Comments on: Windows Live offers Microsoft a quicker turnaround

In Redmond's new "rolling thunder" approach to services, Windows Live releases arrive with lightning speed.

[Earl Benser]

Funny thing happened on the waay to Windows Live

It just sat there doing nothing. Well, it did say 'loading' but after 10
minutes, even the greatest MS fan would have to admit that
nothing was actually happening. Can't hardly tell whether or not an
MS product is any good if you can't get to the product.

So far, this one is an absolute loser. At least, now anything in
Windows Live's future would be an improvement.

[Earl Benser]

Update.....

Windows Live just doesn't like Safari. Seems to work okay with
FireFox. But now that I get to see Windows Live, it seems rather
obvious that Windows Live is essentially the same as Google,
Netscape, or other opening pages. Nothing seems novel, but then
I'm not too sure that by now, the Windows Live approach itself is in
any way novel. Just one more hog at the trough, And there are
bigger and better hogs already there.

[Mr. Dee]

What about Windows Live Spaces?

Although it does not reflect the change, http://spaces.msn.com was officially made a member of the Windows Live family of services. Its not in the chart.

[hugh dunnit]

looks pretty good..

some of the feeds aren't loading but I like the ease of use and ability to customize it towards individual wants/needs. I don't use a home page normally, but I might like to use this... that is if they get it to work right with firefox.

[cwgmpls]

What's New?

The article states "Microsoft has added more than a dozen new products under the ever-growing Windows Live umbrella." Yet it doesn't mention any of these "new products", other than the Warhol vaporware. And if I go to live.com all I see is a repackaging of products that have all been around for a while. Virus scanning, email, messaging, etc.

More than a dozen "new" products? I don't see one yet.

This seems like nothing but a publicity stunt. Re-package everything that everyone else has been doing for a while and call it "innovation".

Certainly, a company with the resources that Microsoft has should be leading computer industry innovation. But there is more to innovation than clever marketing, which is all I've seen from Live so far.

[itworker--2008]

What's New??

Need to look at this URL
http://ideas.live.com/

I didn't know Office Live was actually available

[Sentinel]

Monthly subscription program

"Live" era of software huh? That means that pretty soon, MS will start its long-awaited monthly subscription programs. That's right, pay 5.99 a month for using Excel and Word. Hey, it's cheaper than paying $400 all at one time.

The sad thing is that people will follow along, and because it supposedly eliminates piracy, the government will allow this extortion scheme to continue, regardless of the supposed rights of the end user.

Even if these "Web Services" are free, they shouldn't be used. If MS gives something for free, they are only doing so to stifle competition.

So far, I have not seen anything new or very innovative on live.com. The news I read here, or netscape. They usually have the more interesting headlines. For search, I have google. Basically, there is a better (or at least more popular alternative) to anything live.com has to offer. Sorry Microsoft, you will not convert me today!

[t8]

Live.com cannot google.

I prefer the simple no nonsense approach of Google's search engine.

The thing with Microsoft is that they cannot help themselves when it comes to bloat. Everything they do ends up big and fat like them. I remember when Messenger was lighter than ICQ, now it is a fat dog. Google is the only company who knows how to create light and fast products and services and keep them that way. Google's products work well with none of the extra crap.

When I order a hamburger I don't want all the extra stuff unless I ask for it.

Microsoft just cannot goooooogle, coz they are toooo fat.

[jackharvest]

Microsoft too fat.

Interesting way to put it, but very true. Google rolls out with new products all the time, and are super willing to let customers try what they're working on. Do you know why they can let people try their stuff? It's because it's not FAT. FAT can hurt your computer - that's why it took so long for user beta testing on msnmess 8 took so long. They had to have some lipo. Heh.

Google talk within the browser is a proud example of this. I congratulate whoever came up with that idea. You rock Google.

[donlinux]

taking another page from linux

It seems to me that perhaps MS is feeling the pinch from the various linux OS's available that offer complete OS updates usually every 6 months and offer updates to software on a continuous basis. Oh yes, and they do if for free.

[Sentinel]

Linux?

Don't get me wrong, I like Linux and have been using it for a few years now. But who is talking about Linux and OSes here? This is about Microsoft launching a new web site, which like always, doesn't hold up the promises that were made. It is not about OSes that don't hold up to the promises that were made (which MS also does).

[thedevilbegone]

One more for Live.

Look at the offerings under
http://ideas.live.com/

Quite a collection of offerings for most purposes. But it looks very staid when compared to the askjeeves

[thedevilbegone]

Sorry...

IT worker has already posted the link..

[thedevilbegone]

A vote for Earl Benser, the Macatic...

Congrats Earl, you've earned it. Let's only hope atleast in the future you keep it relevant.

Congrats for a 100 pages of Googles search all for the keywords "EARL BENSER" and all point to CNET news postings by you. The number of searches made are for a total of 205,000 listings most of them repeated. However there are a 100 pages of your acheivement.

I believe someone should intimate Cnnet on this. This is another newsworthy story by itself! Way to go, Macatic... ;)

[Earl Benser]

I appreciate the thoughts....

;-)

But, I don't lay claim to 'Macatic'. since I run PC's and Mac's both.
Mac's more than PC's, to be sure, but the Mac's do most of what
I want to de better than the PC's - at least I think so. The PC's
are needed for the programs not available on a Mac - like the
software I license to my clients, and for other PC only
applications.

I will give the PC credit where credit is due. It just doesn't
happen all that often.

[thedevilbegone]

Cnet are you listening?

Read my earlier post.. It is indeed an acheivement and a newsworthy story..

[thedevilbegone]

Where is the Cnet moderator?

Is anyone listening at all? Can't we have one story dedicated to Earl? We all need it desperately to vent our frustrations on the Macatic due to the "ir"relevance of his comments. ;)

TY and the rest of the anti Earl lobby (Includes me, of course) would see red.....

[Earl Benser]

He's waiting for a real story....

Sorry ricky, you lose again

[zman2121]

Microsoft Live mail...

had alot of errors... took it off and will not reinstall... to be nice, it had no gravity...