Comments on: How I Hate Microsoft Let Me Count The Ways http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html Business-Building Secrets for Growth-Obsessed Companies Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:47:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: steve http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-510 steve Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:01:36 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-510 Hey David, As a web developer myself I understand what you\\\'re going through, but the first reports of these problems I saw came out at the beginning of the year in articles like http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2007/ 01/10/microsoft-breaks-html-email-rendering -in-outlook/ and http://mailchimp.blogs.com/blog/ 2007/01/html_email_desi.html and http://www.campaignmonitor.com/ blog/archives/2007/01/microsoft_takes_email_design_b.html and I\\\'d be surprised if Constant Contact who you use to send our your newsletters didn\\\'t mention this as well. I think MS certainly took plenty of steps backwards here, but this is something that shouldn\\\'t have surprised you that much. Unfortunately everyone who sends out email newsletters still needs to design to accomodate all kinds of email programs - but I guess we can be happy that things still look pretty good in Hotmail for the time being! Steve Hey David,

As a web developer myself I understand what you\\\’re going through, but the first reports of these problems I saw came out at the beginning of the year in articles like http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2007/
01/10/microsoft-breaks-html-email-rendering
-in-outlook/ and http://mailchimp.blogs.com/blog/
2007/01/html_email_desi.html and http://www.campaignmonitor.com/
blog/archives/2007/01/microsoft_takes_email_design_b.html and I\\\’d be surprised if Constant Contact who you use to send our your newsletters didn\\\’t mention this as well.

I think MS certainly took plenty of steps backwards here, but this is something that shouldn\\\’t have surprised you that much.

Unfortunately everyone who sends out email newsletters still needs to design to accomodate all kinds of email programs - but I guess we can be happy that things still look pretty good in Hotmail for the time being!

Steve

]]> By: Omar http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-514 Omar Sun, 26 Aug 2007 02:33:46 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-514 I\'ve managed to spell \"making\" as \"makeing\" and who knows what other errors I\'ve made while furiously pounding away at the keyboard in manifestation of my discontent. Quick! Someone revive that old Mac vs. IBM Big Brother advertisement and superimpose Bill Gate\'s head on the giant screen! (waits for someone on YouTube to take that suggestion seriously) I\’ve managed to spell \”making\” as \”makeing\” and who knows what other errors I\’ve made while furiously pounding away at the keyboard in manifestation of my discontent.

Quick! Someone revive that old Mac vs. IBM Big Brother advertisement and superimpose Bill Gate\’s head on the giant screen! (waits for someone on YouTube to take that suggestion seriously)

]]> By: Omar http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-513 Omar Sun, 26 Aug 2007 02:29:12 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-513 Okay, I\'m a Windows user who recently converted to a OS X, but on occasion I resort to Windows (dual boot systems.. gotta love \'em) And I gotta say... Word 2007 is the most annoying piece of garbage since Microsoft thought it would be a good idea to invent a conversational paperclip. My biggest beef? Now that I have Word, I somehow seem to have the need for TWO \"start\" menus. One on the taskbar, and the other INSIDE the freaking application! Finding out where all the menu items went was a HUGE pain in the rear, and please oh please... Someone tell me what numb-nutted idiot came up with the idea of makeing Word \"colourful\". I don\'t want my word processor Blue, thank you very much. I don\'t want it black either. No, not even silver. I don\'t need a special decal in the background that serves only to distract me and SERIOUSLY screw with my mind. I want a damn word processor that DOES the stuff I ask it to do. The funniest thing is this... if you go back about ten years... Office 97... that was, to me, the best Office they had created (bearing in mind that I\'m a heavy Word user, and make most of my judgments based on that application\'s usability). But it looks like I\'ll be giving the new iWork \'08 a shot and seeing what the upgraded applications have to offer me. (And no, OpenOffice, while decent, doesn\'t quite cut it for me... there are some issues with GUI that need some taking care of.... where Office has evolved into madness, Open Office is still going through its growing pains.) Okay, I\’m a Windows user who recently converted to a OS X, but on occasion I resort to Windows (dual boot systems.. gotta love \’em)

And I gotta say… Word 2007 is the most annoying piece of garbage since Microsoft thought it would be a good idea to invent a conversational paperclip.

