Mini-Microsoft Cutting Room Floor

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Comment Stream - "Microsoft FY09Q3 Results"

Unmoderated comment stream for the post Microsoft FY09Q3 Results.

posted by Who da'Punk at 4/22/2009 07:39:00 PM

210 Comments:

  • internbet at harbard? NO! CD-ROMs are the future (Encarta).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 at 8:37 PM  

  • The results should be very good....

    It is with mixed emotions that I announce that Pierre Liautaud is leaving Microsoft.
    Pierre’s last day at Microsoft will be this Friday, 24 April

    Pierre Liautaud
    Vice President,
    Western Europe

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 at 8:39 PM  

  • Mini - another astute observation about awarding failure.

    Why, oh, why are we still pursuing Zune and online subscriptions. The subscription music business is proven failure as a business model Yet, our leadership continues to plow resources into that pit.

    I am excited by the upcoming layoffs, we need to cull the herd. Too many folks want to do only the minimum to get by.

    HR and Marketing are great examples. Everyone there is a Director or Senior Director. Check into there org and note they typically have one direct report - a vendor, who is the one that actually does the work.

    For the Love of God, please clean the house and send a message.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 at 9:01 PM  

  • Expect Windows reorg announcement post earning's call.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 at 9:39 PM  

  • Mini, while it might be easy to draw a separation between the groups that built the commons (windows, office) and the groups that got the commons (windowsmobile...) the distinction is not that clear.
    A fairly significant part of the engineering issue hounding windowsmobile is due to Robbie's groups hiring the same "successful" stars from these large orgs to build a light fast mobile operating system. You certainly know how overengineered winmo has become, and how much of it is due to folks porting over desktop philosophy to mobile.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 at 10:53 PM  

  • Oddly enough XBox is the only thing of Microsoft's somewhat holding its own against the competition in your list of items above... :) I don’t believe it’s doing great but it’s not losing market share like a sieve like IE is for instance.

    As for more cost cutting possibilities, how about a dip in our quarterly dividend? It'll save a few hundred million each quarter.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 at 11:01 PM  

  • The dividend is the only thing keeping the stock price "up."

    No one would buy MSFT expecting growth, so we have to play dividend value.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 at 11:14 PM  

  • Hmm 360 is doing ok, but I'm worried that the price cut has eaten away too much there (our per console cost is probably still pretty high). I do agree that the leadership in that division is unfortunate... but I'm not sure XBox deserves so much hate mini. Should they have only blown through 4billion instead of 8? Probably. That said, I'm not willing to throw out the community and business that has surfaced around the 360 because of that just yet.

    Does the dividend truly matter that much comment #7? Who out there still has enough shares for it to really help you get to sleep each night? Is having that dividend vs. saving hundreds of millions of revenue each quarter worth the risk that 'wallstreet' would rather have the cost cut?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 22, 2009 at 11:23 PM  

  • Indeed. Let's pretend that only 4billion wasn't wasted -- oh heck, let's pretend all 8billion wasn't "wasted" over the course of, what, 9 years since XBox has been around.

    1) Do you think MSFT having an additional 8billion in funds somewhere would even make one of the analysts's blink?
    2) Do you think the 'street even remembers what happened last quarter let alone money that would have melted between the seams over the course of a decade?
    3) That extra money would have just been squandered away making the company bigger anyhow :) My goodness, what if that 8billion was used as a further bump in the Yahoo deal...

    My goodness XBox has been a blessing :) At least one of our products has a semi-cult following with the yonger generation and at least one of our products has brought smiles to families faces after dinnertime (disregard the RROD though)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 at 12:03 AM  

  • My predictions on the presentation:

    http://notnews.today.com/2009/04/22/microsoft-snatches-publicity-crown-from-ubuntu-linux/

    By Blogger David Gerard, at April 23, 2009 at 3:41 AM  

  • That should be a link. Must learn to use preview ...

    By Blogger David Gerard, at April 23, 2009 at 3:41 AM  

  • India started the game soon..
    1 Dev gone in BGCOE

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 at 7:23 AM  

  • I love Zune player -- don't cut it please.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 at 3:56 PM  

  • Yep, being in first round of layoffs was a blessing! Why so quiet here? Everyone running around like chickens with their heads cut off or something?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 at 4:04 PM  

  • seems everyone is hiding their asses :)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 at 6:21 PM  

  • "Yep, being in first round of layoffs was a blessing! Why so quiet here? Everyone running around like chickens with their heads cut off or something?"


