andilinks — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:35:00 +0000

Quote: ...but what are we actually doing about it?

I have chosen sides but I don't actually do much beyond following the issues on digg, techdirt, etc. and expressing my opinion from time to time.

I don't have a real foothold in this battle of the titans, I'm just an observer with a database to tend.

JeevesBond — Mon, 22 May 2006 12:53:43 +0000

andilinks wrote: Huge corporations are assualting the nature of the internet from all sides now that it is apparent to them what a real threat it poses. This will be an interesting century.

I agree with you on the second point, but am certain those corporations would see it as turning a threat into an opportunity. Depends upon your viewpoint! The fate of the Internet is really in the hands of those who use it, it's all very well to complain about large corporations like Microsoft - with their inflexible view of the net as something to be conquered and owned - but what are we actually doing about it? How are we educating the average user to steer away from Windows and Internet Explorer? Or fighting software patents?

andilinks — Sun, 21 May 2006 15:03:11 +0000

Quote: ...and more business people in my experience seem to have hotmail accounts, why is that?

I guess they just haven't heard that gmail is way better. I use a pop account for the spammy stuff, web-based email has matured into a better product. At least the Google version has. It's looking like Google may plan to use Gmail as a back door into enterprise networks, though "Gmail on your domain" didn't appeal to me.

Quote: I get the feeling Microsoft just don't *get* what the Internet is all about.

Huge corporations are assualting the nature of the internet from all sides now that it is apparent to them what a real threat it poses. This will be an interesting century.

demonhale — Sun, 21 May 2006 14:07:05 +0000

I get what you mean jeeves, i only have a hotmail account for the messenger... and more business people in my experience seem to have hotmail accounts, why is that?

JeevesBond — Sun, 21 May 2006 13:26:22 +0000

For the next glitch (and Microsoft still obsessing about Firefox):

Windows Live Mail wrote:
Whoops!

You may have noticed that some of the new features in Windows Live Mail Beta have gone missing!

Well, you’re right. We hit a couple of bumps with our most recent release, but we’re working hard to bring back the great new features.

In the meantime, we’ve restored the service to the prior release so that you can keep using Windows Live Mail Beta.

For all you Firefox users out there, this means that you’re getting our Classic Hotmail experience again. Don’t worry – we’ll get your new Windows Live experience working as soon as we can!

This is all new stuff we’re doing so we appreciate your patience while we work the kinks out.

Ummm, yet again... I use Opera?! I get the feeling Microsoft just don't *get* what the Internet is all about. It's not about market share or ownership, it's about freedom and choice. My choice as a user to have whatever browser I want. They still, like so many so-called Web Designers , just don't understand the point of the Internet. Anyone who disagrees, ask yourself why the Internet became popular if it wasn't as a method for people to explore a new freedom of expression?

Support standards, not browsers. Follow that mantra and annoying mistakes like this wouldn't happen. They've put a nice spin on it, but the signs Microsoft have not changed at all are showing through the cracks.

The only reason I have a Hotmail account is for spammy stuff, you know sites that make you sign-up to access content etc.

Megan — Thu, 18 May 2006 20:26:49 +0000

Seems kind of desperate, don't you think?

JeevesBond — Thu, 18 May 2006 20:07:59 +0000

Ok, so am running Linux here, anyone with IE signed up for the trial? Anyone fancy doing it to see what they're up to?

Or shall I have a look when am at work, to be honest am unsure whether I'll be able to bear to use IE for long enough to sign up.

Megan — Thu, 18 May 2006 16:12:32 +0000

Now this is scary. Free hosting, free domain, free "professional" (ha ha) website. "Let Microsoft keep your Web site up and running" (no, run away screaming!)

demonhale — Sat, 13 May 2006 03:22:14 +0000

A friend(bryan) told me to reply on this thread as he said...

"Microsoft is only doing that because they are scared of flex."

Megan — Thu, 04 May 2006 13:13:52 +0000

I took a look around that site for a bit too. God, it's annoying! Ajax is meant to make things faster and easier, but that site is just slow and annoying. And "cool" stuff like drag & drop is no good if they have to tell you how to use it.