How pathetic is this?

[jonian_g]

Microsoft found a way to make users use their IE8 browser:

http://www.microsoft.com/australia/ie8/competition/

What will they offer next, a jurney to Disneyland? :lolflag:

[ZackM]

LOL!!! Lame. It's probably B.S.

[gymophett]

But you'll never find it using that browser. (So get of it, or get lost)
Okay really, was that so necessary? This IS pathetic.
No I mean really.

Ditch the web browser you're using.
Whatever, I obviously won't get this 10,000, and I don't care. :)

[dragos240]

Microsoft found a way to make users use their IE8 browser:

http://www.microsoft.com/australia/ie8/competition/

*snip* :lolflag:

Wow they're desperate! At times like this, I can just switch on compiz, spin our mighty cube and just laugh.

[jonian_g]

And by the way, you can cheat using Firefox + the user-agent switcher plugin.

[lovinglinux]

Wow. Really desperate and pathetic move. From now on I won't criticize people who put the $ symbol on Micro$oft's name. They deserve it really bad.

Paying to crush the competition, which offers better a product, in order to keep their huge market share is disgusting.

[JordyD]

Wow. Really desperate and pathetic move. From now on I won't criticize people who put the $ symbol on Micro$oft's name. They deserve it really bad.

Paying to crush the competition, which offers better a product, in order to keep their huge market share is disgusting.

Especially since they offer it free-of-charge.

[Marlonsm]

It remembers me of that popups:

"Congratulations!!! You're the 1,000,000th person to download IE8! Click here to claim your prize (and when asked, enable ActiveX)"

[dragos240]

And by the way, you can cheat using Firefox + the user-agent switcher plugin.

Microsoft really failed.... hard....

[izizzle]

Yea this is pretty fu**** up right here.

[lovinglinux]

It's worse than I thought. Read this (http://www.etre.com/blog/2009/06/microsoft_ie8_contest_insults_the_competition/).

EDIT: and this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeresig/sets/72157619870137650/detail/)

[dragos240]

>.<

[jonian_g]

It's worse than I thought. Read this (http://www.etre.com/blog/2009/06/microsoft_ie8_contest_insults_the_competition/).

EDIT: and this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeresig/sets/72157619870137650/detail/)

That takes it to a new level. It is not just pathetic, it's insulting too.

[Amilo1718]

It's worse than I thought. Read this (http://www.etre.com/blog/2009/06/microsoft_ie8_contest_insults_the_competition/).

EDIT: and this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeresig/sets/72157619870137650/detail/)

those sites need a revamp...
it took me minutes to load them

[dragos240]

those sites need a revamp...
it took me minutes to load them

Either that or you need a new internet connection, it took me less than a second.

[lovinglinux]

An interesting article about the subject: http://shenews.projo.com/2009/06/microsoft-conte.html

[ice60]

And by the way, you can cheat using Firefox + the user-agent switcher plugin.
it probably needs to be a non-web-standards compliant browser to see it so that won't work lol.

[H2SO_four]

I was excited, as I am running Win7 in VB and have IE8 installed already. Then I read that it is open to Aussies only. :(

[doas777]

Microsoft found a way to make users use their IE8 browser:

http://www.microsoft.com/australia/ie8/competition/

What will they offer next, a jurney to Disneyland? :lolflag:
i noticed your edit. lol.
someone at work pointed me to a fun one today:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/browser-comparison.aspx

"The Real Deal: Internet Explorer 8 passes more of the World Wide Web Consortium's test cases than any other browser. "

wow.

[jonian_g]

i noticed your edit. lol.

UF staff members didn't like it. To me it described the situation better:D


someone at work pointed me to a fun one today:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/int...omparison.aspx

I think that even they don't believe that.

[xuCGC002]

i noticed your edit. lol.
someone at work pointed me to a fun one today:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/browser-comparison.aspx

"The Real Deal: Internet Explorer 8 passes more of the World Wide Web Consortium's test cases than any other browser. "

wow.

