Blog entries - May 2007

Software Piracy is Essential to Microsoft's Success

harry

I just noticed this being linked on Slashdot. Basically an article saying that seeding a market with free stuff can help promotion. Of course it can.

What I was surprised not to see though was an appreciation of how Microsoft's success in the office can largely be attributed to the widespread piracy of its products.

I should explain.

A few years ago, my then two year old daughter found my Microsoft Office disc, and kindly drew all over [...]

Becoming a Linux bore

harry

Over the weekend, rather than being a good dad I pretty much became obsessed with Linux.

I never really developed the whole 'I hate Microsoft Operating systems' mindset beloved of the more lonely techie. I rather like Microsoft software, it usually works OK and most people have it. It's not that expensive and it's nicer these days than it used to be (although I think we all miss typing 'win' every now and then). And anyway, Mitchell is much funnier than [...]

Game buys Gamestation

harry

Wow...the big retail announcement out yesterday was that Game Group PLC, the UK's biggest specialist games retailer is to acquire Gamestation, the UK's only other significant games retailer, from Blockbuster for £74 million.

For those involved in the games business, this may not be great news. Game is already a major force, taking something like 35% of the UK games market, and notorious for its aggressive trading terms - demanding 40% margins and sa [...]

Don't mess with the internet

harry

So, many of you by now will have heard of the leaked encryption code for the AACS copy protection system used by HD-DVD and Blu Ray players.

Digg, one of the world's most popular websites (and one of the reasons everybody's banging on repeatedly about Web 2.0) allows users to post and vote upon news stories they like (or 'digg'). Digg employees have spent the last few days frantically trying to remove references to sites featuring the 'secret' [...]

Just Say No

harry

One common theme I find when I am talking to smaller companies, particularly those involved in pitching products or services to larger ones, is that they have absolutely no idea whether or not a potential client is interested in them.

Why not? Because the potential client hasn't said 'no'. Instead, what invariably happens is that the potential client vanishes. They don't answer emails, they don't answer the phone, they don't return [...]