Microsoft UK Marketing Director is visiting my college

[Salmonman]

In one week Microsoft's UK Marketing Director is visiting my college to answer questions from students in our class. Obvious hot topics would be things like:


Vista
Microsoft's own "Open" document format
Lack of support for previous releases ( Windows 98 )


... and of course, Linux

As an avid user of Ubuntu, I'm taking this opportunity to ask you users what questions you would ask when the Marketing Directot visits concerning any topic you would like. The above themes are just suggestions, and you can ask anything you like... :twisted:

[Lord Illidan]

What advantage would Windows Vista have over Linux?

[skymt]

What distribution of Linux does Bill Gates use? :twisted:

[tagra123]

Make sure to have a stack of ubuntu CDs to give away. By the way pass one out to the director in case he wants a computer that works correctly.

Does Microsoft know how many loyal users Windows Product Activation drives away?

[dillbertdabomb]

microsoft = open document formats!?!

they know not...

figuring they hate anything free because there not getting the mula, they won't do that

and i looked up linux in the help and support thing and all it told me was how to get rid of linux

trust me your in for a hour of windoze death...

[Dr. C]

What solution other than the options below does Microsoft have for a perfectly good older computer that used to run Windows 98SE and was used only to surf the Internet and send and receive email? It is used in a home environment and security from viruses and malware is paramount.

The computer is a say a Pentium 166 with say 128 megs of RAM

The options I can see are

1) Send the computer to a landfill and create an enviromental hazard
2) Send the computer to be broken down and recycled and create less damage to the environment.
3) Install Linux on the computer

[Kulgan]

about vista, really push the subject of what is so new in it. AND DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING VAGUE!!

Try and see if you can get him to say "Only the interface and IE have changed. We copied the UI from mac and IE from firefox"

I know that won't happen, but still...

Just see if you can keep him out of sketchy answer land :P

[Dr. C]

about vista, really push the subject of what is so new in it. AND DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING VAGUE!!

Try and see if you can get him to say "Only the interface and IE have changed. We copied the UI from mac and IE from firefox"

I know that won't happen, but still...

Just see if you can keep him out of sketchy answer land :P

Actually I got the impression that a few things in Vista were actually, poorly I must say, copied from Ubuntu. Starting with the mouse pointer, and the whole security dialogue thing when performing administrative tasks.

So may be the question should be did you copy the interface in Vista from Linux and if so from which distro?

[rfruth]

Be sure & thank him/her for the Gates Foundation !
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm

[Dr. C]

Be sure & thank him/her for the Gates Foundation !
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm

Definitely a good idea The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is doing a lot of good.

[Kulgan]

So may be the question should be did you copy the interface in Vista from Linux and if so from which distro?
That may not be the best way to phrase it... but I agree with you that it did remind me of ubuntu... and you know the way they save & open files? They have the same little "browse for folders" thing, and they have the folders you have visited in little buttons along the top, and the "main places" has been redone, and looks more like ubuntu. or should I say gnome...

For IE, you might want to get v.6 and take a screenie of the "about" box, then show him this (http://www.informanews.net/imagenews/ie7/0026.gif) and ask him if the change has taken any kind of inspiration from this (http://fedoranews.org/tchung/firefox/1.0/firefox-1.0.png)...

A little cheeky, but hell....

[Salmonman]

Thanks for all the responses...

As you should expect the Marketing Director will be very prepared for these sort of tricks


"...have a stack of ubuntu CDs to give away. By the way pass one out to the director in case he wants a computer that works correctly."

... that's not going to go down too well...

It's likely that he'll construct some sort of pre-topic area within which students can ask, e.g. "We all know Vista rocks. Do you have any questions as to why this is so?"

This however would be a very reasonable conjecture:

"Does Microsoft know how many loyal users Windows Product Activation drives away?"

... and I would be very interested in his response. When I used to use XP it would shut down with a little "does not comply with WGA" logo in the bottom right-hand corner :mad: I will also try and sneak my dictophone into the room and then I'll upload a speex file or something :twisted:

Keep on with the topics people - even if I myself only get to ask one of these I will still pass a few on to my classmates :-D

[Kronoz]

Why is Aero useful?
Why is Aero better than XGL/AIGLX+Compiz/Beryl
Has Windows Vista finally managed to become a proper multiuser operating system or does it still struggle?
When is the next Visual Studio?

Slightly off but nevermind, can NOD32 run on Vista?

[TheMono]

Give the example of me and ask whether he sees this as being good business practice (bear in mind this was years ago):

I buy a computer with Windows. I have a valid license key.

Something goes horribly wrong with my HDD. I cannot restore windows. I need to reinstall.

A friend has a copy of the Windows install disc. I now have a CD of the software I require, and a legitimate license key for aforementioned software.

I ring Microsoft to check that when I install, they will let me activate.

They answer in the negative.

They tell me they will only let me activate an OEM copy of XP home, not a normal copy of XP home.

They do not tell me what the difference, if any, is.

They offer to post me an OEM disc for $50.

I ask, in simple terms, if what they are telling me is that I must pay them $50 to use software I already own, have already used, and have access to the install disc for.

They answer in the affirmative.

I ask them whether they are aware how well desktop Linux runs at this point in time.

They answer in the negative.

I install Linux.



This was me Vs. Microsoft over the issue of a friends computer - however to simplify the story I made it mine while I talked to Microsoft...

[3rdalbum]

I would ask him:

"The most hyped new security feature of Vista is User Account Protection [that is, the rip-off of gksudo], which can be disabled by even a new user, leaving them with a Win XP-style administrator account. What other security features differentiate Vista from XP?"

