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“I don’t really understand their strategy, maybe somebody else does.”

That’s the comment from the new Microsoft boss, the other Steve (Ballmer). Which just about sums up Microsoft. When you have a monopoly you can keep trundling out the same technology with a new GUI year after year and the clones* will buy it.

What Ballmer doesn’t get is that there are still a lot of people that think technology is exciting and that innovation is as important as a sound business plan for investors. But then this is the guy that said something about the iPhone being a bad idea as well.

I understand that once the technology gets to mainstream someone needs to make some money out of it, I suppose that’s where Microsoft comes in, buy the tech, bundle it into the resellers and then you can return some ‘value’ to your investors. That model has worked well for Microsoft for years.

I suppose when you’re stuck in old tech it’s difficult to break out, Microsoft vs Google, it’s a bit like NASA vs Scaled Composites (who Virgin Galactic selected to build their space plane).

* All those people and PC manufacturers that are happy with forever iterations of Windows clones, 95, 2000, XP, Mobile, Vista, 7 etc.

Canberra trip

Well, I did a day trip to Canberra yesterday, 5:30am start and got back at 10:45pm. Spent most of the day working on a Second Life build with a client.

TV series and late nights

I used to watch the X-Files, then Stargate. There’s been a shortage of good sci-fi here in Australia for a while. But now we have 4400 and Taken running on the same day, I’ve also got hooked on the new 24, Spooks and Threat Matrix.

So I’ve gone from no TV (excluding motorsport) to 5 regular ‘must see’ events every week. I just wish they’d schedule them a bit earlier in the evening.

Whoops, it’s late

I’ve been looking at the style sheets and password system on this site, and time has flown by! It’s tomorrow already!

Autumn is officially here.

Yes, the seasons are the other way around in the southern hemisphere.

Been on the Harbour today

We’ve been out on Sydney harbour today. I’ll post some video soon, pictures are here.

And the video is here, it’s large, 17Mb and is a .mpg file.

Blimey is it hot & humid…

I think we need to get air conditioning installed, or sleep in the car.

Horrid weather…

Earlier today it was very hot and humid. This evening we’ve had a big storm and lot’s of rain. The storm was predictable, Sydney does that after a very humid day this time of year.

Moving office

Messagelabs is moving to a new office, still in North Sydney and slightly closer to home.