2nd class citizens | The Coffeehouse

martin_lovick
vi all the way!

evening all,

heres a question for microsoft,

why is everyone in the UK treated as second class citizens when it comes to microsoft?

the vast majority of offers/downloads/free things are only available in the US...

why is this?? we buy your software too (we often end up paying more).....

your thoughts people....

</rant>

BenZillaTheSecond

International trade laws: Serious buisness!

jason818_253.33
Yippi skippy

martin_lovick wrote:
evening all,

heres a question for microsoft,

why is everyone in the UK treated as second class citizens when it comes to microsoft?

the vast majority of offers/downloads/free things are only available in the US...

why is this?? we buy your software too (we often end up paying more).....

your thoughts people....

</rant>

I dont exactly agree with you. But maybe you can give some specific examples. Your comment is one blanketing remark, wide in its scope and if your able to narrow it down a bit you might get a more accurate answer.

dotnetjunkie

Well, he has a point.

It is definitely true that we pay more.
Prices outside US are often far more expensive.

Lots of (free) offers are US only, but of course we also have local actions from time to time...

jason818_253.33
Yippi skippy

I dont live out side of the US and so you would know better than I. I think its the '2nd class citizens' part that thows me. I dont think any one is trying to make any one feel like a 2nd class citizen.

phreaks

dotnetjunkie wrote:
Well, he has a point.

It is definitely true that we pay more.
Prices outside US are often far more expensive.

Lots of (free) offers are US only, but of course we also have local actions from time to time...

Perhaps if the EU weren't trying to suck Microsoft dry with their ridiculous fines and actions, Microsoft might offer more free products in EU countries.

I am guessing the EU will attempt to force MS to provide these free offerings sometime in the near future, while ignoring the practices of ther competitors no doubt. Expressionless

/sarcasm?

BryanF

jason818_253.33 wrote:
I dont live out side of the US and so you would know better than I. I think its the '2nd class citizens' part that thows me. I dont think any one is trying to make any one feel like a 2nd class citizen.

I agree: "2nd class citizens" is over-the-top and meladramtic. I'm not sure what the reasons are, but it couldn't hurt to phrase the question a bit more constructively.

...maybe you could ask the EC? Tongue Out

(Not helpful, I know. Sorry...)

EDIT: Phreaks beat me to the EC reference. Rats.

dotnetjunkie

phreaks wrote:

Perhaps if the EU weren't trying to suck Microsoft dry with their ridiculous fines and actions, Microsoft might offer more free products in EU countries.
/sarcasm?

No, no, you are completely right of course.
The EU citizens don't agree at all with that stupid decision.

But then again, studies conducted in 2005 showed that only 27% of citizens in the EU trust the EU and its government...

alwaysmc2
It's not stupid; It's advanced!

I would assume that the higher prices outside the U.S. comes from tariffs. So Microsoft doesn't profit any more just because you pay more.

But I would blame politics on the "only available in the U.S." software. Microsoft wants to make everyone happy, because happy customers pay for new stuff.

martin_lovick
vi all the way!

its just the things like the free training CDs (ie http://www.appdev.com/promo/freecd.asp?PC=SN00031) which are limited to US only.

Such resources could be extremely useful to everyone. Dont get me wrong, microsoft do provide lots of things to download (VS express edition) which is good, it would just be nicer if they made all of their 'free' offers universal.

Another_Darren
... than you can shake a stick at

martin_lovick wrote:
its just the things like the free training CDs (ie http://www.appdev.com/promo/freecd.asp?PC=SN00031) which are limited to US only.

I'm from the UK and I do feel sometimes that we don't the great software/training offers like the US, but I wonder is that an issue with UK offices of MS for not trying to source or provide these offers?

Let's be honest if MS US oofices overed a free CD to the UK then they would probably have to offer it in other countries, the postage costs would be huge.

AdrianJMartin

Heres one:

As a MSDN Universal subscriber, I would be entitled to a free one year subscription to MSDN Magazine if i lived in the US - I have to pay $25 for this.... granted it's ONLY $25 but theres paper work involved!

Sabot
My name is Dave Oliver. I'm a Technical Architect.

martin_lovick wrote:
evening all,

heres a question for microsoft,

why is everyone in the UK treated as second class citizens when it comes to microsoft?

the vast majority of offers/downloads/free things are only available in the US...

why is this?? we buy your software too (we often end up paying more).....

your thoughts people....

</rant>

I'm not sure I agree !

Microsoft UK creates a whole wealth of UK only content specially in the Development space. The trick is knowing where to look or who to ask sometimes.

This is the link to the MSDN UK portal. From 'Support' down on the right hand frame is all UK specific links, it the jump point to a gold-mine of UK stuff.

What would you like help in ?

As for training CD's ... I'm swimming in the things ... come to more development community events in UK!