My biggest beef? Now that I have Word, I somehow seem to have the need for TWO \”start\” menus. One on the taskbar, and the other INSIDE the freaking application!

Finding out where all the menu items went was a HUGE pain in the rear, and please oh please…

Someone tell me what numb-nutted idiot came up with the idea of makeing Word \”colourful\”.

I don\’t want my word processor Blue, thank you very much. I don\’t want it black either. No, not even silver. I don\’t need a special decal in the background that serves only to distract me and SERIOUSLY screw with my mind.

I want a damn word processor that DOES the stuff I ask it to do.

The funniest thing is this… if you go back about ten years… Office 97… that was, to me, the best Office they had created (bearing in mind that I\’m a heavy Word user, and make most of my judgments based on that application\’s usability).

But it looks like I\’ll be giving the new iWork \’08 a shot and seeing what the upgraded applications have to offer me.

(And no, OpenOffice, while decent, doesn\’t quite cut it for me… there are some issues with GUI that need some taking care of…. where Office has evolved into madness, Open Office is still going through its growing pains.)

]]> By: Dean Kennedy http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-511 Dean Kennedy Sun, 26 Aug 2007 01:10:28 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-511 I\'ve gotta say I knew what your content would be when I got my Total Package \"preview\" email. I heard that Outlook 2007 had switched to rendering using Word when it was launched. While we\'re on about Microsoft, try these issues on for size: Microsoft\'s web software, Expression Web, doesn\'t support PHP. Nor does in let you check compatibility (at time of launch at least -- not bothered to look since then) in Firefox or Opera. And IE7? Why did the File menu and it\'s horizontal neighbors get shoved down to the second row in the layout of the window? Try explaining that usability downturn to new users... why does Microsoft insist in breaking standards? Haven\'t used Outlook or Outlook Express myself, ever, in 13 years online. Happily using Eudora Pro until Mozilla\'s Penelope is released. But for mass mailouts, I use dedicated software anyway -- I wouldn\'t trust it to Microsoft!! Can\'t say I\'m surprised! This is one of the main reasons I decided against Office 2007 (let alone Vista). I\’ve gotta say I knew what your content would be when I got my Total Package \”preview\” email. I heard that Outlook 2007 had switched to rendering using Word when it was launched.

While we\’re on about Microsoft, try these issues on for size:

Microsoft\’s web software, Expression Web, doesn\’t support PHP. Nor does in let you check compatibility (at time of launch at least – not bothered to look since then) in Firefox or Opera.

And IE7? Why did the File menu and it\’s horizontal neighbors get shoved down to the second row in the layout of the window? Try explaining that usability downturn to new users… why does Microsoft insist in breaking standards?

Haven\’t used Outlook or Outlook Express myself, ever, in 13 years online. Happily using Eudora Pro until Mozilla\’s Penelope is released.

But for mass mailouts, I use dedicated software anyway – I wouldn\’t trust it to Microsoft!!

Can\’t say I\’m surprised! This is one of the main reasons I decided against Office 2007 (let alone Vista).

