Not quite the same, but...

I work for part of a University that has a name that sounds like a telemarketing firm.

Frequently, one of my high level clients will call me in a panic and leave a message. I call back, but 50% of the time I get screened by a receptionist who just assumes I am trying to sell something.

If the client is a jerk, I don't even bother to explain. I'll wait until they call back and then tell them I got screened.

This happened to one client 5 or 6 times. Finally I explained to the secretary who I was, so the call would go through. The secretary said, "Oh, I know who you are...but she gave me a list of words to use to screen calls with. And your unit has two of those words in the name. Besides, it's fun to watch her get mad when she doesn't get the call."

I don't blame the secretary at all. But then again, you could only get away with that in the public sector.

For a while, when people found out I am a 'computer programmer' their reaction would be, "Ooooohhhhhh." (Like it meant *something*)

Today when people ask what I do, I say, "computer programmer" quietly, almost apologetically...because I know that nobody really cares.

Somehow you are mistaking me for someone who used the word, 'Innovation.'

I didn't.

I said that their handwriting recognition was, 'Good.'

Whoops!

In my rush to beat you at being an insufferable jerk, I forgot to make a good point.

When I said that their tablets and pdas do have good handwriting recognition, I mean exactly that. I mean, it is good. I've used it, it works. It understands what I am trying to write.

I'm not sure why it needs to be relative to anything, but if you NEED a comparison, how about: "It is very good compared to not having handwriting recognition."

Kinda like how 'light' is good...I guess you could say relative to 'dark', but sometimes dark is good too. But I still stand behind the statement that 'light is good.'

Sorry you aren't very good at using the Internet.

But if you 'Google' the term, "handwriting recognition" you will find many other devices/products/software packages that allow for handwriting recognition that are NOT produced by Microsoft.

But if your contribution to the conversation starts and ends with, "Good relative to what?" then I am guessing that the whole purpose of looking up information is lost on you.

You say Windows Mobile Bluetooth stack is lobotomized.

I've been playing full-stereo music on my bluetooth headphones for quite a while on my Windows phone- but they've just added that feature to iPhones. Previously you needed to use a dongle.

So the Bluetooth stack is lobotomized in comparison to what?

Their tablets and pda's do have good handwriting recognition. Use one- they're good.

But for real input, handwriting recognition is eclipsed by having a keyboard, so it's not that big of a deal really.

Wow...if you would "Rather do it in a slower way (pen, paper and a calculator)" then one of two things must be true:

1- the calculations you are doing are extremely simplistic.

2- you don't understand how a program like Excel can help.

If the reason is #1- great. Go for it.

I'm guessing though that the reason is the latter. You actually think a pen, paper and calculator are better.

It's like people who think that counting on their fingers is better. Or people who think typing with one finger is better.

Either way, you are not a very valuable asset.

People who understand the SuperBowl?

These are not install parties.

Admittedly, an install party is totally lame.

These are just regular parties...with a Windows 7 computer sitting around.

Really, what kind of lame-o would want to go to an install party? I mean, what group of people are nerdy enough to actually do that?

Okay, you probably don't want to host one of these parties. But I do.

You make it seem like hosting a party is a big, bad thing. Like dropping $250 on food is a big deal. That Microsoft is EVIL for thinking you might be a normal person who has friends, and who regularly invites those friends over to your house so you can get together and have some fun. With friends.

The ONLY thing Microsoft is asking you to do, is to have a machine running Windows 7 at your house. They will give you a copy of Windows 7. They will also give you some other things (napkins, balloons, etc.) that you can use if you want.

You can also win a new computer for yourself.

I don't consider that to be such a bad thing. I regularly have parties anyway. The only difference here is that Microsoft is giving me a copy of an operating system (which I can choose whether or not I want to use) and a few other things.

And if you have friends...real friends...it is easy to say, "Hey, come on over to my party...yes, it will have some strange decorations, but that is no big deal."

For my friends, it won't be much different than my burger building parties. Or my 'Throwdown' (cooking contest, not WWF) parties. Or my Rock Band parties. Or anything else.

It's just a fairly flimsy excuse to get together with friends.

If that seems evil to you, then I think we have vastly different opinions on life.

You mean the one I have been using for a year now?

Works great!

I applied too.

I have people over for BBQs, dinners, Rock Band, etc. anyway. If they want to give me Windows 7, and want me to have a computer sitting out at a party- then no problem. Yes, I will even use the decorations they send me- why not?

This actually isn't a bad way to get people to see Windows 7. Heck, I even signed up for the Betty Crocker cookie party while I was at it. (Waitlist only) Sounds like fun to me.

That's the point. The whole thing sounds like fun. So I tell my friends; "Hey, this is the geekiest thing ever...but come over for a Windows 7 party. I'll be cooking and we'll have margaritas." Microsoft gets a little more exposure, I get Windows 7, my friends get some food and drink. We all win.

If you had experience with both phones, you would know how perfectly the inverse of your statement describes the article.

Windows Mobile does far more than the iPhone OS. Multitasking for instance.

But the iPhone is a success in spite of the fact....no, BECAUSE OF THE FACT that it doesn't have un-necessary features.

Windows Mobile is an extremely feature-rich operating system. Unfortunately, all those features and a crap interface don't hold a candle to a simple implementation of a not-very-smartphone.

It's a lot like a Wii vs. Xbox 360/PS3. The Wii can't hold a candle to the other two technically, but it has been far more successful.

I wish I would get paid- because I have a lot of positive things to say about Bing and other Microsoft products.

I don't look at them thinking, "Oh God, Microsoft is crap...." I actually use them and do comparisons with other products, then choose the one I like best.

As I mentioned, I use Chrome on all of my computers. I hate IE. But I do use Bing. And I *like* Windows Server/IIS and SQL Server.

MySQL, Apache, and Ubuntu are alternatives that I have tried, and disliked.

I've also tried some of Microsoft's other tools which I hated- things like Expression Studio...not even close to Dreamweaver. I'm not a fan of Office, but I think Xbox and even Zune are fantastic.

So if there is a program you know of, where I can get paid for spouting my opinion on Microsoft products, please let me know how to be involved.