    Quite the contrary -- today was completely anticlimactic. Nobody paid any attention to the quarterly earnings call, no hushed whispers about who was getting the axe... nothing.

    I believe everyone's energy is spent and we're pretty much not going to be surprised no matter what happens at this point.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 at 6:41 PM  

  • Well that's good to hear. While my previous post was snarky, I truly do not want my friends and former coworkers to be running around like chickens with heads cutoff. Some blurbs on the earnings made it sound like 5,000 were going down today.

    Best of luck, seems the street is pleased with the silver linings in the earnings report!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 23, 2009 at 7:15 PM  

  • Isn't it rediculous that Win7 RC can be donwloaded on P2P, but we at MS get anything except MSIT beta?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 1:05 PM  

  • "Isn't it rediculous that Win7 RC can be donwloaded on P2P, but we at MS get anything except MSIT beta?

    No, it's not rediculous [sic] because P2P is ILLEGAL.

    Is it ridiculous that you can get the illegally leaked movie Wolverine P2P but that the studio catering team can't get an official copy?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 2:03 PM  

  • From one of the headline stories on MSW:

    "I have no idea why a software company would buy a hardware company," Ballmer said Wednesday. Speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo, Egypt,


    Uh... isn't XBox and Zune "hardware?"


    Ballmer added that Microsoft doesn't "want to buy any hardware companies," the Reuters news agency reported.


    Does Danger count?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 2:47 PM  

  • Does Danger count?No, because Danger is a software & services company, Sharp makes the hardware.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 2:56 PM  

  • who cancelled the picnic?

    Stupid move.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 3:19 PM  

  • the picnic is lame if you don't have kids.

    cancel prime while you're at it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 3:24 PM  

  • "who cancelled the picnic?

    Stupid move."    The picnic was stupid, wasteful and should have been killed a decade ago.

    Company picnics make sense when your company isn't the size of a medium-sized city.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 3:26 PM  

  • It's not stupid and didn't cost that much

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 3:34 PM  

  • Cutting picnic doesn't make sense when you have a lot sales people making $250,000 in RBI just by fooling around with a small quota.

    Cut the fat!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 3:38 PM  

  • Back when I was working for MS my family _loved_ the annual picnic. I understand that the typical Bellevue yuppie who is destined to die sad and alone might not care, but it was something nice for the families, and given the amount of crap they put up with indirectly they deserved it. Actually for a few years I worked in a group that had its own yearly picnic (in addition to the company-wide one). Given the size of the company maybe that's the solution. Each group should organize something that includes and involves spouses and kids.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 4:13 PM  

  • "I understand that the typical Bellevue yuppie who is destined to die sad and alone might not care, but it was something nice for the families, and given the amount of crap they put up with indirectly they deserved it."I understand that the typical breeding style of the Microsoft stay-at-home-Mom-with-a-litter-of-4 favors things like the company picnic, but those of us who wish you'd all get vasectomies and stop spewing your zygotes all over the planet don't give a shit about the stupid picnic.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 5:55 PM  

  • "It's not stupid and didn't cost that much"It's stupid and cost too much.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 5:56 PM  

  • When a company becomes famous then people dont care about whether its good or not its just name. even if google hits every employee with a stick every day, there will be thousands who want to join .. we are humans and totally crazy and sometimes brainless.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 6:04 PM  

  • Cutting picnic doesn't make sense ..Cutting the picnic makes sense. It's a waste of resources. They should've done that a long time ago. Want a picnic ? Go to your favourite grocery store, buy some bread, ham cheese, sodas and go to the nearest park. You will enjoy it more than being surrounded by thousands of self-righteous individuals. I went to one and that was the first and last one. It was annoying.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 7:20 PM  

  • I. Love. This. Pic-a-Nic. Basket

    By Anonymous Yogi the Bellevue Yuppie, at April 24, 2009 at 7:53 PM  

  • I have no kids and I thought the over 21 area at last year's picnic was fun. I'm sad that its cancelled. The email about it was oddly worded, though - we're cutting the picnic because only Puget Sound could participate, but while we're at it, we're cutting the similar events in all other locations too!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 8:17 PM  

  • Good grief. America first vs. H1-B visas. ICs vs. Partners. Tantric gays vs. missionary position heteros. Bellevue yuppies who'll die alone vs. stay-at-home Moms with 4 kids.

