no person or company which has not made its own share of mistakes. Even the
biggest of corporate giants have seen their own share of failures.
It's no different in the case of case of the software giant Microsoft. The
world's largest software maker whose Windows operating system is present on
almost world's 90% desktops, too has seen its share of failures.
The site Sherweb recently compiled a list of what it terms Microsoft's Worst Mistakes. Here's looking into when and where Microsoft went wrong
Internet Explorer 6
===================
Sherweb counts Internet Explorer too among Microsoft's mistakes. However,
according to most other analysts it is IE6 which particularly gave users
trouble. Some reviewers have termed the browser as the company's worst-ever
browser. In May 2006, PCWorld rated IE 6 at no. 8 among the worst tech
products of all time.
The browser is often criticsed for being vulnerable to malicious attacks,
viruses and malware. According to security experts, IE 6 failed on several
compatibility parameters with Web standards. Some reports claim that IE 6's
design had a security flaw.
The version was also said to be unstable. IE6 didn't support CSS version 2,
which makes it difficult for web developers to ensure compatibility with the browser. Also, many analysts believe that the IE6's domination for nearly six years helped rivals grow.
However, though some reviewers may have trashed IE 6, the browser still
continues to lead in marketshare. According to recent reports IE6's market
share in July 2009 stood at roughly 27.2%, ahead of IE7's 23% and Firefox
3's 16%.
Microsoft Vista
===============
Released in January 2007, Microsoft's new operating system Vista aimed to
take hackers headon. The operating system was touted to be much ahead of its predecessors in terms of security.
However, most analysts and reviewers didn't agree with Microsoft's claim.
The security features were said to be no better than the previous versions
of Windows. Also, the fact that Vista came with its own list of hardware
requirements for the users too acted as a big dampener in the operating
system's popularity.
Many analysts went on to claim that Vista ran slower on PCs than XP.
According to some analysts, many Vista applications ran slower than XP.
Basic file operations such as unzipping a file or deleting were also claimed to be slower.
As a result Vista failed to make a dent in the market. According to a
Forrester Research (done few months), 86 per cent of corporate PCs continue
to rely on the eight-year-old Vista predecessor Windows XP
MS-DOS 4.0
==========
Sherweb terms MS-DOS 4.0 (Microsoft Disk Operating System) as another of
software giant's mistake. Launched in 1988, MS-DOS 4.0 offered several
improvements over its predecessor DOS 3.3. However, with them were numerous
bugs.
It extended support for drives larger than 32MB, an integrated disk cache,
and a graphical file management shell. However, reports claim that the RAM
Disk had serious flaw. Soon after its release there were reports of users
facing issues of data loss and corruption.
Microsoft 2000
==============
Microsoft's big release Windows 2000 disappointed many on security ground.
Launched in 2000, the version was the last NT-based Windows release which
did not include Microsoft Product Activation.
Windows 2000 introduced many of the new features of Windows 98 and Windows
98 SE into the NT line, however, it was widely criticised for compromising
on security.
In August 2003, two major worms called Sobig and Blaster attacked millions
of Microsoft Windows computers. The company had to incur huge clean-up
costs. The 2005 Zotob worm was blamed for security compromises on Windows
2000 machines at the US Department of Homeland Security, New York Times
Company, ABC and CNN.
Undermining Linux
=================
Another Microsoft mistake is its failure to gauge Linux strength. According
to Sherweb, Microsoft may be ruling the world's destktop with over 85%
marketshare. But when it comes to super computers, Linux is the clear
leader.
According to Wikipedia, as of June 2009, Linux powered 88.6% of the world's
most powerful supercomputers, compared to Windows' 1%. In December 2008,
Linux powered five of the ten most reliable internet hosting companies,
compared to Windows' one.
One of the key strengths of Linux according Sherweb is that it respects a
user's essential freedoms; the freedom to run it, to study and change it,
and to redistribute copies with or without changes.
Linux proponents claim Linux to be a more secure platform than Windows as
its code are reviewed by so many people that it is easier to detect bugs
Windows ME
==========
Sherweb includes Windows Millennium Edition or Windows ME also in his list
of Microsoft's Worst Mistakes. Launched in the year 2000, Windows Me was
criticised by users for its instability and unreliability due to frequent
freezes and crashes. PCWorld dubbed Windows Me the "Mistake Edition" and
ranked it at No. 4 in its Worst Tech Products of All Time list.
