BillG is on Channel 9

And is he asking Mr. Gates why he doesn't blog? Or what he might have against "naked conversations"??

-- Jack Krupansky

Off-topic, but you really need to go to your Flickr account and set the URL for your very own Flickr web page (bottom of page, right column). The old ugly crufty address will still work, no worry.

Not sure if you saw this, but during his talk to students several days back, Billg referenced Channel 9 and how it has become such a popular site for people wishing to learn more about the goings on here.

Wow, another cotton-candy blahther speechback something hitting all the current tech hot points and working in the usual marketing overhype; sweet and airy, but lacking any sort of substance, a talk of the kind he piffs out endlessly.

Downright painful to watch, a tracked robot on a metallic train-track circling round and round. He's so wooden, you could actually reduce his thoughts to an algorithm. Fire the speechwriters, and just make a phrase-input program, raw material feeding transcripts. I bet they have tried that already, with a voice imprint talker, still having Gates speeches in the year 2250.

And then the celebrity worshippers on Channel 9 chiming in, "oh gee-whiz gosh-golly-darn, he uses the same internet we do" and "see how he's interacting with the community".

Sorry why do you bother Mr C Cuntler! Clearly you have nothing better do with your life other than stalk this blog and make anti-microsoft comments irrelevant of the post content or merit. Big of you!

I have been reading this blog for sometime and with it your frequent and irrelevant comments. I might not agree with everything Microsoft does or what Robert says but I would love to read your blog if it exists? Do you have an original opinion of your own?

If Microsoft and Roberts comments so irk you why don't you foxtrot oscar to macsandlinuxarebest.com, Ilovegooglewhatevertheydo.com or paininthearse.com where I am sure you would get a life membership.

I am sure Robert will not approve of this comment but he is gracious enough not to filter his comments which enables people like you to place pointless comments. Constructive criticism is just feedback that you can action to improve things which is what Microsoft wants. What was constructive about your criticism post?

While I'm uninclined to put things the way Sethi did, I have to agree with his overall sentiments. Coulter seems to have little to do each day but troll on this forum. People who don't fit into his world view are idiots or "celebrity worshippers". In the meantime, what exactly are Mr. Coulter's credentials? From his seemingly "brilliant" comments, you'd think he always "knew" the right thing to do. Of course, we'll probably find out that he's just some two bit schmoe living in his parents basement, from which he strikes at those who would assail his petty view of the world. That's a pretty pathetic existance, IMHO. If you don't like it, don't watch, don't click, don't come here. It's pretty simple. This is not being broadcast into your home. You have to physically choose to watch or come to Robert's blog. Please feel free to do yourself (and the rest of us) a huge favor and stay away. Thank you.

I listened to it (17+ minutes) and it was fairly decent, giving Gates' view of where the company is today, primarily from an application perspective. Note that the context of the interview is the MIX06 conference, which is targeted for app developers.

He did swing away from Atlas and other dev-only topics to talk about compatibility, as well as the Office 12 UI being so different (but easier to find functions).

It would be nice to have had an outline for the interview so you could click in for topics of interest.

Of course I was quite disappointed when Mr. Gates was asked what web sites he visits and he didn't mention a single blog site or even utter the word "RSS".

He mentioned that people within the company are constantly emailing him links to look at, so maybe somebody within MS could organize some of that into a blog and web feed. Doesn't Mr. Gates have a technical assistant?

And, we can always hope that Robert will one day con[vince] Mr. Gates to do some public blogging of his own... with comments enabled, of course.

-- Jack Krupansky

I agree - Coulter needs to get a life!

When will Jensen Harris be on Channel 9? It would be interesting to meet the guy who seems to have saved the entire Office franchise. The new UI he's developed will bring billions (literarily!) to Microsoft.

C9 along with all the bloggers makes Microsoft one of the most open large companies out there. Good stuff to track

also interesting to hear that BillG reads the blogs and C9 to keep track of what is happening in his own company. cool.

Maybe someone should ask BGates why Microsoft thinks it owns your computer.

The latest:
http://www.aviransplace.com/index.php/archives/...

Apparently Microsoft says you don't have a license after you upgrade your motherboard. Why not? It isn't like the old license was still in use. The only reason is that Microsoft is worried about losing out on a little revenue. Apparently all the money in the world will be just enough.

Uh - Mr. James Bailey, I have to point out a very obvious fact you left out. The license change is ONLY relevant to OEM copies of Windows, which is what you get when you buy a computer that INCLUDES the O/S. In this instance the O/S and computer are bundled - and the O/S has a discounted (to the OEM) price. So if you change the motherboard you don't need a *new* license - you need an *appropriate* license. Big difference...

nothing better do with your life other than stalk this blog and make anti-microsoft comments irrelevant of the post content or merit. Big of you!

So when I post cheerleading rah rah's I am having a "naked conversation", but when I go off the usual path, I am a "troll" or "stalking a blog" and need to "get a life"? It wasn't irrelevant to said topic, it was dead-on. Not always drinking the hype and joining whatever Web 2.0 fanclub, doesn't mean "off-topic" or "lacking merit" or even "Linux weenie" or "Apple Culter" (both of which I am not).