]]> By: Tony Rich http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-509 Tony Rich Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:23:19 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-509 Great article ! But guys, I\'ve seen it all before, a thousand times. As they say, would you trust your BMW to a bike mechanic? Ask yourself, would a major direct-response mail house use outlook? Personally, I run my entire business, and have done so for 8 years now, on an operating system without any of these hassles, and it ain\'t a MAC... Oh, and I forgot to mention that I never reboot my system, unless I want to change the hardware, and... I use a vast set of business software that can read and write microsoft files anyway, and... The system never crashes, because the software is written properly (my system shows how many months it has been up and running for), and... I can browse the web, send and receive emails, write letters, write ad copy, print mailing labels, program web pages, display PDF files, look at excel spreadsheets, print anything, load my photos from the digital camera, play mp3\'s, music cd\'s, display wmv, avi movies, preview images, find a file in a fraction of a second anywhere in the system, make notes on screen, check the date and time visually anywhere on the planet, so I know what my international clients are doing (it\'s currently 5:22pm in Chicago) - need I go on? Oh yeh, I also forgot to mention - I havn\'t paid for an operating system or any software at all for...8 years. I don\'t even remember what windows looks like. And lastly, a business friend of mine who has used windows all his life just installed the system on his LAPTOP in 2 hours, and will be using this system to handle his business from now on... Dont\' believe me? Please yourself, or check it out: www.ubuntu.com Cheers, Tony Rich. Great article !

But guys, I\’ve seen it all before, a thousand times.

As they say, would you trust your BMW to a bike mechanic?

Ask yourself, would a major direct-response mail house use outlook?

Personally, I run my entire business, and have done so for 8 years now, on an operating system without any of these hassles, and it ain\’t a MAC…

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I never reboot my system, unless I want to change the hardware, and…

I use a vast set of business software that can read and write microsoft files anyway, and…

The system never crashes, because the software is written properly (my system shows how many months it has been up and running for), and…

I can browse the web, send and receive emails, write letters, write ad copy, print mailing labels, program web pages, display PDF files, look at excel spreadsheets, print anything, load my photos from the digital camera, play mp3\’s, music cd\’s, display wmv, avi movies, preview images, find a file in a fraction of a second anywhere in the system, make notes on screen, check the date and time visually anywhere on the planet, so I know what my international clients are doing (it\’s currently 5:22pm in Chicago) - need I go on?

Oh yeh, I also forgot to mention - I havn\’t paid for an operating system or any software at all for…8 years. I don\’t even remember what windows looks like.

And lastly, a business friend of mine who has used windows all his life just installed the system on his LAPTOP in 2 hours, and will be using this system to handle his business from now on…

Dont\’ believe me? Please yourself, or check it out:

http://www.ubuntu.com

Cheers,
Tony Rich.

]]> By: David Dittman http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-506 David Dittman Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:01:55 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-506 Thanks for your comments! In regards to html emails vs. text emails, there are a couple of factors to consider. Mike brings up a great point, some people don\'t want html emails. The problem is that in many markets html emails far outperform text emails, so many people do like html emails. So the short answer to the problem is - it all depends on your market. Each different email delivery method has it positives and negatives. With a short text intro that links to a more in-depth page, you have to consider what you\'re asking of the readers. 1. Get my email. 2. Read my email. 3. Click to read more on a different page. 4. Act on the response device of that different page. For our purposes of delivering an e-zine it works great because it keeps our emails short and less prone to spam filtering while also providing a single click to read our latest issue. Since we\'re only delivering content and not asking for further action on the part of the reader the process works well. In a sales email, we would have to consider the potential drop off of response by requiring more action on the part of the potential client. It all boils down to testing your market and deciding which techniques give you the best response rates. I hope that helps. David Dittman Thanks for your comments!

In regards to html emails vs. text emails, there are a couple of factors to consider.

Mike brings up a great point, some people don\’t want html emails.

The problem is that in many markets html emails far outperform text emails, so many people do like html emails.

So the short answer to the problem is - it all depends on your market.

Each different email delivery method has it positives and negatives.

With a short text intro that links to a more in-depth page, you have to consider what you\’re asking of the readers.

1. Get my email.

2. Read my email.

3. Click to read more on a different page.

4. Act on the response device of that different page.

For our purposes of delivering an e-zine it works great because it keeps our emails short and less prone to spam filtering while also providing a single click to read our latest issue. Since we\’re only delivering content and not asking for further action on the part of the reader the process works well.

In a sales email, we would have to consider the potential drop off of response by requiring more action on the part of the potential client.

