Massif wrote:
How do you think c9 have done on the corporate transpacency front? Is it a window into the workings of one of the largest and most successful companies of all time? Or a PR exercise targetted at a few elitest coders?
::: cue predictable response :::

It feels like a combination of both. I think it is partly a PR exercise (still) and partly an attempt at transparency, which was long overdue.

Why it's a PR stunt:

1) Microsoft needed an image change after the whole antitrust deal
2) They need an alternate way to promote their dev. technologies
3) It's a conversation; but you are constantly viewed as a "customer". Think about that a minute. Or two. Or five.
4) By making dev. technologies more personable, their products feel more "personable"; which sells more tobacco product
5) They are losing more and more coders to "alternate" platforms

Why it's not:

1) It's only targeted at developers, and the general public could care less
2) Some of the videos are very off the cuff, which is refreshing.
3) You can learn a lot from the videos, and I wish more companies would do this