RSSGartenberg Becomes Microsoft Evangelist
By Ed Oswald | Published February 15, 2007, 3:57 PM
One of the country's most well-known tech analysts has a new gig: evangelizing Microsoft.
Michael Gartenberg, who for the past five years worked for JupiterResearch, and prior to that had a seven year stint with Gartner, will join the Redmond company as an "enthusiast evangelist."
He will work with people such as Jeff Sandquist, who leads the teams who create Channel 9 and 10. One of Gartenberg's roles would be to create content for Channel 10.
His work will roughly approximate that of Robert Scoble, who left Microsoft for work with podcasting startup PodTech Network in June of last year.
"Jeff's helping to put together an interesting team," said Scoble.
Gartenberg says his decision to leave more has to do with a change in his goals, or going from a "babysitter" to being a "parent." In the analyst role, he could only spend short amounts of time with the technology, whereas in the evangelist role he will be able to surround himself with it.
"Whether it's work, school or home, Microsoft has the potential to change lives even more than they already have," he wrote in a web log entry Thursday. "Who else could deliver mission critical technology to the business world, create the best Smartphone operating system, build a successful platform for console games take on the iPod. All at the same time."
Not everybody was in agreement with his decision. "I, for one, am entirely disappointed. Your credibility just went into the crapper," a commenter named Jay responded. "You've become part of the MSFT's 'Ministry of Disinformation'; the new Scoble - only far more dangerous, as you are tremendously more literate and articulate. Microsoft chose well."
I find it difficult to understand why Microsoft has any need for another drum beater. They could hire Todd Rundgren, but he doesn't want to work.
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|****ing haters
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|ROFLMAO!
Talk to the hand...
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|-yawn- haters -yawn-
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|I hope no one minds if I do a little editorializing on Michael's behalf: I'm absolutely certain that Michael Gartenberg is a man of integrity, and he is making this move in his career because this is what he believes in, not because he's been assimilated.
I had the good fortune of being seated next to Michael at the Xbox 360 rollout event last year at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. There we had a chance to chat about Microsoft's "Windows Anywhere" scheme, as it was being referred to at the time, which has since evolved into its Xbox Live/Windows Live strategy. The idea is to connect gamers with something fuzzy and indistinguishable called "content," and I've always been skeptical of anything that pitches "content" in a generic fashion, as something you'll like once you try it, like Soylent Green.
Michael explained to me why he believed the system would work. He said gamers are social creatures, not recluses as they're often portrayed. Gamers want to be a part of something big, and what Microsoft is building - wisely, in his view - is a community. The content is merely the stuff of transactions that holds the community together, but it's really the community that matters more than the content.
This is a solid point of view; what's more, he persuaded me, at least on this point. And that's not an easy thing to do. If Michael's found a new way to honorably monetize his ability to be persuasive on Microsoft's behalf, then good for him.
Something else: Microsoft's corporate conduct was egregious at several points in its history. But the probability of similar conduct reappearing with men like Michael Gartenberg in that company, has just plummeted. And if it did turn up again anyway, I would count on Michael to make it plain and to hold his own company accountable.
-SF3
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|It's really rather sad that Microsoft has to buy companies, bribe governments, file daily lawsuits, hand out free powerful 64-bit laptops to bloggers, and buy off critics just to get them to say something nice about their products.
Microsoft could save billions by merely listening to their customers. Oh wait, that'll never happen.
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|It's called marketing you twat.
MS ain't the only boat afloat in that sea.
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|Yeah! They never listen to their customers!
/sarcasm
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|Micosoft BORG is asamilating everyone into the collective
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|It's called marketing you twat.
MS ain't the only boat afloat in that sea.
No Its called bieng a BIG BULLY
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|It's called marketing you twat.
MS ain't the only boat afloat in that sea.
No Its called bieng a BIG BULLY
It's called marketing you twat.
MS ain't the only boat afloat in that sea.
No Its called bieng a BIG BULLY
I disagree. (I still had to copy-paste your stuff..hmm..twice..cuz it really seemed hmm essential).
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|OMG that is such an old and tired cliche. Come back with something original.
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|Apage satanas!
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|Isn't it amazing how much enthusiasm a little (or allot of) cash buys.
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