http://www.varvid.com/2008/07/microsoft-finally-going-to-strike-back-against-vista-fud-from-apple/ Video Production, Webcasting and Internet Media Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:44:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.varvid.com/2008/07/microsoft-finally-going-to-strike-back-against-vista-fud-from-apple/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Vlad Mazek Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:48:24 +0000 http://www.varvid.com/2008/07/microsoft-finally-going-to-strike-back-against-vista-fud-from-apple/#comment-12 Aaron, I think you (and Dave to an extent) hit the nail on the head of the quentesential Microsoft problem - terrible marketing execution. Microsoft sucks, to the extent that they even make fun of themselves in spots that look much better than any of Microsoft's marketing - remember that "If iPod packaging was designed by Microsoft" skit a few years back. But is Microsoft just terrible at marketing, or is the problem far deeper than that? In my opinion, it is. Microsoft has not been able to define who its target audience is. Apple has been able to identify target audience across their brand, and even unite the messaging across virtually every product they have (sans maybe Final Cut Pro) Microsoft's problem is that they are trying to be all things to all people and in that they fail all over the place because there is no leadership at Microsoft. Each group seems to drag in its own direction, use and license components and technologies it can, or just come up with them. Then every few years they rebrand (MSN to Live) or abandon (bCentral) or mess up (Vista) or outright go skitzo with their portfolio. No wonder Apple can pick them apart. I don't know that Microsoft can fight back with better marketing alone, they need to have some strategy to figure out what it is they do. Because if they are the Walmart of technology....... -Vlad Aaron,
I think you (and Dave to an extent) hit the nail on the head of the quentesential Microsoft problem – terrible marketing execution. Microsoft sucks, to the extent that they even make fun of themselves in spots that look much better than any of Microsoft’s marketing – remember that “If iPod packaging was designed by Microsoft” skit a few years back.
But is Microsoft just terrible at marketing, or is the problem far deeper than that? In my opinion, it is. Microsoft has not been able to define who its target audience is. Apple has been able to identify target audience across their brand, and even unite the messaging across virtually every product they have (sans maybe Final Cut Pro)
Microsoft’s problem is that they are trying to be all things to all people and in that they fail all over the place because there is no leadership at Microsoft. Each group seems to drag in its own direction, use and license components and technologies it can, or just come up with them. Then every few years they rebrand (MSN to Live) or abandon (bCentral) or mess up (Vista) or outright go skitzo with their portfolio.
No wonder Apple can pick them apart. I don’t know that Microsoft can fight back with better marketing alone, they need to have some strategy to figure out what it is they do. Because if they are the Walmart of technology…….
-Vlad

]]> http://www.varvid.com/2008/07/microsoft-finally-going-to-strike-back-against-vista-fud-from-apple/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Dave Sobel Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:04:36 +0000 http://www.varvid.com/2008/07/microsoft-finally-going-to-strike-back-against-vista-fud-from-apple/#comment-11 You're right, and I've been saying this for a while. You and I are very much on the same page. I've been trying to use the iDisk now, and see the same problems you do -- it's not reliable, particularly in terms of sync. Apple has proven they work through issues like this, but they are not issue free. However, their marketing is fantastic -- and thus, they often appear problem free. Microsoft, not so much with the marketing. Messaging is key -- you have to deliver the right message to the customer, or it doesn't matter what you say. You’re right, and I’ve been saying this for a while. You and I are very much on the same page.
I’ve been trying to use the iDisk now, and see the same problems you do — it’s not reliable, particularly in terms of sync. Apple has proven they work through issues like this, but they are not issue free.
However, their marketing is fantastic — and thus, they often appear problem free. Microsoft, not so much with the marketing.
Messaging is key — you have to deliver the right message to the customer, or it doesn’t matter what you say.

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