finance 101. Go read how actual accountants do this, Roy. As I just said, the concept of profitability is not a cumulative one for obvious reasons. No-one measures it like that.

Call it spin if you like; it’s actually Finance 101. Go read how actual accountants do this, Roy.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-8/#comment-57764 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:54:21 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57764 You are attempting to spin this. Let me simplify this. Let us say that Microsoft's balance-sheet for XBox looks like this: 2000: -$1,000,000 2001: -$1,500,000 2002: -$1,400,000 2003: -$2,000,000 2004: -$2,000,000 2005: -$2,500,000 2006: -$4,000,000 2007: -$7,500,000 2008: -$7,200,000 2009: ?? (2009 depression) Does that look like a successful and profitable business? You are attempting to spin this.

Let me simplify this. Let us say that Microsoft’s balance-sheet for XBox looks like this:

2000: -$1,000,000
2001: -$1,500,000
2002: -$1,400,000
2003: -$2,000,000
2004: -$2,000,000
2005: -$2,500,000
2006: -$4,000,000
2007: -$7,500,000
2008: -$7,200,000
2009: ?? (2009 depression)

Does that look like a successful and profitable business?

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-8/#comment-57763 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:50:36 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57763 Actually, it does. Profitability is over a financial period, not the entire lifetime of any given product. By your logic, Windows will be a profitable product basically forever. Actually, it does. Profitability is over a financial period, not the entire lifetime of any given product. By your logic, Windows will be a profitable product basically forever.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-8/#comment-57762 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:39:58 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57762 They are not profitable. They have lost about $7 billion. They are at the point now where they no longer lose even <em>more</em> money (that's what they claim anyway), but it doesn't make them "profitable". They are not profitable. They have lost about $7 billion. They are at the point now where they no longer lose even more money (that’s what they claim anyway), but it doesn’t make them “profitable”.

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-7/#comment-57761 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:35:32 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57761 Not being #1 doesn't make it unsuccessful. Having a huge installed base, a lot of subscribers, and a profitable business counts as "success" (and they are profitable now). You write Microsoft off at your peril. Seriously. Not being #1 doesn’t make it unsuccessful. Having a huge installed base, a lot of subscribers, and a profitable business counts as “success” (and they are profitable now).

You write Microsoft off at your peril. Seriously.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-7/#comment-57759 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:27:10 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57759 Ballmer himself calls XBox a "funny product" because they've lost billions on it. How do you define success? Number of adverts? The only winner is Nintendo, which Microsoft prefers to pretend does not exist. Ballmer himself calls XBox a “funny product” because they’ve lost billions on it. How do you define success? Number of adverts?

The only winner is Nintendo, which Microsoft prefers to pretend does not exist.

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-7/#comment-57758 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:16:27 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57758 The XBox360 isn't failing in anyone's eyes except yours, because you still repeat the "loss on every sale" meme, which as has been pointed out isn't true any more. But I articulated my point many comments ago: you criticise Microsoft for many things. Some of them are entirely justifiable, and deserve wider notice. But then you pepper it with nonsense about CSS vendor extensions or (in this case) claiming back their own property, and start calling them names. By making bad points you drown out the good ones. The XBox360 isn’t failing in anyone’s eyes except yours, because you still repeat the “loss on every sale” meme, which as has been pointed out isn’t true any more.

But I articulated my point many comments ago: you criticise Microsoft for many things. Some of them are entirely justifiable, and deserve wider notice. But then you pepper it with nonsense about CSS vendor extensions or (in this case) claiming back their own property, and start calling them names.

By making bad points you drown out the good ones.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-7/#comment-57757 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:06:14 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57757 Of who? Woolworths? There is no criticism there; this part is pointing out that XBox360 is failing. Of who? Woolworths? There is no criticism there; this part is pointing out that XBox360 is failing.

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-7/#comment-57756 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:35:33 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57756 You're missing out the main point, which isn't about your mistakes. It's the made-up criticism that's the big problem. You’re missing out the main point, which isn’t about your mistakes. It’s the made-up criticism that’s the big problem.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-6/#comment-57755 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:34:11 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57755 If you are a perfectionist, use an encyclopedia or contribute to Wikipedia. If my source says that “...Amidst the announcement that Woolworths would be shutting down due to bankruptcy," then I am allowed to innocently propagate an error every now and then. I write many posts here. Precision is hard when some of the articles from Google News are erroneous. If you have a nitpicking hobby, start a(nother) blog and express your point of view. If you are a perfectionist, use an encyclopedia or contribute to Wikipedia. If my source says that “…Amidst the announcement that Woolworths would be shutting down due to bankruptcy,” then I am allowed to innocently propagate an error every now and then.

I write many posts here. Precision is hard when some of the articles from Google News are erroneous.

If you have a nitpicking hobby, start a(nother) blog and express your point of view.

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-6/#comment-57754 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:28:40 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57754 No, it's not the nitpicking, it's watching the revisionism in action - how far you'll bend to not admit a mistake. No, it’s not the nitpicking, it’s watching the revisionism in action – how far you’ll bend to not admit a mistake.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-6/#comment-57753 Roy Schestowitz Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:18:09 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57753 I didn't want to use <strike>strikeout</strike> but rather just to clarify. Do you really have nothing better to comment on? I've posted some interesting things, but nitpicking appeals to you much more. I didn’t want to use strikeout but rather just to clarify.

Do you really have nothing better to comment on? I’ve posted some interesting things, but nitpicking appeals to you much more.

]]> By: AlexH http://techrights.org/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/comment-page-6/#comment-57752 AlexH Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:13:40 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/07/hard-week-for-microsoft/#comment-57752 The simpler fix would be to cross out "they" and put "Woolworths". The simpler fix would be to cross out “they” and put “Woolworths”.

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