There were also reports of users facing problems in Windows Me's
installation and getting it to work with other hardware or software.
Similarly, reviewers blamed it for offering little over Windows 98SE, except the System Restore function.
Underestimating the iPhone
==========================
Another mistake Microsoft made according to Sherweb is underestimating
Apple. The enthusiastic response to Apple's iPhone, fuelled Microsoft's
hardware ambitions. And in November 2006, the company launched a rival to
Apple iPod, Zune. By the time Zune hit the shelves Apple's media player iPod had already attained an iconic status and over 70% marketshare. Also, during this time Apple was readying it's another big-ticket launch iPhone.
Though Microsoft managed to get four largest music labels to sign licensing
agreements with it for Zune, the player just failed to excite customers.
According to reports, between the launch date and mid-2007 only 1.2 million
Zune players were sold. In May 2008, Microsoft said that it had sold two
million players since its launch.
According to Microsoft's recent quarterly statements, Zune revenues
decreased $100 million, or 54% compared to the same quarter last year, due
to falling device sales. While Apple saw a 3% increase in iPod sales over
the same period.
The software giant is finally discontinuing all of its Zune models except
for a new high-definition (HD) version that is set for September 15 launch.
Microsoft Bob
=============
Another of Microsoft's mistake, Bob was launched in 1995 to offer a
game-like cartoon interface to provide a virtual experience, with programmes and documents represented by everyday objects.
Guiding users through animated pictures, Bob transformed the desktop screen
into an image of a room with a desk, bookshelf, even a fireplace. On
clicking the various items in the room Bob would start up the programme.
However, things didn't fell in place when it was marred by weak sales. Also, seven months after its launch, Microsoft released Windows 95 which took away the company's attention.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer named Bob as one project "we [had] undertaken
... where we decided that we have not succeeded and let's stop."
However, some designs of the Bob cartoons are still used in Microsoft
products like Bob's face was used in MSN Messenger as a Nerd Smiley. Bob
figured at no. 7 on PCWorld magazine's list of the 25 worst products of all
time. It was ranked number no. 1 worst product of the decade by CNET.com.
biggest of corporate giants have seen their own share of failures.
It's no different in the case of case of the software giant Microsoft. The
world's largest software maker whose Windows operating system is present on
almost world's 90% desktops, too has seen its share of failures.
The site Sherweb recently compiled a list of what it terms Microsoft's Worst Mistakes. Here's looking into when and where Microsoft went wrong
Internet Explorer 6
===================
Sherweb counts Internet Explorer too among Microsoft's mistakes. However,
according to most other analysts it is IE6 which particularly gave users
trouble. Some reviewers have termed the browser as the company's worst-ever
browser. In May 2006, PCWorld rated IE 6 at no. 8 among the worst tech
products of all time.
The browser is often criticsed for being vulnerable to malicious attacks,
viruses and malware. According to security experts, IE 6 failed on several
compatibility parameters with Web standards. Some reports claim that IE 6's
design had a security flaw.
The version was also said to be unstable. IE6 didn't support CSS version 2,
which makes it difficult for web developers to ensure compatibility with the browser. Also, many analysts believe that the IE6's domination for nearly six years helped rivals grow.
However, though some reviewers may have trashed IE 6, the browser still
continues to lead in marketshare. According to recent reports IE6's market
share in July 2009 stood at roughly 27.2%, ahead of IE7's 23% and Firefox
3's 16%.
Microsoft Vista
===============
Released in January 2007, Microsoft's new operating system Vista aimed to
take hackers headon. The operating system was touted to be much ahead of its predecessors in terms of security.
However, most analysts and reviewers didn't agree with Microsoft's claim.
The security features were said to be no better than the previous versions
of Windows. Also, the fact that Vista came with its own list of hardware
requirements for the users too acted as a big dampener in the operating
system's popularity.
Many analysts went on to claim that Vista ran slower on PCs than XP.
According to some analysts, many Vista applications ran slower than XP.
Basic file operations such as unzipping a file or deleting were also claimed to be slower.
