Comments on: Microsoft’s Real Problem: Facebook is the New Outlook, and Other ways that Redmond is not Listening to Generation Y

By: Facebook: Crossing the Dynamism Divide « MetaPlume’s Blog

Facebook: Crossing the Dynamism Divide « MetaPlume’s Blog — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:47:54 +0000

[...] X-ers, and Millenials. About how they have different attitudes and expectations at work, how the former two use email and the latter use Facebook or how the older generations decry the loss of privacy inherent in Facebooking. All interesting but [...]

By: James

James — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:27:03 +0000

As a software developer, I feel the headaches coming on trying to develop 1 application for Windows, Mac and 75 flavors of Linux. For all of the downsides, there are some upsides to high market share and that is you can hit 90% of users with 1 code base. With limited human programming resources, that means a lot.

By: John

John — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:23:43 +0000

I’m sorry, Facebook isn’t close to the new Outlook. A more accurate statement would be, Facebook replaces some e-mail usage. Even the, it’s only some communication between friends. Outlook’s main audience and power suited for business users. We use Outlook/Exchange at out institution with 15,000 employees and there is really no good competitor out there at the moment that offers the same type of usability.

Facebook is great and all and you may have a valid point in that Microsoft isn’t listening to generation Y, but Facebook is no Outlook.

By: kyussmondo

kyussmondo — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:57:22 +0000

I agree that Microsoft is too big, they are going into way too many different markets. I think Google is making the same mistake. It is going into so many different markets that I just see it eventually failing. The only market Google seems to make money on is search.

One of the best companies for me at the moment is Apple. They are in different markets but not too many like Google or Microsoft. Their products all complement each other and they appear to have a clear focus and product portfolio. e.g. you have the MacBook Air (ultra-portable), MacBook (consumer), MacBook Pro (Professional). Simple. The same can be said of all their product lines. iPod Shuffle (for joggers and people with small music collections and cheap), iPod Nano (the optimum player for most people), iPod Classic (for those with large music libraries who want all their music in their pocket).

By: intake.insidedge.net » Blog Archive » Face it

intake.insidedge.net » Blog Archive » Face it — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:06:36 +0000

[...] . . . the new Outlook: “While Mark Zuckerberg and others, brand Facebook a Social Utility, for young people, who really only care about functionality, Facebook succeeds because it is the killer web application for communications and personal information management. Facebook Mail is not without its problems, but the combination of Facebook Mail, Facebook Chat, and what is functionally an auto updating address book, makes Facebook into the new Outlook not only for those who are inside of Silicon Valley, but for anyone of the millions of people who use Facebook as either their sole or their primary digital identity.” [...]

By: Ron Nahass

Ron Nahass — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:11:22 +0000

Excellent write up Dan. insightful, articulate , and very very well said. Microsoft just doesn’t have a clue.

By: Microsoft Is Getting Much More from Its Investment in Facebook « I’m Not Actually a Geek

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:02:59 +0000

[...] Kimerling wrote a great piece on TechCrunch about how Generation Y looks to the new wave of social media apps for functionality [...]

By: Y Combinator Challenge #28 - Fixing Email Overload « A Startup A Day

Y Combinator Challenge #28 - Fixing Email Overload « A Startup A Day — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:02:07 +0000

[...] I think TechCrunch would agree with this one. [...]

By: Dating72

Dating72 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:50:19 +0000

Many people don’t like MS, it too big.

By: Steven Schwartz

Steven Schwartz — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:05:04 +0000

This might be the most convoluted posting I’ve ever read. Facebook to replace MS Outlook? Facebook is a place for teenagers and cheating spouses to find each other. There is no value there, and there is certainly no business value. Maybe you should take a look at what Microsoft is doing with Unified Communications to get a better idea as to where the Office Application Suite is going. And for your information, based on a very recent study: http://fingerpr...il-client-stats

Facebook isn’t even considered as an email-client, which is exactly what the primary role of Outlook is. Also, Outlook as a whole (when you combine versions) is the clear market leader for business, and splits the share with Yahoo in the consumer space.

And, as a side note, I use Outlook for all of my e-mail accounts, and for keeping both my personal and business calendars. I am also a “very-early-adopter”. I’m typically the first one with a new gadget, many times importing it for significant cost.