I'm still cracking up at the claim that it's "Impossible" to compare browser speed between firefox, IE8, and Chrome. :p

[Giant Speck]

I don't use Internet Explorer, and therefore don't care.

Microsoft fails to surprise me anymore.

[aldld]

Instead of saying "old Firefox", for me it says "that browser"

[Clorow]

If you're using Firefox and the User-Agent Switcher, you can make a new string:


Description: Internet Explorer 8 (Windows Vista)
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Windows NT 6.1)
App Name: Microsoft Internet Explorer
App Version: 4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Windows NT 6.1)
Platform: Win32
And leave Vendor and Vendor Sub blank.


That'll show you as using IE8 in Windows Vista.

[TheNosh]

And by the way, you can cheat using Firefox + the user-agent switcher plugin.

how do you add ie8? i just got the plugin now, and it has ie7

Edit: nevermind, the post above mine seems to answer my question. thanks

[Lod]

Instead of saying "old Firefox", for me it says "that browser"Are you working in Linux? It probably can't handle the system so it says f... the system :) .

I fail to see how you can be insulted by this. Either you liked IE anyway and then it's fine. Or you another's browser fanboy and you should know better then to be insulted. There is no universal superior browser, there is just the browse you find superior.
I found the rather amusing all together.

[sertse]

There is no universal superior browser,

Please explain this. Firefox, Opera and IE at least, aim to be full feature, all purpose browsers.this is not like comparing dillo to Firefox which aim to be different things. They have more or less the same goals and thus are direct competitors to such other. Therefore they are comparable. We can make benchmarks/criteria in to pit each browser against the other.

If we accept this, the only way to have no superior browser is they each some from flaw on a particular benchmark which the others don't. I can accept Opera vs Firefox but what, if any aspect does IE do better in?

[MaxIBoy]

I'm using a Minefield build, so it gets recognized as "that browser."

So yeah, they'll pay you $10,000 to use their web browser.

What are the odds that the prize is collected by someone with another browser? I propose that the odds are 1 in 5. We should get a pool going here. :p

[TheNosh]

it can't tell the difference between chrome and chromium. it still says "tarnished chrome" in either one

...also this competition is only open to Australians

[Shiftbutton]

This is embarassing..>.< It comes off as a thinly veiled attempt at begging people to use IE8. I rarely Facepalm, but that link made me do it almost instinctively.

[caravel]

It just goes to show what MS think of their customers/potential customer and how hilariously out of touch they are.

[Sand & Mercury]

Holy crap, these guys are grasping at straws here.

[Eisenwinter]

This is pretty hilarious. :lolflag:

[koleoptero]

It's worse than I thought. Read this (http://www.etre.com/blog/2009/06/microsoft_ie8_contest_insults_the_competition/).

EDIT: and this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeresig/sets/72157619870137650/detail/)


This is pretty hilarious. :lolflag:

It is indeed. I never thought microsoft could show some sense of humor.


Instead of saying "old Firefox", for me it says "that browser"

They probably changed it once people reacted negatively to their use of words. Tarnished Chrome... HhahHAHhahah :lolflag:

[bryonak]

It's interesting how this thread helps legitimising a strong dislike for microsoft again.
I guess every new generation has to find this out on it's own ;)

[tsali]

It's promotion of a product. Microsoft is a business. It will promote its products.

While I've never like negative ads, this shouldn't surprise anyone.

McDonald's commmercials (regardless of what you think of the product) have never ever been negative ads...its a corporate policy.

I think its possible to promote your product without denigrating the competition.

That said, IE8 really IS a good browser for Windows users.

I think that what they should have done was have a page that let's people know that they need IE8 to join the hunt and invite them to the download without the other browser insults.

[Technique13]

more like "Bureaucracy, Pop-ups, frustration and Clip-it is buried here!" it looks like your trying to buy back market share, would you like some help?

[jonian_g]

It's interesting how this thread helps legitimising a strong dislike for microsoft again.
I guess every new generation has to find this out on it's own ;)

Also it is very interesting how many threads in these linux forums try to make microsoft look like the most misunderstood company in the world and acuse people, that have valid points to dislike microsoft, for linux fanboyism.

