And now a word from Microsoft
Among other things I am the IT department at my office. So in keeping up with technology today I attended a Microsoft presentation hosted by our IT consulting firm. Two bona fide Microsoft employees were there to show off their stuff. Which in typical Microsoft fashion didn’t quite work 100%. I have to admire these guys as their job is to talk enthusiastically about products they seem to know don’t live up to the hype. And they have to do this in front of a tough, knowledgeable audience. Most of the presentation went something like this:
Microsoft Guy: Here’s this great security tool already built into the capabilities of the fantastic Microsoft product you’re already using all you have to do is download the additional tools. You can present this great solution to the executives at your company and when they ask well how much is it going to cost you can say it won’t cost anything and it’ll greatly improve the security of our network.
Audience member: Yes, but that assumes you are running all the latest greatest products for your server, desktop, office applications and database. And then you have to pay client access license fees for each user who wants to use this software you claim is free.
MG: That’s a good point, you’re right you do need the latest greatest software. Many of you already have that. And when you consider the $20 million lawsuit the company could face if some confidential document is leaked outside the company the CAL fees are really a much cheaper option.
The MG’s didn’t seem to have answers to a lot of questions except to say “we’re working on that” or suggest the customer have IT consultants come in to help work through compatibility and deployment issues. To which the common audience response was I don’t have money for consultants. Why am I paying so much to Microsoft for software, license and support fees and then have to have to pay someone else to come in and solve all the problems?
All in all I did learn a few things. And it was interesting to see how Microsoft presents itself to a group of educated consumers. Unfortunately I had to leave before they raffled off the Halo door prizes – Xbox360 not included.
Microsoft Guy: Here’s this great security tool already built into the capabilities of the fantastic Microsoft product you’re already using all you have to do is download the additional tools. You can present this great solution to the executives at your company and when they ask well how much is it going to cost you can say it won’t cost anything and it’ll greatly improve the security of our network.
Audience member: Yes, but that assumes you are running all the latest greatest products for your server, desktop, office applications and database. And then you have to pay client access license fees for each user who wants to use this software you claim is free.
MG: That’s a good point, you’re right you do need the latest greatest software. Many of you already have that. And when you consider the $20 million lawsuit the company could face if some confidential document is leaked outside the company the CAL fees are really a much cheaper option.
The MG’s didn’t seem to have answers to a lot of questions except to say “we’re working on that” or suggest the customer have IT consultants come in to help work through compatibility and deployment issues. To which the common audience response was I don’t have money for consultants. Why am I paying so much to Microsoft for software, license and support fees and then have to have to pay someone else to come in and solve all the problems?
All in all I did learn a few things. And it was interesting to see how Microsoft presents itself to a group of educated consumers. Unfortunately I had to leave before they raffled off the Halo door prizes – Xbox360 not included.
| 15:59
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