Microsoft and Trust

Reobert Scole has a very nice post regarding microsoft trust and how to improve microsoft image and inspire its employees. I do think that the "trust" issue for microsoft online ("live") services is overstatedJust look at the crowd (of "seconf life" generation people) following every development of live messenger on the live messenger blog and to a lesser extent the same happening on the live mail blog. I don't think there is more of a trust issue with any of microsoft services than with google or yahoo services.Actually I would personnaly feel more confortable with microsoft handling my data than google and i think most people wouldn't care and go for the best service/package anyway.The trust issue is more with Microsoft as a whole, the company, than with any of it's particular product or services.Actually , speaking of products, how many can a consumer really buy? Windows, office, xbox… that's about it. Microsoft is a plateform company and most of its other products are targetted at companies or developers which makes it a bit of a stretch to compare it with Apple.But still, to come back to the trust issue, i think it breaks down on the following:

1. You can't trust Windows : it is insecure by default and you need anti spyware, anti virus , anti anything to keep it more or less working. On top of that, it "feels" insecure as you need to reboot it with every update. Looks like the problem is deep inside.

2. microsoft only works (well is compatible with) with microsoft.

3. lame desinformation campaigns against linux and/or opensource software. Why do you even think of spending money on that? Nice to see Bill Hilf lab bringing a bit of pragmatism there thoughfor the last 2 , the average non techy users don't care/know but the influencers (and most of the second life generation is going to be) will

Soo how to try to cure those sources:

1. Make vista unbreakable. Sell Win XP PCs with SP2 installed and fully patched

2. Give people choice. Accept that people can use other stuff than microsoft but this doens't mean they don't want to buy microsoft products.For example Why have the (great by the way) .net framework only run on windows while it could run on all OS.Windows can still be the best of breed platform to run .net apps offering the most features ut why not let it run on other OSes?A lot of companies would actually choose the windows solution over the linux solution but would just like to have the choice. Just by giving the choice, more people will trust microsoft and their investment in microsoft technology.So for the companies who run linux, you can still sell them visual studio instead of having no sale at all. If windows solution is so much better (and it will be) at running .net , people will choose windows, because the want it : more trust

3. Quit doing that, it's useless

Finally, kepp all the great people working at microsoft and keep them blogging (Scott Guthrie (one of the best), mini , the windows mobile team , Charlie Owen etc.. (long list of many other excellent ones))

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