It all boils down to testing your market and deciding which techniques give you the best response rates.

I hope that helps.
David Dittman

]]> By: Duane http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-508 Duane Sat, 25 Aug 2007 11:57:51 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-508 I\'m a big fan of Firefox. It seems to load faster and be easier to use in general than IE. I\'ve also found Pegasus much more servicable than Outlook Express (I think that\'s what they call the free version.) It Just ocurred to me. Why not put a warning in emails and on web pages that they might not display correctly In Outlook and/or on IE? This should, of course, be followed by links to Firefox and Pegasus. They\'ve done it to [U]us[/U]for years. Why not start turning the tables? Duane I\’m a big fan of Firefox. It seems to load faster and be easier to use in general than IE. I\’ve also found Pegasus much more servicable than Outlook Express (I think that\’s what they call the free version.)

It Just ocurred to me. Why not put a warning in emails and on web pages that they might not display correctly In Outlook and/or on IE? This should, of course, be followed by links to Firefox and Pegasus. They\’ve done it to [U]us[/U]for years. Why not start turning the tables?

Duane

]]> By: Douglas Kelly http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-507 Douglas Kelly Sat, 25 Aug 2007 10:54:08 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-507 I hate Microsoft Word and Outlook more than the devil himself. Further, Microsoft can\'t hold a candle to Macintosh. You should really try it. Windows in nothing but a mask for MSDOS which Gates bought for song in the Seventies. Everything in Windows is a patch, a band-aid, or duct tape holding it together. Get over your thing about Mac. It\'s totally intuitive. It\'s the real thing as opposed to the fake thing of Windows. I would rather use a Mac than a PC but software choices force me to use a PC. Now I can get a Mac with PC capabilities and it will run PC better than Windows itself. Don\'t be stubborn just because you started on a PC. There is the difference of night and day between the two. Mac\'s USP is that it actually works. What is Microsoft\'s USP? We\'re the biggest and dominant software in the marketplace and screw you if you don\'t like it. Now compare the two USPs. Which would you buy? Which is more appealing for users? I hate Microsoft Word and Outlook more than the devil himself.
Further, Microsoft can\’t hold a candle to Macintosh. You should really try it. Windows in nothing but a mask for MSDOS which Gates bought for song in the Seventies. Everything in Windows is a patch, a band-aid, or duct tape holding it together.
Get over your thing about Mac. It\’s totally intuitive. It\’s the real thing as opposed to the fake thing of Windows. I would rather use a Mac than a PC but software choices force me to use a PC. Now I can get a Mac with PC capabilities and it will run PC better than Windows itself.
Don\’t be stubborn just because you started on a PC.
There is the difference of night and day between the two.
Mac\’s USP is that it actually works. What is Microsoft\’s USP? We\’re the biggest and dominant software in the marketplace and screw you if you don\’t like it.
Now compare the two USPs. Which would you buy? Which is more appealing for users?

]]> By: Mike http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-505 Mike Sat, 25 Aug 2007 09:15:29 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-505 I don\'t really want masterpieces in my email inbox, I want emails. If you want to do all that, why don\'t uoi just create an HTML page and link me there...kinda like this newsletter just did ? I don\’t really want masterpieces in my email inbox, I want emails.

If you want to do all that, why don\’t uoi just create an HTML page and link me there…kinda like this newsletter just did ?

]]> By: Dave Chappelle http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-504 Dave Chappelle Sat, 25 Aug 2007 07:42:58 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/david-dittman/how-i-hate-microsoft.html#comment-504 Welcome, new Firefox user! You\'re in for a world of improvement over Internet Exploder. You\'ll be all set once you\'ve migrated to Pegasus Mail, the best email client available for those who insist on using Windoze. And it\'s free. Welcome, new Firefox user! You\’re in for a world of improvement over Internet Exploder.

You\’ll be all set once you\’ve migrated to Pegasus Mail, the best email client available for those who insist on using Windoze. And it\’s free.

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