Per Gates blather: MIX06, as in 6 years of neglect, and now they hold an IE conference, after that laugh of IE 7 beta 2? It's not so much a conference as it is a feel-good loyalty test. Them being Microsoft will get enough volume to call it a success regardless of any real outcome. Another Search Champs gig, where they will listen, obtain free feedback, then promptly ignore most. Just think of it as glossed marketing. And then all the big spin about Windows Live, and left with a $30 shareware portal service, if that, for really really small companies. I am guessing wait until Ver 3, before it's worth even sniffing at.

Call me a "troll", "a blog stalker", or whatever, but deep down you know I am right.

When have you ever posted a cheerleading rah rah? No, Coulter, we don't know you're right - I think 'sad' is the more appropriate word. Readers of this blog and the comments get it already. You consider yourself outside of all fan clubs, you don't buy any hype, you don't think anything MS does is right or impressive and you obviously have all the answers. That schtick came across loud and clear after about oh, say, the 5th comment that you made here. Get a new routine and move on already.

Christopher - I'm not going to try and argue or defend your views on MS, because I haven't any reason to really know what they are. But have you used Office Live? I started a new business on Monday, and today I got my Office Live Beta invite. WTF, I thought, let me go check it out.

I did. In just a few hours I had:

1) Found and registered a new domain name (I have over 50 of them, so this isn't a big deal - but I did it seemlessly via Office Live, and didn't pay a cent (yet - I know)).

2) I created a web presence (of course, waiting for DNS, so it'll be a day or so before it's available)

3) I added myself and my employees to new email addresses based on the new domain.

4) I altered the standard views in Office Live to make them reflect the business I am building (Healthcare Recruiting). Almost every field is editable. I can add seemingly as many fields as I want - really, I've made remarkable progress for one day!

5) The integration with Outlook is really cool, although I know this won't mean much to those that don't use Outlook - to those of us that do, it is sweet!

6) I didn't have to worry about a hosting company, a backup mechanism, installing any servers, scripting languages - nothing. It was just all there.

So I am not arguing with most of your post, because I don't know enough about you to argue your points - but I do think I know more about Office Live than you do, and I think you are dead wrong. I haven't seen ANY service that would let me accomplish what I did today in the amount of time I accomplished it in. And this is Beta. Wait for "3.0"? No reason to. This works *now*. Yes, it needs improvement, yes it is difficult to navigate, yes it's BETA. But I'm damn happy with what I've seen so far, and I can't wait to see what "3.0" looks like.

I never said wasn't some value, but it's still very limited, which is why it is aimed really really small, not even mid-tier companies. Like Salesforce lite lite lite. But "Office Live" says Enterprise massive-hosted versions, indeed the marketing will fall flat. People will expect a super-netified Office 12, and then get this piddling "web service". Great for you perhaps, if need not much in way of CRM or SFA, but tons of other real solutions out there, just hunt and peck. It's a joke, but might be the groundwork for something eventually, but as with everything Microsoft, wake me me up when they get there.

Anyways, I better end this, before flame war ahoy. But as Scoble says, don't like my posts? Don't read them.

Get a new routine and move on already? Would you say the same to Scoble? ;)

Blogs, blogging, RSS, Parties, Microsoft Channel 9isms, Blogs, Dave Winer is God, Blogs, Web 2.0 rocks my world, Blogs, Blogs, I am A-List, you are not, Blogs. Blogs. Blog conferences. Name Drops, Blogs. Memetrackers. Blogs and still more Blogs.

Christopher,

I must say, I thought I was really kind to you in my post. But you offered no solid rebuttal that is based on anything but your preconceptions:

"which is why it is aimed really really small, not even mid-tier companies" - actually it is based on small businesses. I don't know what that means to you, or MS. I've been in 1500 person companies that did 650 million USD in a quarter, and I've been in two person companies that did 3 million a year. Which one is the small business?

"But “Office Live” says Enterprise massive-hosted versions, indeed the marketing will fall flat." - Really? It says Enterprise? Where? Oh, I get it - you bought into the whole "Office Live" is a set of online replacements for the Office Suite delusion. Tells me you aren't a developer (probably) because it is currently just not possible to replicate the Office Suit over HTML. It just isn't. I wish it were, and I can't wait until it is.

"People will expect a super-netified Office 12, and then get this piddling “web service” - I thought I did a good job in my last comment explaining why this isn't "piddling". Can you build the same functionality for me in one day that this service gave me? If you really truly can, let me know. If you are right, then you should be working for me.

"Great for you perhaps, if need not much in way of CRM or SFA, but tons of other real solutions out there, just hunt and peck. It’s a joke, but might be the groundwork for something eventually, but as with everything Microsoft, wake me me up when they get there." - It's not a joke - and I bet you $100 USD that in a year MS is making a significant revenue strwam from this service - and they won't be doing that if they are not satisfying customers and meeting needs.

So, you've managed to already convince me to flip the bozo button on you because you strike out with emotion that has no factual basis, and more importantly, you profess a knowledge of a "better way" without providing any evidence whatsoever of your credentials (or even specific examples of "better" portals than Office Live. In fact, I imagine you have no login for Office Live, and your comments are coming from complete ignorance, instead of informed exposure.