    How far we've spiraled out of control into the Us vs. Them multiverse.

    Remember the good old days when it was just us whites vs. the... the....

    Crap. Who as was it we were vs. again? I can't even remember anymore.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 8:26 PM  

  • On a different note, MSFT was up 10.5-fucking-percent today. Hell Yeah!

    Sure, it'll probably crash to 16.75 when half the company dumps some shares tomorrow, but for today, Hell Yeah! Take the Apple, you down-1.2%-today-losers, you.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 8:29 PM  

  • Meanwhile nobody is discussing the quarterly results. I find it amazing that despite the first ever yoy drop in revenue stock was still up.after hours and the next day. Apparently analysts were expecting worse. Good job MSFT, you've now become the retarded stepchild of the high tech industry. The expectations are so low that if. Somebody can find one area where you didn't competely fuck up everybody cheers. Look, he spelled his name right, the stock is a buy!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 8:37 PM  

  • Monday you mean. Tomorrow's Saturday.

    (Must be a director or PUM.)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 8:37 PM  

  • I understand that the typical breeding style of the Microsoft stay-at-home-Mom-with-a-litter-of-4 favors things like the company picnic, but those of us who wish you'd all get vasectomies and stop spewing your zygotes all over the planet don't give a shit about the stupid picnic.This is the shit that MS has
    brought the region, smug bastards that can't drive and think they're gods gift to the universe. The picnic was fun for those that can have a good time without getting plowed or high. For the love of all things holy go get laid and get over your anger issues. Stay off 520 too please, I'm tired of trying to avoid you little pricks when you change lanes without signaling or just move for the hell of it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 8:48 PM  

  • Microsoft: Beyond Thunderdome

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 9:04 PM  

  • Hope for American workers and GC holders...

    Write your elected officials and ask them to support the the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act.

    http://senatus.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/durbin-grassley-introduce-the-h-1b-and-l-1-visa-reform-act/

    Yesterday, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act.

    According to a press release, the bill would “reform the H-1B and L-1guest-worker programs to prevent abuse and fraud and to protect American workers.”

    The Durbin-Grassley bill would mend the H-1B visa program, not end it, making reasonable reforms while not reducing the number of H-1B visas that are available.

    Congress intended H-1B visas to benefit the American economy by allowing U.S. employers to import high-skilled and specialized guest-workers when no qualified American workers are available. While initially successful, loopholes in the program have allowed foreign guest-workers to displace qualified American workers.

    Specifically, the bill would:

    Require all employers who want to hire an H-1B guest-worker to first make a good-faith attempt to recruit a qualified American worker.

    Employers would be prohibited from using H-1B visa holders to displace qualified American workers.

    Prohibit the blatantly discriminatory practice of “H-1B only” ads and prohibit employers from hiring additional H-1B and L-1 guest-workers if more than 50% of their employees are H-1B and L-1 visa holders.

    To address fraud, the measure “would give the government more authority to conduct employer investigations and streamline the investigative process.” That includes the following:

    Permit DOL (Department of Labor) to initiate investigations without a complaint and without the Labor Secretary’s personal authorization;

    Authorize DOL to review H-1B applications for fraud;

    Allow DOL to conduct random audits of any company that uses the H-1B program;

    Require DOL to conduct annual audits of companies who employ large numbers of H-1B workers.

    Finally, the legislation would “institute a number of reforms to the L-1 visa program, including establishing for the first time a process to investigate, audit and penalize L-1visa abuses.”

    The L-1 visa program allows companies to transfer certain employees from their foreign facilities to their U.S. offices for up to seven years.

    Experts have concluded that some employers use the L-1 program to evade restrictions on the H-1B program because the L-1 program does not have an annual cap and does not include even the minimal labor protections of the H-1B program.

