Ping 10: Microsoft Tags, Six Degrees of Live Messenger, Xbox bundle & more...

Laura & Max,

I thought you too were evangelists.  I've always wanted to apply to a position like that, though I've mostly only seen engineering positions.  I've also been told I'm way too happy on Monday Morning.  I'm the guy at work people want to kick.  I'm also the guy who has to tell someone when I figure something cool out.  I will tell anyone who will listen!  I was told to start blogging.

Anyway, shameless self-promotion out of the way and moving on.

As for Microsoft's multiple different products which do similar things, it is confusing.  Heck, having three different versions of Windows is confusing enough, let alone five or six different sync frameworks.  I’m having a feature complete hangover!  I think that does come from acquiring different companies and different groups developing parallel ideas, but it may also be the result of intercompany competition. 

Sometimes having different product offerings is good, sometimes it's confusing, it really depends.  I have never used LiveSync, FolderShare, OneNote, Groove, Sync Framework, but I have used Mesh.  So I figure if I can understand one those ideas, I can probably understand all of them.  For all I now, Mesh could use a combination of all of those technologies at one point.  I will find the one that works for me.  It all boils down to choice.  I like being able to choose the right tool to get my work done.

That being said, it's up to Microsoft to deliver a coherent consistent tool set to its customers.  You know that book, Don’t Make Me Thing, the one about web design, same applies, I should be able to scan a list, and pick the technology I want based on how many checkboxes match my requirements.  Sometimes I feel like I'm being nickel and dimed to death by choices.  Sometimes I scream, “I just want to get my data from A to B, help me!”.

I think for me the one thing Microsoft could do that would immensely improve their products, is to provide a consistent portal to access everything.  I mean EVERYTHING, one stop shopping for everything Microsoft.  A digital concierge of sorts.  I know that If I want a Google thing, I just need to go to Google and click the "more" link and I'll find it.  Same goes for Amazon, Best Buy, etc.  With Microsoft, you sometimes have to know what page to click on or you get frustrated and Google it.  I know when Windows 7 Beta came out; I had to Google because it wasn’t obvious on the Microsoft.com where to get it.

Hope that feedback helps.

Great job on the ping episode, you got Max to say porn, and playboy, Laura, you should be proud.

Cheers!
Chris