This thread is to make laugh of a monopoly that is making spasmodic moves to maintain it's monopoly that has started to fade away, at least on the browsers market.

[Chilli Bob]

Looking at the site, it seems only 3,100 people are following it on twitter. That means the prize money has cost them $3 per person interested in winning, plus the cost of setting up the website etc, so Microsoft are paying roughly $5 per person to advertise to people who almost certainly would have updated to IE8 anyway as part of automatic updates. What were they thinking?

If the idea was to get people to switch from other browsers to IE*, they won't achieve that by insulting them.

Somewhere a MS marketing committee are smugly patting each other on the back, proud of the level of web chatter this has created, blissfully unaware that the "chatter" mostly consists of "what a bunch of ****ers". Microsoft has to learn that not all publicity is good publicity.

[sim-value]

i noticed your edit. lol.
someone at work pointed me to a fun one today:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/browser-comparison.aspx

"The Real Deal: Internet Explorer 8 passes more of the World Wide Web Consortium's test cases than any other browser. "

wow.
yes of course
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid3#Layout_engines

[doas777]

yes of course
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid3#Layout_engines


yep, the acid performance of IE8 boggles the mind. They seem to think that css2.1 benchmarking is the only type required. talk about self serving statistics.

[Marlonsm]

On:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/browser-comparison.aspx

Security

IE Wins, Internet Explorer 8 takes the cake with better phishing and malware protection, as well as protection from emerging threats.
Better? How?

Privacy

IE Wins, InPrivate Browsing and InPrivate Filtering help Internet Explorer 8 claim privacy victory.
As if Chrome and Shiretoko didn't have private modes...

Ease of use

IE Wins, Features like Accelerators, Web Slices and Visual Search Suggestions make Internet Explorer 8 easiest to use.
Visual Search?

Web Standards

Tie, Firefox and Chrome have more support for emerging standards like HTML5 and CSS3, but Internet Explorer 8 invested heavily in having world-class, consistent support for the entire CSS2.1 specification
*Cough* Acid3 *Cough*

Developer Tools

IE and FF Tie, Internet Explorer 8 has the most comprehensive developer tools built in, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript editing, but also JavaScript profiling; other browsers have developer tools available, but either require you to download them separately, or aren't as complete.
Who would develop webpages in a browser? And for testing, there is the Firebug extension.

Recovery Tools

IE Wins, Only Internet Explorer 8 has both tab isolation and crash recovery features; Firefox and Chrome have one or the other.
My Browser don't crash often enough so that would make some difference.

Customizability

Tie, Sure, Firefox may win in sheer number of add-ons, but many of the customizations you'd want to download for Firefox are already a part of Internet Explorer 8 – right out of the box.
Sure, how could I forget, IE already comes with features like the ones from All-in-one sidebar, Qtl, ABP, FireGestures, Read it Later, Split Browser and some couple thousands of others

Compatibility

IE Wins, Internet Explorer 8 is more compatible with more sites on the Internet than any other browser.
Developers have to struggle to make their sites both IE-compatible and Web standards-compatible.

Manageability

IE Wins, Neither Firefox nor Chrome provide guidance or enterprise tools.
What?

Performance

Tie, Knowing the top speed of a car doesn't tell you how fast you can drive in rush hour. To actually see the difference in page loads between all three browsers, you need slow-motion video. This one’s also a tie.
Browsers today are already fast enough, so there isn't much to compare here, but I still can see some good difference when I use Chrome.



IE8 is not a bad browser, it's light years ahead of IE6 and better than IE7, but that still doesn't make it as good as MS says.

[Regenweald]

Microsoft found a way to make users use their IE8 browser:

http://www.microsoft.com/australia/ie8/competition/

What will they offer next, a jurney to Disneyland? :lolflag:
I'd be insulted, but stuff like that works in todays world. They are preying on people in hard economic times and offering pipe dreams. It's appaling really.

