Dear Microsoft, For years I have been a big fan of your company, products and people. In fact, I own Microsoft shares.
And I’ve even been to the Microsoft Museum. Unfortunately, I am dumping you for OS X and Web 2.0.
Let me say first that I understand the position you’re in, really. You’re trying to please all the people all the time. There’s a lot of pressure to perform like you did as an adolescent. Unfortunately, for all of the wonderful changes that are taking place inside, I still feel that you’re not at the center of my life as you once were. And I am not the only one who is fed up. Just look at Jeff Jarvis. He bought a PowerBook too.
Today, the Web is where the action is. It’s the new OS. This means I can safely return to my old flame – the Mac – and yet still experience most, if not all of the hot new applications that are being built on AJAX on my new 15″ G4 PowerBook. In addition, I don’t have to put up with patches, viruses, spyware, slowdowns, bloated registries anymore. And if I need to have a one night stand with you, I always have that option. You’re on call.
I was at Gnomedex. I felt the love in the room as you embraced RSS. Heck, I wore the jacket. And I am sure Longhorn will be hot and it will get many more people using feeds. But I fear that by the time Longhorn comes out (next year?) you will be less relevant than before. More people will be gravitating to the new wave of Web applications built on AJAX. Many of these applications will suffice as a more than adequate replacement for the 2% of Microsoft’s product features they use regularly. Look at the success of Gmail and Backpack – not to mention Socialtext and Wikipedia. That has to have you worried – perhaps just as much as the large number of Macs you faced in the room.
If I were you, I’d make a big bet like you have in the past. I would bet the company on Web 2.0. I would start developing new Web apps that make us say G-who? So far, you’ve been largely absent from this party – like the quarterback who skips the high school prom because he can’t get a date. Put your chin up, incetivize your PhDs and start embracing the Web as OS. MSN Virtual Earth looks like a good start – but give us more.
The good news is that I’d like to stay friends. Not only am I willing to help you out however I can, I will still stick with Office 2004 for the Mac – at least until there’s a Google Office that replaces it.
Wuba Wuba Wuba
Forever your friend,
Steve
Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.
He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.