    The current economic / job-loss situation will no doubt provide a boost toward efforts aimed at getting this bill passed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 9:51 PM  

  • You've inspried me. I'm writing my elected officials today to tell them to redouble their efforts to bring more of the world's brightest talent to America's shores in order to secure our future.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 10:02 PM  

  • I'm advocating for more H-1Bs because I hate the pathetic losers who feel threatened by them.

    Shit, I'd even be willing to lose my own job to a guest worker just to watch a few more of these cock flossers go down.

    More of you need to be flipping burgers.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 10:07 PM  

  • Cancelling the picnic is fine - are you so Redmond centric you don't realize that most employees work outside the Puget Sound?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 10:49 PM  

  • they took our jerbs ....!!!
    wah wah wahhhhh

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 10:52 PM  

  • "Hope for American workers and GC holders...

    Write your elected officials and ask them to support the the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act."

    SOMEBODY'S BUTTHURT.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 24, 2009 at 11:22 PM  

  • Uh, you guys do realize that the really bad drivers in Puget Sound are the ones in the Subarus who grew up here, right? Well, and those who are just learning to drive that are new to their job in America and taking driving lessons this weekend.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 25, 2009 at 12:12 AM  

  • "Uh, you guys do realize that the really bad drivers in Puget Sound are the ones in the Subarus who grew up here, right?"

    I've always been stumped as to why people who grow-up with constant rain suddenly drive like 80yo grandmothers and/or total lunatics the second it starts to drizzle.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 25, 2009 at 12:51 AM  

  • "Cancelling the picnic is fine - are you so Redmond centric you don't realize that most employees work outside the Puget Sound?"Yeah, but most of the shit we make is made in Redmond, so Redmond is king.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 25, 2009 at 12:53 AM  

  • "On a different note, MSFT was up 10.5-fucking-percent today. Hell Yeah!

    Sure, it'll probably crash to 16.75 when half the company dumps some shares tomorrow, but for today, Hell Yeah! Take the Apple, you down-1.2%-today-losers, you."

    LOL...just because you're ahead of the person who's about to lap you, doesn't mean you're winning


    http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=aapl#chart2:symbol=aapl;range=6m;compare=msft;indicator=volume;charttype=line;crosshair=on;ohlcvalues=0;logscale=on;source=undefined

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 25, 2009 at 2:18 AM  

  • Yeah, but most of the shit we make is made in Redmond, so Redmond is king.hmmm....

    Shouldn't that be....

    "Yeah, but most of the shit we make is made in Redmond, so Redmond is a toilet."?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 25, 2009 at 4:40 AM  

  • They're not Bellevue yuppies, they all live in Seattle in Belltown and Cap. Hill and will..

    I can see why they cancelled it - when it went to 2 weekends that was it. I was so happy when they started actually enforcing the hard guest limit. You used to see folks bring in their regular and extended family as well as their kids' friends. I got to see such parties turned away one year!

    And why o why do the hugh revenue sucks like E&D get the cool awesome campus?

    I would love to see the co meeting cut - talk about a painful snooze fest - I really can't stand another demo of SQL Data Cube or Dynamics. The smart folks take the free day off.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 25, 2009 at 6:36 AM  

  • DavidV will retire soon. Stop beating the dead horse. Nobody was there publicly beating him when Microsoft pursued his dumb idea of buying Great Plain then Navision. And what is the only "business framework" still being developed at Microsoft? The one from the small Axapta company that Navision acquired just before being taken by Microsoft. Summary: Microsoft acquired 2 large companies full of incompetent employees, all to get a framework developed by a small foreign company. Don’t even start with this excuse of “acquiring customers”. Nobody “acquires customers”, and the only remaining customers still using MBS products are probably going bankrupt right. Their more agile competitors are probably making a profit, and migrated to more flexible and yet more robust ERP systems long ago.