[jonian_g]

I'd be insulted, but stuff like that works in todays world. They are preying on people in hard economic times and offering pipe dreams. It's appaling really.

And then they ask, in hard economic times, to charge as much as they like for windows 7.

In a perfectly competitive market windows would have been a better and cheaper OS.

[Bachstelze]

This isn't exactly the first time a company runs a contest of some sort when they're releasing a new product. It's called marketing.

But of course, it's Microsoft. Even when they give out free stuff, they're evil.

[starcannon]

I'm not a fan of MS; indeed, those who know me, know that I'm really not a fan of MS. That said, a large company promoting their product; why is this shocking, wrong, or whatever? Its actually a way of doing business that is non-offensive; like coke or pepsi rewards, coupons on cigarette packages, green stamps from the golden era of supermarkets, frequent flyer miles, and the endless list of other enticements that various companies offer up in return for using their products.

MS should be told, "good boy" for doing something so normal; it's one of the few times I've felt like there may be a human being involved in their marketing strategies.

[jonian_g]

This isn't exactly the first time a company runs a contest fo some sort when they're releasing a new product. It's called marketing.

But of course, it's Microsoft. Even when they give out free stuff, they're evil.

The thread title is "how pathetic", not "how evil".

[Bachstelze]

The thread title is "how pathetic", not "how evil".

Evil, pathetic, or however you call it, I see nothing wrong there.

[Closed_Port]

Evil, pathetic, or however you call it, I see nothing wrong there.

Who said anything about evil or wrong?

1. Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion.
2. Arousing scornful pity or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pathetic
;)

[starcannon]

Using Benefit of Doubt, I believe its very easily understood what Hym was saying, and I agree. Using contests to promote products is basic marketing, there's nothing pathetic, or any other negative descriptor here. Its just good old fashioned marketing, one of the few times MS has actually, imo been humane about product promotion; but instead of patting them on the back for finally doing something cool, now they are being called pathetic; which, is itself pathetic.

There are real issues to grumble about concerning MS, a $10,000.00 give away isn't one of them. The lucky winner will be able to afford Windows 7 Ultimate Edition though :lolflag:

[jonian_g]

Using Benefit of Doubt, I believe its very easily understood what Hym was saying, and I agree. Using contests to promote products is basic marketing, there's nothing pathetic, or any other negative descriptor here. Its just good old fashioned marketing, one of the few times MS has actually, imo been humane about product promotion; but instead of patting them on the back for finally doing something cool, now they are being called pathetic; which, is itself pathetic.

Thank God there are some marketing gurus in these forums and the rest of us can benefit from their knownledge. :D

I just think it is pathetic that you need a marketing to promote a preinstalled product on the majority of the personal computers worldwide.


There are real issues to grumble about concerning MS, a $10,000.00 give away isn't one of them. The lucky winner will be able to afford Windows 7 Ultimate Edition though :lolflag:

:lolflag:

[froggyswamp]

They also started another "get the facts" propaganda, this time around IE8:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/browser-comparison.aspx

It looks like they are scared a lot to lose more IE market share, those stupid "facts" make me think their IT department strategists are in panic.

[jonian_g]

They also started another "get the facts" propaganda, this time around IE8:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/get-the-facts/browser-comparison.aspx

It looks like they are scared a lot to lose more IE market share, those stupid "facts" make me think their IT department strategists are in panic.

Sure they are in panic. They won't ship IE8 with new W7 PCs sold in EU. That is going to cost them a lot of their market share.

[starcannon]

Thank God there are some marketing gurus in these forums and the rest of us can benefit from their knownledge. :D
I will defer to your judgement, it was you after all that decided to call this marketing ploy "pathetic". I am but an egg on this subject, I will benefit from your knowledge; my most humble apologies for questioning your wisdom in these matters.


I just think it is pathetic that you need a marketing to promote a preinstalled product on the majority of the personal computers worldwide.This product is not pre-installed on WinXP, indeed many of the people I serve are still using IE6. I would love to get them all up and running Firefox; but in the real world, where small and medium business's use software designed to run in IE, and nothing but IE, there is little to do but help keep them up and running so that they can feed their families, pay their mortgage, and continue on living.