As a result Vista failed to make a dent in the market. According to a
Forrester Research (done few months), 86 per cent of corporate PCs continue
to rely on the eight-year-old Vista predecessor Windows XP
MS-DOS 4.0
==========
Sherweb terms MS-DOS 4.0 (Microsoft Disk Operating System) as another of
software giant's mistake. Launched in 1988, MS-DOS 4.0 offered several
improvements over its predecessor DOS 3.3. However, with them were numerous
bugs.
It extended support for drives larger than 32MB, an integrated disk cache,
and a graphical file management shell. However, reports claim that the RAM
Disk had serious flaw. Soon after its release there were reports of users
facing issues of data loss and corruption.
Microsoft 2000
==============
Microsoft's big release Windows 2000 disappointed many on security ground.
Launched in 2000, the version was the last NT-based Windows release which
did not include Microsoft Product Activation.
Windows 2000 introduced many of the new features of Windows 98 and Windows
98 SE into the NT line, however, it was widely criticised for compromising
on security.
In August 2003, two major worms called Sobig and Blaster attacked millions
of Microsoft Windows computers. The company had to incur huge clean-up
costs. The 2005 Zotob worm was blamed for security compromises on Windows
2000 machines at the US Department of Homeland Security, New York Times
Company, ABC and CNN.
Undermining Linux
=================
Another Microsoft mistake is its failure to gauge Linux strength. According
to Sherweb, Microsoft may be ruling the world's destktop with over 85%
marketshare. But when it comes to super computers, Linux is the clear
leader.
According to Wikipedia, as of June 2009, Linux powered 88.6% of the world's
most powerful supercomputers, compared to Windows' 1%. In December 2008,
Linux powered five of the ten most reliable internet hosting companies,
compared to Windows' one.
One of the key strengths of Linux according Sherweb is that it respects a
user's essential freedoms; the freedom to run it, to study and change it,
and to redistribute copies with or without changes.
Linux proponents claim Linux to be a more secure platform than Windows as
its code are reviewed by so many people that it is easier to detect bugs
Windows ME
==========
Sherweb includes Windows Millennium Edition or Windows ME also in his list
of Microsoft's Worst Mistakes. Launched in the year 2000, Windows Me was
criticised by users for its instability and unreliability due to frequent
freezes and crashes. PCWorld dubbed Windows Me the "Mistake Edition" and
ranked it at No. 4 in its Worst Tech Products of All Time list.
There were also reports of users facing problems in Windows Me's
installation and getting it to work with other hardware or software.
Similarly, reviewers blamed it for offering little over Windows 98SE, except the System Restore function.
Underestimating the iPhone
==========================
Another mistake Microsoft made according to Sherweb is underestimating
Apple. The enthusiastic response to Apple's iPhone, fuelled Microsoft's
hardware ambitions. And in November 2006, the company launched a rival to
Apple iPod, Zune. By the time Zune hit the shelves Apple's media player iPod had already attained an iconic status and over 70% marketshare. Also, during this time Apple was readying it's another big-ticket launch iPhone.
Though Microsoft managed to get four largest music labels to sign licensing
agreements with it for Zune, the player just failed to excite customers.
According to reports, between the launch date and mid-2007 only 1.2 million
Zune players were sold. In May 2008, Microsoft said that it had sold two
million players since its launch.
According to Microsoft's recent quarterly statements, Zune revenues
decreased $100 million, or 54% compared to the same quarter last year, due
to falling device sales. While Apple saw a 3% increase in iPod sales over
the same period.
The software giant is finally discontinuing all of its Zune models except
for a new high-definition (HD) version that is set for September 15 launch.
Microsoft Bob
=============
Another of Microsoft's mistake, Bob was launched in 1995 to offer a
game-like cartoon interface to provide a virtual experience, with programmes and documents represented by everyday objects.
Guiding users through animated pictures, Bob transformed the desktop screen
into an image of a room with a desk, bookshelf, even a fireplace. On
clicking the various items in the room Bob would start up the programme.
However, things didn't fell in place when it was marred by weak sales. Also, seven months after its launch, Microsoft released Windows 95 which took away the company's attention.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer named Bob as one project "we [had] undertaken
... where we decided that we have not succeeded and let's stop."
However, some designs of the Bob cartoons are still used in Microsoft
products like Bob's face was used in MSN Messenger as a Nerd Smiley. Bob
figured at no. 7 on PCWorld magazine's list of the 25 worst products of all
time. It was ranked number no. 1 worst product of the decade by CNET.com.
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