http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/ Engadget Comments for Microsoft layoffs: the axeman cometh? (update) http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
I hope Microsoft can weather this ]]>Jul 7th 2010 5:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Why? If an organization of that magnitude can't keep up with the trends then they need to GTFO of the business. Stupid decisions like Vista, WinMo 6, canceling Courier, canceling Kin, employing Steve Ballmer all lead to events like this.

What's the worst that could happen? 80-90% of the computing world has to switch to Linux? It's not such a bad thing as software developers would jump on supporting the switch. No more vendor lock-in and almost everyone would move to standards compliant browsers, open standard media formats, OpenGL based 3D software, open standard filesystems, cheaper computers due to no Windows license.

I see no downside to Microsoft dying a horrible death to be perfectly honest with you.]]>Jul 7th 2010 6:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Keeping up with the trend in consumer electronics isn't something that Microsoft is used to. But don't get ahead of yourself - a large amount of sales are from VLKs to the corporate market.

Vista/WinMo6 were bad decisions, yes, Vista was too rushedand WinMo is just.. WinMo.

Ballmer has been in MS since the start, that point is moot. Kin was problably binned because of the obvious lack of consumer base study. Courier, though nice, didn't really look feasible.

What's the worse thing that could happen? More security woes on *nix systems. More discovered vulnerabilities, more malware exploiting these, even.

Don't get me started with the shitstacks that are xorg/alsa..]]>Jul 7th 2010 6:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 7:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/How far away are you from the *nix world?
All of *nix'es have a lot of security holes discovered and patched constantly. It's just the target of attacks against *nix systems is different than Windows. *nix'es are targeted to penetrate and steal data. And there is a lot of attacks and successful attacks happening. Though Windows definitely takes the crown for the botnet creation....]]>Jul 7th 2010 7:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Are you serious? The entire world is incredibly dependent on Microsoft software. That's what all those monopoly accusations are about.

I'd be surprised if we saw the back of Microsoft within any of our lifetimes. I sure hope not anyway - I'm a .NET developer. :O]]>Jul 7th 2010 8:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 8:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Ahh I always love it when the little 14 year olds come here and try to sound like adults. Not realizing that they stick out like an HP at WWDC.]]>Jul 7th 2010 8:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 8:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Seems you didn't read the articles on Kin's downfall. I think they are hinting at Lees deserving the axe. The devices failures were not due to being built poorly.]]>Jul 7th 2010 8:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Unix has "burglaries". Windows has viral epidemics.

It's a world of difference.

There's the occasional dodgey Unix app that causes problems similar to what happens with Windows boxes. These are usually "3rd party" apps that aren't run by default on common systems.

So the effect is considerably different.

Core Unix is much less problematic than Core Windows.

Although just avoiding as much Microsoft stuff as you can even while still running Windows really helps a lot. The same was even true when the problem was "stability" instead of "viruses".]]>Jul 7th 2010 9:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Fi, fi, fo, fum. I smell the blood of a Microsoft bum. Just kidding. This is no time for anyone to be laid off with the economy as bad as it is. It's nothing to laugh about. No one will love this more than Wall Street. Guaranteed that Microsoft's share price will rise on this announcement. Personnel cuts means less overhead due to not having to cover things like health insurance. Hopefully, these laid-off employees will get some sort of compensation package.]]>Jul 7th 2010 10:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
They may employ 89,000 globally, but if Microsoft were to disappear tomorrow I can only see good things coming out.. Those 90,000 odd could be employed by RedHat, Apple, Google, Oracle, Citrix, IBM and other major firms that would happily step in and do a much better job of building operating systems and office productivity systems, which is frankly all that Microsoft makes money from.

Can you imagine a world where you don't get paid shills spreading FUD against all of Microsoft's competitors ? A world were open standards are embraced and built on for the betterment of the IT systems and for everyone.. A world were we don't have to deal with complete rubbish shitty operating systems.. Server environments were a GUI is not forced , talk about wasting resources (can you get any more stupid than forcing a GUI on a web server)

An environment were Linux is not attacked by proxy from companies such as SCO who were bankrolled by MS.. An environment were genuine innovation is embraced rather than being snuffed out by a monopoly scared of its own shadow..

It would be IT paradise, but as Sibbby mentioned Microsoft is floating on a sea of cash .. Frankly lets face it Ballmer and Gates can easily afford to build a massive tower like scrooge mcduck and swim in their money ... ;)]]>Jul 7th 2010 11:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 11:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 5:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Hardly dying !]]>Jul 7th 2010 7:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Wall Street just oscillates MSFT between 25 and 30 so institutional investors can make a few tens of millions of dollars at a time. It's been that way for years. The last time Wall Street rewarded MSFT with high stock value was when MS was notorious for their anti-competitive behavior back in the 1990s. That too, was a long time ago.]]>Jul 7th 2010 9:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 10:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/It is sad to read some of the comments here.
What has the KIN got to do with cutting jobs? what is hating Microsoft products go to do with cutting jobs? Hate Microsoft products all you want but to wish Americans lose there jobs? That makes me SICK! Shame on you...]]>Jul 7th 2010 11:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Microsoft has an abundance of cash, if the Kin were to sell then maybe they'd need a Kin team (so small that the WSJ wouldn't cover the layoffs/hires regardless), but the loss of money on the Kin is meaningless as far as employees go, so if anyone thinks that this is because of the Kin you know next to nothing about business and money. ]]>Jul 7th 2010 5:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 5:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
It isn't 80k ppl who Microsoft will layoff. That number is their total work force. They will be laying off less that 5k. it's just those 80k ppl don't know who is going to be the 5k to be let go.]]>Jul 7th 2010 6:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 5:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
I like Nilay, and actually wouldn't replace him with probably any other editor you have. But, really, really, it's more important to have someone with some business sense on the payroll than a lawyer (both make nearly perfect sense, and again, not saying Nilay should go anywhere, just that with your Seattle hire, try to find someone who knows something about business AND can write.)

/rant over]]>Jul 7th 2010 8:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://wmpoweruser.com/your-windows-phone-7-questioned-answered/]]>Jul 7th 2010 5:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 5:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Kin is dead, who cares? Only Engadget.

Do we seriously think 89,000 employees are involved in Kin?

Engadg]]>Jul 7th 2010 6:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 7:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 8:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Please. The fact that MS let that thing happen, and dumped 250 million, and, oh yeah, 500 million to buy Danger...should be alarming to anyone, and that comes down to Ballmer. He signed the cheques.]]>Jul 7th 2010 10:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 7:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Not 89,000, but maybe several hundred,

you know..

the amount of people being laid off. ]]>Jul 7th 2010 8:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Microsofts first and last inovation was the GUI, and that was back on the 3.11 workgroups of the 90's, nothings changed since 95..
Seriously nothing, apart from a few new media types has changed since 95.
You cant just keep realasing GUI's with stupid names and call them an OS.
I miss DOS 6.22....
And the difference between vista, 7, and 8 is just how much private data it can harvest from you.]]>Jul 7th 2010 6:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 7:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 6:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
It's ok, MS can still suck in any decade]]>Jul 7th 2010 5:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/yep, all the durty libruls fault.]]>Jul 7th 2010 8:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 7:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 7:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/
Basically this and other reports are saying don't expect more than maybe 1-3K layoffs, if that many. ]]>Jul 7th 2010 7:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/microsoft-layoffs-the-axeman-cometh/Jul 7th 2010 7:25AM