I will finally say, again, that there are plenty of business practices that are pathetic that MS gets involved in; indeed I wish those were put under the spot light of critiscism; but, a $10,000.00 promotional give away is not one of them. Check out the Halloween Documents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_Documents) if you want something real to be concerned with. Godspeed on the crusade.

[jonian_g]

I will defer to your judgement, it was you after all that decided to call this marketing ploy "pathetic". I am but an egg on this subject, I will benefit from your knowledge; my most humble apologies for questioning your wisdom in these matters.

I didn't call their marketing pathetic. I called pathetic the fact that they need to market IE8 and I explained above why. So there is nothing for you or anyone else to benefit from.


This product is not pre-installed on WinXP, indeed many of the people I serve are still using IE6. I would love to get them all up and running Firefox; but in the real world, where small and medium business's use software designed to run in IE, and nothing but IE, there is little to do but help keep them up and running so that they can feed their families, pay their mortgage, and continue on living.

I don't see how this fits the subject. I don't remember myself saying that no one should use IE. Everyone can use what pleases him.


I will finally say, again, that there are plenty of business practices that are pathetic that MS gets involved in; indeed I wish those were put under the spot light of critiscism; but, a $10,000.00 promotional give away is not one of them. Check out the Halloween Documents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_Documents) if you want something real to be concerned with. Godspeed on the crusade.


I agree whith that, but the way they chose to market IE8 is not something that anyone should be concerned of.

[starcannon]

Okay, I'll post once more to this thread, no point in you having all the fun of beating a dead animal.


I didn't call their marketing pathetic. I called pathetic the fact that they need to market IE8 and I explained above why. So there is nothing for you or anyone else to benefit from.
First, do use some benefit of the doubt; we all know that were talking about the "$10,000.00 treasure hunt". Even still, you will note that my quote that you are reacting to specified "this marketing ploy "pathetic"; I put emphasis on the word this when quoting myself. That makes the statement relevant to a particular, a particular that was the topic of discussion ($10,000.00 give away remember?).



I don't see how this fits the subject. I don't remember myself saying that no one should use IE. Everyone can use what pleases him.
While I did get long winded on the part of my statement that you are reacting to, I will note that when I said, "this product is not pre-installed on WinXP, indeed many of the people I serve are still using IE6.", I did so very intentionally; indeed I started out with that because it serves to offer a reason for a need to advertise and promote IE8. If you have people still using IE6, and you want them to start using your latest product, in this case IE8, then obviously what ever you did to promote IE7 did not work, time to try a new promotional strategy perhaps? Anyway, I'm sure that you understand where I'm coming from don't you?




I agree whith that, but the way they chose to market IE8 is not something that anyone should be concerned of.(sic)

I am sure you meant something else here; as you seem very concerned with the way they are marketing IE8; please clarify.

I'll follow up reading, but I've really already stated my position ad-absurdum; so unless there is some new developement I will refrain for further posting on this thread.

[swoll1980]

They snuck the IE8 upgrade into a "security" update on my xp partition. Sneaky bastards!

[jonian_g]

Okay, I'll post once more to this thread, no point in you having all the fun of beating a dead animal.
(*snip*)

I am sure you meant something else here; as you seem very concerned with the way they are marketing IE8; please clarify.

I'm not trying to argue or have fun. I just don't like that you paraphrase me. What I say is what I mean.

If I want to make fun with mighty microsoft's spasmodic moves, it's my right and I don't see why you have to criticize me. Saying your opinion is just enough.

[Sealbhach]

Its just good old fashioned marketing, one of the few times MS has actually, imo been humane about product promotion; but instead of patting them on the back for finally doing something cool, now they are being called pathetic; which, is itself pathetic.


I suppose it is a bit of an improvement from the AARD code, now that was a really bad idea...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AARD_code


Good job they didn't go through with it.
.