But I think the best thing to do would be to take an Ubuntu laptop to the college, and advertise that for the half hour previous to the guy's visit you will be demonstrating the cool features of Linux. Turn on Compiz and move a window containing a playing DVD as part of your demonstration.

[cunawarit]

A word of warning, you don’t get to be Microsoft's UK Marketing Director without being able to answer some tough questions. Try not to push it or you risk being made to look like a fool.

Secondly, the Gates Foundation and Microsoft are two separate things. There’s no reason for a Microsoft to know much about it.

As for good topics, I’d suggest:

* Is Aero worth the expense of a new graphics card? Is it merely eye-candy, or does Aero improve productivity?

As for promoting Ubuntu before hand in school, I’m not so sure. I don’t know what this guy is like, but having attended a few Microsoft presentations they generally really know how to motivated people and convince you that what they have to offer is awesome! Even though I have presented many a time in conferences I wouldn’t like to go head to head against most Microsoft presenters I have seen.

[Kulgan]

I wouldn’t like to go head to head against most Microsoft presenters I have seen.

same! one has to remember that these guys know what they are doing, and they know it well. Even if you consider widows crap, this guy will know everything there is to know about dealing with annoying linux users. It's his job!

[Lord Illidan]

A word of warning, you don’t get to be Microsoft's UK Marketing Director without being able to answer some tough questions. Try not to push it or you risk being made to look like a fool.

Secondly, the Gates Foundation and Microsoft are two separate things. There’s no reason for a Microsoft to know much about it.

As for good topics, I’d suggest:

* Is Aero worth the expense of a new graphics card? Is it merely eye-candy, or does Aero improve productivity?

As for promoting Ubuntu before hand in school, I’m not so sure. I don’t know what this guy is like, but having attended a few Microsoft presentations they generally really know how to motivated people and convince you that what they have to offer is awesome! Even though I have presented many a time in conferences I wouldn’t like to go head to head against most Microsoft presenters I have seen.

Aye, I agree. Don't try to be a smartass or insult him. The worse that can happen to him is that you offend him slightly. The worse that can happen to you is that you can get kicked out of the hall. By all means do try to mention Linux and its alternatives, but don't be patronising.

[Salmonman]

http://www.msversus.org/

[Cyraxzz]

Why does your software lack proper security?

[Naralas]

Make sure to have a stack of ubuntu CDs to give away. By the way pass one out to the director in case he wants a computer that works correctly.

Does Microsoft know how many loyal users Windows Product Activation drives away?

Im sure if you explained this too the ubuntu people they would probably overnight you a stack of Ubuntu CD's if you:

a) Filmed the event
b) Rushed at the guy and gave him all the CD's
c) Posted the video EVERYWHERE

^_^ Or atleast, I would if I could.

[mips]

I would not even mention linux as you might just come across as a linux zealot. Being childish is also not going to make people sit up and listen.

Ask questions pertaining to:
Vendor lock, open file formats etc.
EULA, read up on the Vista eula and it's restrictions
Security
What happened to their WinFS filesystem they were punting

[mozetti]

EULA --

Why will users be restricted in the number of times they can "transfer" (aka re-install) their Vista installation to a new computer? Why don't consumers, who have paid for their Vista license, have the freedom to install it on different computers, as needed?

For example, I have a copy of Win98 that is going to get installed on an old (really old) laptop for dual-boot purposes, and it will be the 5th different computer it's been installed on (not simultaneously, one installation at a time). This won't be possible in Vista according to the current EULA.

What about hardware upgrades/replacements? Will this artificial limit on the # of installations on new hardware require users who frequently upgrade their hardware, or replace broken hardware, to buy a new Vista license after so many upgrades/replacements?

[Titus A Duxass]

I ask, in simple terms, if what they are telling me is that I must pay them $50 to use software I already own, have already used, and have access to the install disc for.

- If you read the EULA you will find that you never actually get to own the software.

Big Tip - Don't go head to head with the guys from Microsoft, they blow you out in bubbles.

Above all, be respectful.

[MaximB]

Salmonman - 2 weeks have passed
when you are going to meet this guy ?

[Salmonman]

MAXDDARK - Tomorrow :D

As expected I have been informed that there will be a lengthy presentation before question time :???:

Sorry for the miscalculation in time, as of the first post, I thought he was coming in a week.



I have decided to ask the following questions:


What are the features of Windows Vista? (no vagueness or dwelling on GUI)

which could then be steered towards...

Is Aero worth the expense of a new graphics card? Is it merely eye-candy, or does Aero improve productivity?



What are the benefits of the reinstallation limit? (Vista Home/Basic Edition)



Why have you stopped supporting XP SP1, and will Vista's support last as long?



Why are there multiple Vista editions?


I'll be skimming through the EULA at college tomorrow before he arrives, though it is massive...
http://download.microsoft.com/documents/useterms/Windows%20Vista_Ultimate_English_9d10381d-6fa8-47c7-83b0-c53f722371fa.pdf

[meng]

Wow, you're sure you're going to get to ask more than 1 question? Sorry to be a wet blanket, but if your aim was to embarrass him (and I'm not for a minute assuming that it is!) then you'll be very disappointed. Nevertheless, I'll be keen to read your report on how things go.

[Kulgan]

I don't think his aim is to embarras him, but rather to figure out what the hell M$ is thinking...

[clapper65]

Did the visit happen yet? How did it go?

[turkenator]

what happened please do enlighten us how did it go did he show up?

also write about any other questions asked by other people that has something to do with linux or why windows suck if any

[MaximB]

I didn't like your choosen questions...we had much better questions to ask.