Microsoft Office, and Outlook are NOT going away, I see them only becoming more integrated into the mobile communications market, and deeper into daily life.

By: I’m all for disruption but…. at diversity.net.nz

I’m all for disruption but…. at diversity.net.nz — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:07:02 +0000

[...] waxes poetical on the threat to Microsoft, and in particular the exalted position of Outlook, that Facebook [...]

By: Linkdump | ettf.net

Linkdump | ettf.net — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:14:43 +0000

[...] Facebook is the new Outlook, and other ways that Redmond is not listening to Generation Y [...]

By: Yammer and the future of networking | Bhatnaturally

Yammer and the future of networking | Bhatnaturally — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:19:43 +0000

[...] tied down to desktop based apps like Outlook for email, IM and so on. As this article explains, Facebook is the new Outlook. Interesting times ahead for business side of social [...]

By: Bill Greenberg - Good Computer Guy

Bill Greenberg - Good Computer Guy — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:51:50 +0000

Microsoft is too big and slow and set in its ways to keep up with a lot of what is going on out there now. I don’t know that Facebook is the new Outlook, but the younger Twitter generation certainly communicates and works differently and eventually Microsoft is going to become irrelevant. It’s not going to happen any time soon but without a major shift eventually we’ll live in an electronic world that is NOT so dominated by Microsoft.

By: Eruaran

Eruaran — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:46:08 +0000

You lost me at, “Microsoft… is a great software company”.

By: 2008 September 15 | Tween Girls On Line Magazine

2008 September 15 | Tween Girls On Line Magazine — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:12:56 +0000

[...] Facebook is the new Outlook (why Microsoft should be paying attention to Gen Y. And another book about "Millennials" [...]

By: PG

PG — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:00:02 +0000

Isn’t the Gen-Y world already in the next business world?

By: PG

PG — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:25:52 +0000

I am a Gen-X and I have a hard time explaining to some of my peers why I think like a Gen-Y and yes, going by your above article, that’s how I too work.

By: charlie

charlie — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:33:51 +0000

I disagree. They may make buggy shit. But they do have strong offerings.

By: charlie

charlie — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:32:03 +0000

I am not the biggest fan of Microsoft´s actions in the past, but they do make some great products. Outlook and Exchange being one of them. I am not some fan boy, but Let me ask the poster something: Have you ever worked in a corporate environment or business environment. Outlook and exchange are the standard, with blackberry server high up there. Yes, the products do have flaws, and one could argue on and on about the cons of it, but do you really expect business people to use Facebook instead of exchange/outlook. That is laughable. The article is clearly biased against microsoft as well. Please give credit where it is due. Microsoft has a solid product, whether you like it or not, in outlook, and I don´t see the business world abandoing it anytime soon to put their data on a service that will retain it even if you want to delete it. Not only that, Microsoft makes a boatload of exchange/outlook in the business world. Email nor outlook are not going anywhere.

And another thing: I agree with another poster. I am getting sick and tired of this crap about having to cater to Gen Y´s. Once you get into the business world, expect to cater to the corporate world, not the other way around.

Idiotic post.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:20:44 +0000

Techcrunch’s real, problem: excessive, comma usage

By: TonyD

TonyD — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:52:45 +0000

But doesnt it say something that people avoid msft when they can, but use it when their job makes them? I hate Outlook with a passion *because* I used it so much.

By: TonyD

TonyD — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:50:29 +0000

I didnt know they had more than msn; I just know i kill the browser quickly whenever i get sent to an msn search site, esp after using hotmail (free pop mail! Pleeeaaase!!!). The UI looks like they just dont care.

Microsoft is like an ex-girlfriend who I am slowly but surely disentangling from my life. Nothing new in, slowly killing off what I can.

By: pmcclory

pmcclory — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:55:58 +0000

Myspace converted from CF to .net–I’ve had experience in both so I’d imagine it’s the terrible data handling with the CF container on top of JDK. It’s a really slow engine for a high-load site.

By: John Slater

John Slater — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:47:13 +0000

Andrew and Olivia are the new WebSuperStars!!!! Fuck yeah! It’s a pitty that Olivia is silent. Hey Olivia, why don’t you take your clothes off?