1. Does a union exist at Microsoft?

No, but could they really make a worse product if there was?


Bob Crantz wrote:
Software does crash a fair amount, most noticeably third party software in a
windows environment.


And why is that?
1- windows is poorly documented
2- windows is bloated with all sorts of code that is either holdover
from other versions, or unimplemented functions (they couldn't get it to
work but left it in)
3- windows has been deliberately programmed to crash certain competing
products

Let's try "all the above."



2. How many employees of Microsoft have become millionaires thanks to
Microsoft?

Lots and lots... due to a bizarre fluke of stock market history and a
large amount of corporate steamrollering


3. How many layoffs has Microsoft had?

Lots, actually.


Ballpark number? 1,000 10,000? 100,000?

How about this... more than 1,000 but not as manay as 100,000




4. How many jobs have Microsoft moved offshore?

Lots, actually (see #3 above)


Let's see a few references. Not jobs created offshore, but actual jobs moved
away.


Did you read my answers? All through the 1990s MS was moving employees
out the door under a program of replacing them with "contractors" (often
the same people working at the same desk) who of course got far less
money, benefits, etc etc.


5. How many people have become millionaires owning Microsoft stock?

Probably fewer than #2 above.


If the employees of microsoft became millionaires by stock option and
others, not working for microsoft also became millionaires by owning stock,
then wouldn't this number be greater than the people in #2?


That was not clearly explained. IMHO the number of non-MS-employees who
have become millionaires *solely thru MS stock* is less than the number
of MS employees who have become millionaires. MS was giving quite
generous options (ie stock at far less than market price) back in the
early days.


6. Point out 3 examples of greed at Microsoft.

You mean other than every program they've ever released without
appropriate debugging?


Is greed really delivering a product that doesn't work in every environment?


It is if that is the result of cutting development costs and then
charging full frieght for the product.


GREED: "a selfish desire for more than one needs or deserves." Who
determines what Bill Gates needs or deserves? You or Bill Gates? I view
greed as desire for the unearned. Gates earned every penny.

I disagree. Gates has made a number of very slimy business deals, broken
a number of laws, and coerced other businesses to do things his way, to
his advantage. I suppose that since no gunfire was involved, it can be
considered "earning" the money.

... No one was
coerced into buying his product.

That's where you're wrong. When you buy a PC you are buying a number of
Microsoft products, at a high price... and do you get any choice? Do you
get any support?

If Microsoft had to depend on people choosing Windows off a store shelf,
IMHO they'd be a footnote in computer history by now.

Regards
Doug King

Doug,

I agree with most of what you have said. Contractors are paid more per hour
than employees. For some people being a contractor is better than being an
employee.

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
1. Does a union exist at Microsoft?

No, but could they really make a worse product if there was?


Bob Crantz wrote:
Software does crash a fair amount, most noticeably third party software
in a
windows environment.


And why is that?
1- windows is poorly documented
2- windows is bloated with all sorts of code that is either holdover
from other versions, or unimplemented functions (they couldn't get it to
work but left it in)
3- windows has been deliberately programmed to crash certain competing
products

Let's try "all the above."



2. How many employees of Microsoft have become millionaires thanks to
Microsoft?

Lots and lots... due to a bizarre fluke of stock market history and a
large amount of corporate steamrollering


3. How many layoffs has Microsoft had?

Lots, actually.


Ballpark number? 1,000 10,000? 100,000?

How about this... more than 1,000 but not as manay as 100,000




4. How many jobs have Microsoft moved offshore?

Lots, actually (see #3 above)


Let's see a few references. Not jobs created offshore, but actual jobs
moved
away.


Did you read my answers? All through the 1990s MS was moving employees
out the door under a program of replacing them with "contractors" (often
the same people working at the same desk) who of course got far less
money, benefits, etc etc.


5. How many people have become millionaires owning Microsoft stock?

Probably fewer than #2 above.


If the employees of microsoft became millionaires by stock option and
others, not working for microsoft also became millionaires by owning
stock,
then wouldn't this number be greater than the people in #2?


That was not clearly explained. IMHO the number of non-MS-employees who
have become millionaires *solely thru MS stock* is less than the number
of MS employees who have become millionaires. MS was giving quite
generous options (ie stock at far less than market price) back in the
early days.


6. Point out 3 examples of greed at Microsoft.

You mean other than every program they've ever released without
appropriate debugging?


Is greed really delivering a product that doesn't work in every
environment?


It is if that is the result of cutting development costs and then
charging full frieght for the product.


GREED: "a selfish desire for more than one needs or deserves." Who
determines what Bill Gates needs or deserves? You or Bill Gates? I view
greed as desire for the unearned. Gates earned every penny.

I disagree. Gates has made a number of very slimy business deals, broken
a number of laws, and coerced other businesses to do things his way, to
his advantage. I suppose that since no gunfire was involved, it can be
considered "earning" the money.

... No one was
coerced into buying his product.

That's where you're wrong. When you buy a PC you are buying a number of
Microsoft products, at a high price... and do you get any choice? Do you
get any support?

If Microsoft had to depend on people choosing Windows off a store shelf,
IMHO they'd be a footnote in computer history by now.

Regards
Doug King

Bob Crantz wrote:
Doug,

I agree with most of what you have said.

There is some virtue in fact... not much, most of the time, but some

... Contractors are paid more per hour
than employees.

Not always. If this is the case, the difference is usually made up in
loss of benefits.

... For some people being a contractor is better than being an
employee.


Agreed.

The picture has changed and people's attitudes are catching up. 15 years
ago, if you said to 10,000 workers "would you rather make $10/hr with
benefits or $14/hr with no benefits" they would all have taken more
money. Nowadays the benefit package would sway more, possibly a majority.

IMHO (cynic that I am) the economy is better off handing more dollars to
workers to run out & spend at their own discretion. Let the
profit-raking insurance companies & "risk management consultants" etc
etc compete by offering services directly, "off the shelf" and only to
those who really need it! The money that I gave up last year to pay for
other people's health care could have bought my wife & myself a *very*
nice boat... not an Oyster, mind you... but I shouldn't complain, we
already have a really nice boat...

Regards
Doug King