This article was published on July 4, 2011

Windows 8: Not Your Idea


Windows 8: Not Your Idea

Remember those ‘Windows 7: It’s Your Idea’ commercials that featured people purported to be ordinary, unpaid non-actors claiming that Microsoft’s current operating system was in fact, somehow, ‘their idea?’

Yes, we are tired of them as well.

But that trend seems to be dead, so to speak, thanks to Microsoft’s next operating system. In fact, if what we heard about today is true, and accurately embodies Microsoft’s views on the coming version of Windows, you might as well get ready for its advertising campaign: Windows 8: Not Your Idea.

Grins aside, you need to read an email that someone received from Microsoft after submitting a suggestion for Windows 8. The person in question, Chris Carlucci, is an IT denizen, so he’s no slouch submitting a terrible idea. Microsoft, on the other hand, didn’t care. The following quote is a shortened version of the response that Mr. Carlucci received from Microsoft, via CNet:

I understand you would like to submit suggestion for the next generation of Windows. I will be glad to assist you with the information. Chris, I would like to inform you that, while Microsoft does accept suggestions for existing products and services, we do not accept suggestions for new products, technologies, processes.

We hope that you will understand our intention to avoid any potential misunderstandings or disputes that may arise from submissions of information not related to current Microsoft products. Thus, we are returning your information without review.

Microsoft does value your feedback. We would like to encourage you to continue to send us suggestions on the products and services that you use today.

That last sentence is positively Orwellian. At least it’s funny. I wanted to title this post, ‘Microsoft no longer wants to put up with your s***,’ but couldn’t, however you can see why that headline came to mind.

Being fair, it actually makes sense that Microsoft is not listening to users at the moment: they are building something that is completely new. How can users help drive the development of a product that they know nothing about? Still, the company could brush up on its manners a touch.

Now go outside and barbecue, it’s the Fourth.

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