Microsoft should just focus on Windows and productivity software. The business strategy here is simple: buy out competition, own the market, and make crap products that people will buy cause there are not longer any (decent) alternatives. Looks like some people skipped Business Ethics 101 back in college. ;o)

In any case, Microsoft has tried repeatedly to get into already-overloaded markets, only to provide us with a good laugh. Alas, those that worship the Microsoft emblem buy blindly into their branding superiority and the big hype only to be sorely disappointed again and again, each time rationalizing with a lame excuse, mere denial as it stands. XBox is a GREAT example. Here's a gaming console that was made by non-gamers and is supposedly for hardcore gamers. Then it is marketed as an "entertainment system" but it lacks variety as well as out-of-box functionality and flexibility. Quite annoying...

But I digress... The point is this: Microsoft should focus on certain industries and get better at what they are obviously not too good at. System security offerings from a company whose products are often hacked and exploited doesn't exactly make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Of course, their strong-arm tactics will preveal and people will be backed into a corner, forced to make a choice that really isn't a choice cause it lacks the element of free will.

If I were Microsoft, I'd add more functionality to Windows so that it is worth the hefty price tag. Furthermore, I'd make it more stable and more efficient so resources do not get gulped-up by orphan processes and recurring processes/infinite loops. Ah... In an ideal world maybe, eh? Well, let me be a lemming and buy all Microsoft products for the sake of uniformity, since any other reason would likely be BS. ;oP

Okie.. I will go home with my picket fence mob now... >=o)

What exactly is the X-Box 'missing'? There is NOTHING in ANY other console that the X-Box does not have, and there are a few things that the X-Box does have that NO other console has.
You also claim that it wasn't made by gamers... care to expound upon such an unsubstantiated claim?

Windows is now a very stable system, and if you keep track of patches and run a firewall (something that is needed for EVERY OS) you are pretty well safe, but alas, nothing is ever completely safe.

Care to explain the new functionality that you want to see?

It seems that you are speaking about apples and I'm talking about pears. On the hardware layer, the XBox is fine but, it is not a gaming console nor is it a full-blown entertainment system. I stand by this for MANY reasons which I do not wish to get into now as I've already smacked down enough MS junkies as it is. I use their stuff, I own a lot of their hardware and software alike, and I even play XBox quite a bit but that doesn't mean that I am completely satisfied with my experiences thereof and, compared with alternatives, things lack. What helps XBox is Microsoft's buy-out-the-competition strategy and the fact that they own exclusive rights to many titles.

In any case, I digress.. This is not a forum for discussions of such things. I only brought that up to support my point: Microsoft should not diversify their offerings but, instead, fix their existing product lines and focus on QA, R&D, and the customer-focus that they lack thereof. Windows is quite stable and I agree but it took several hit-and-miss attempts. There is still much lacking and, when they finally seem to have it right, they go and mess it up. Windows XP is okay but I prefer Windows 2000. My benchmarks have yielded better results with a Win2K config and I can care very little what anyone has found as, in the end, my experience is what's matter to me. I think everyone should be the same way and not listen to the snobs, all the hype, and things that really do not internalize as well as your own best judgement and experiences.

My point is plain and simple: Microsoft is using their marketing muscle to claim large portions of every market possible so, in the end, they do nothing above and beyond the call duty. There stuff just works.. If you're lucky. With these products they are now planning, people will buy into them blindly, like it, tell their friends, create a dependency, and then be stuck with yet another product that constantly steals from their pockets. Not to mention that it'll be a WHOLE new other set of systems exploits, bugs, and security breaches. YAY!

Again, I use Microsoft products in my daily life and I work with their products on every level from user to dev to admin to tech. As so, I have developed my own STRONG opinions on subjects revolving around the infamous M$ and with due reason (unlike some the liberal/radical Linux users that just want to dismiss MS as the evil empire for no particular reason of their own.. not always the case, of course). Microsoft, to me, has abandoned many of their great products and initiatives, thus effectively turning their backs on their customers. It's all hype.. all hopes for something better that never really comes. Maybe Longhorn will deliver but I'm not exactly excited about PC Satisfaction; use Snort and some other utilities, don't fund the evil empire (LOL). =oX

This is a discussion forum, where we discuss things.

State your problems with the various products you mentioned... you never know who will see it.

I, myself, test Windows, Office, Win Messenger, Windows Update, TabletPC SDK, and PC Satisfaction. It is always good to hear what other people have gripes with and what other people like, as it can be passed down through bug reports, beta newgroup messages, etc...

Not "low"

I mean behold. Or maybe be old. Whatever.

"Interesting thing; They were asking us a bunch of questions months back about AV (i.e. DAT file update method, how frequently should an AV company update DATs, etc.) and we thought it was due to our partnership," one vendor who asked to remain anonymous told BetaNews. "Then, low and behold, out pops PC Satisfaction. Coincidence?"

There's a sucker born every minute, or every second in internet time.