I really do encourage you to become at least somewhat informed about the items you are passionate about - whether it be passionate for, or against.

And yes, to the rest of the readers hear, I came in late, and perhaps I am wasting your time (and mine) in trying to educate Christopher, but damn - I was young and stupid once as well...

The main reason I read this blog is to see Christopher Coulter comments. They give a useful counterpoint to Scoble and show when he's got caught up in his own PR. They are also entertaining and lead to a better experience. I don't think MS is an ethical or even completely legal company, and I tend to agree more with Coulter than I do with Scoble's occasionally deluded ramblings. Also, please note that the "blogosphere" is currently an irrelevance and unimportant.

"Get a new routine and move on already? Would you say the same to Scoble?"

If Scoble was saying his stuff on somebody else's blogs for the sole purpose of being disagreeable on every single post, I would absolutely tell him to bug off. You are a nuisance. And for sanity's sake, learn English please. You need not post as if you're part of the 12 year old AOL generation. But maybe you think your being "right" all the time will be enhanced if you seem like you are mentally handicapped.

Get a new routine and move on already? Would you say the same to Scoble?

I find it weird you'd even say something like that. The difference between you and Scoble is that this is his blog. We (including you) choose to come here freely and read it. You, on the other hand, seem inclined to push your comedy routine over and over on the rest of us. You've obviously never actually used most of the products you criticize, and yet somehow you "know it all", choosing to espouse your opinions in a highly insulting manner. When people disagree, you call them idiots with little justification.

You sir, are a sad troll who justifies his own existance through the put-downs of others. No, I won't ask you to get a life, but I will ask you to get your own blog and leave Scoble alone.

Yup, they talked about something about web2.0, rss, and so on, I wonder what if Charles try to talk about FF with him?

Well, call me a troll, name-call or anything else. But I can't let "never actually used most of the products you criticize" go by. Actually I have and still do, you can't write movie reviews without seeing the movie (sotospeak), you can get indications, yes, (as anything directed by Uwe Boll will be a flop) but it's never real, until you have drunk deep from the well. And I am not ALWAYS in disagreement, rare moments in which I am on the same page. But telling the critics to bugger off and that they can't have conversations, is a bit one-sided. Just stating my 'naked conversation' opinion, and I am not disagreeable just on account of Scoble being Scoble, rather as so much of what he says is all Silicon Valley and Microsoft vaporware haze.

As far as my credentials, a few CIO Tour of Duties would suffice. But hey, I thought in blogging, no one needs credentials, the enthusiast and amateurs are in charge, that being the part of the charm, no longer will "PR Gatekeepers", "experts" and "MSM" speak for us, blah blah blah. The (press) world is flat, doncha know?

And actually half the reason I post here and take the abuse, is because seemingly half of Microsoft, privately edges me on. And that's a good company that can vent both sides. Hey, I said something good about Microsoft. Just for all the bloggers, very few of the real discussions come forth, Mini-Microsoft being an exception, but it's still too Developer-focused. I want a Mini-Microsoft on the strategy Software Assurance front. Directions on Microsoft and Mary Jo are the best at this, but no real bloggers, as such would be near career suicide. So all the blogging in the world, and you still can't get straight stories. Irony that. Anyways, End Prog.

Your have opinions on everything, some of which, as you point out, are on products that aren't even real yet. How could you have possibly used them? At best, you've touched a couple smartphones, browsed a couple sites, installed some software. On that basis, you come here and blast away with an undiscerning shotgun.

The problem is that somehow you see yourself as taking the abuse. Look around. Until a few people stood up to you on Scoble's behalf in this thread, no one (not even Scoble) responds to most of your rantings. I'm generally a lurker on most of the blogs I frequent, but your inflammatory remarks finally motivated me to post a response.

The truth is that you're the one abusing Scoble. The worst you can accuse Scoble of is irrational exuberance. Fine, but he's an evangelist; if he wasn't like that, he wouldn't be doing his job. You, on the other hand, are just being (pardon my french) a prick. You do the very same things you accuse Scoble of (using a company press release as fact because some random news outlet "vetted" it? please.....) and worse, yet you feel that your lone crusade is somehow justified. Any dissenting opinions are just brushed aside with a derisive snort.

I'm not even sure how you get the idea that "seemingly half of Microsoft, privately edges me on". That's megalomania of the highest sort. Do they send psychic "encouragement" waves saying "Go, Chris, go"? While I agree that MS (much as I hate to say it) is a company that can vent in public, methinks you presume too much of their support. I doubt 100 MS employees even know who you are, let alone care.

Directions on Microsoft is a strategic research firm. I thought you didn't believe in those? Or do you only believe the ones that re-affirm your formed opinions? As for Mary Jo Foley, while her editorials are occasionally insightful, they are more often based on hearsay, innuendo and straight out speculation. Hardly the gold standard I'd hold to.

Still, I'll give you credit, this is probably one of your more reasonable posts. I could actually detect an even keeled tone in your response. Perhaps the Ann Coulter in you is dissapating?