Wobble 2.0 - who let Microsoft in the room?

re: Wobble 2.0 - who let Microsoft in the room?

Mike Butcher — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 16:21:45 GMT

A good write-up Steve. (And the story about the Boo guy is true BTW!) I think it's true Microsoft could and should engage more. Afterall YouTube was built on MS platforms but no-one ever mentions that. But MS really needs to sort out it's external and internal communications, especially in the UK and not relly on the US to send its 'messages' so much. Last year I attended a Web 2.0 workgroup from a guy at MS I haven not heard from again; the MediaTech event which put up a guy who just trotted out a lot of old MS slides; and now I've met you. I mean don't you people TALK to eachother?! Or is the caferteria in Cambridge just too big?

re: Wobble 2.0 - who let Microsoft in the room?

stevecla01 — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 16:38:20 GMT

Mike - I hear ya. When you get to be 70k people based all over the world it gets hard...not an excuse and we should be able to do it better than most given what we preach but there are some realities of life that make it tough. We do need to engage more locally and rest assured I'm busy encouraging my team and others to just that so you should see more of us...and more consistently. We're sponsoring and attending Future of Web Apps for example with Carson. The cafetreia in Cambridge is lovely...though I spend my time in the one in Reading :) See....people don't even know where we live...how bad is that??? Seriously though, if there are places we should be either attending, listening or even talking I'm happy to help make that happen. Ultimately I'd like people telling our story for us - like the YouTube one - but that isn't going to happen unless we're out there showing we care and encouraging that. Hope to see y'all at another event soon or even just down the pub for a Chinwag (tm)

re: Wobble 2.0 - who let Microsoft in the room?

Sam Michel — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 19:33:46 GMT

Thanks for coming along Steve. What you say is true...the more people you speak to at Microsoft, the less it feels like a company closeted in steel and glass towers, trying to rule the world.

It'd be great to see more of the Microsofties out and about at networking events like Chinwag Live, and that can only be beneficial for the company as well.

I'm intrigued to see how the Vista gadgets are adopted by the geek masses, especially as this looks like it'll be a year of massive widgetry, sorry gadgetry.

re: Wobble 2.0 - who let Microsoft in the room?

Rosie Sherry — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:10:44 GMT

I was at the event too...

It's almost funny reading your post, I can relate to you on a completely different spectrum. I'm a tester, and testing doesn't get enough coverage, here my three points adapted from yours:

1) Once the community gets over the shock that software testing does a load of good people will start welcoming us with open arms.

2) There is alot testers can bring to the community if we were given a chance.

3) The ears bit, I want to get so many more testers out and about to help improve and apply our perspective the world wide web.

re: Wobble 2.0 - who let Microsoft in the room?

stevecla01 — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:27:56 GMT

that's pretty funny Rosie...I guess we're both on the fringes here. Look forwrad to seeing you at the next one!

Get out there....

Software, Services & Next Generation Partnerships — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:40:57 GMT

If there's one thing I've learned in recent months at Microsoft is........it's good to talk. The Partnering