    Regarding Ray Ozzie, I had the opinion that he was doing nothing also, until having a recent experience meeting him during the Demo Days, which were previously performed for Bill Gates. The only difference: BillG would say some exaggerations one way or another, and people would leave the demos bragging that he “loved” or “hated” their demos. However, there was little follow-up on sentences by BillG like “You should talk with Group/Person/etc.”. Meanwhile, Ray Ozzie is far less dramatic, but there is follow-up, and probably there should be even more follow-up in the future. Ray is definitely working to avoid or at least minimize Microsoft’s culture of duplicated efforts, internal competition and little focus on the customers. But that is not appreciated at Microsoft: what is appreciated is the “drama queen” behavior of making a small problem big, and then resolving it and announcing that as if you just saved the universe.

    Compare what is happening within the organizations led by Ray Ozzie and the PSU (Parallel Search Universe) within Microsoft. In the PSU you have several teams doing the same thing, competing for resources, and for who has the most inflated levels. You need to be at partner level nowadays to be lead in PSU, and that org is full of ICs at the “Principal” level. Level by level, proportionally PSU is costlier than Windows, and let’s not even go into the return on investment calculations. The solution for PSU is simple: everyone with more than 2 years in PSU should be fired. That is two review cycles in which you either contributed for the culture of incompetence or did nothing to stop it, even it that was just leaving and let the many GMs (General Morons) there discover that sitting in offsite workshops won’t beat Google. What is the hope for all those 2000 morons when the company announce that it will now deliver billions to Yahoo in hope that a partnership with another incompetent company will increase Microsoft’s share of the Internet traffic?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 26, 2009 at 1:44 AM  

  • "Compare what is happening within the organizations led by Ray Ozzie and the PSU (Parallel Search Universe) within Microsoft. In the PSU you have several teams doing the same thing, competing for resources, and for who has the most inflated levels. You need to be at partner level nowadays to be lead in PSU, and that org is full of ICs at the “Principal” level."OK, so you've said what PSU has done, but you haven't said a thing that Ozzie has done.

    WHAT HAS THE MAN DONE? And don't give me any kind of Azure of Silverlight bullshit, that crap hasn't made us a penny.

    According to your comment, the best thing Ozzie has done is "follow up". Uhhh... wow. He's been here for *years* now. Years. Motherfucking years! HOW IS HE GETTING US PAID?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 26, 2009 at 2:01 AM  

  • 2 people in STB are being targetted this week.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 26, 2009 at 3:39 AM  

  • And why o why do the hugh revenue sucks like E&D get the cool awesome campus?

    Does everyone realize that Robbie chose cubicles, not offices for the buildings he gets in the new campus?

    Still really want your group to move there?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 26, 2009 at 8:23 AM  

  • Does everyone realize that Robbie chose cubicles

    I'd like to see Robbie stuffed into an 8x8 cubicle.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 26, 2009 at 11:14 AM  

  • Every group should be turnued into a P&L. Groups which continually lose money, year over year, should be scrapped.

    PSU will probably be one of them.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 26, 2009 at 12:20 PM  

  • +1 on cancelling the company meeting. Now _that_ is a ridiculous waste of money. What is the business justification for paying to have Dwight Schrute tell bad jokes and have SteveB running around acting like he's some sort of rock star knocking over women in the audience and drinking bottles of honey on stage? For half the company its really just a day off work. And, hey, isn't that something only Puget Sound attends??

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 26, 2009 at 5:49 PM  

  • For half the company its really just a day off work.

    I can't imagine why you would want to cancel it, then.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 26, 2009 at 6:56 PM  

  • i stopped taking my family to the company picnic when my wife told me that she used the facilities after Lisa Brummel and was horrified to see the toilet seat was left up! i agree with the OP: lisab pees standing up!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 27, 2009 at 12:03 PM  

  • What is the significance of a woman peeing standing up? Look for a web1.0 era site with detailed instructions for women. It's not a big deal, and preferred over sitting on a hunny bucket seat.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 27, 2009 at 3:55 PM  

  • Its Monday night the 27th -- the layoff notice invites have started going out for next week. Is anyone else seeing them?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 27, 2009 at 9:26 PM  

  • Solutions Delivery in I.T., is expecting an E-mail from Steve Tuesday the 5th @ 6:00 AM and then the "trickle down" will start. Everyone over here in 109 is talking about it, hang on to your toes!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 27, 2009 at 10:15 PM  

  • "What is the significance of a woman peeing standing up?"In this case it means that the woman is sporting a cock.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 27, 2009 at 10:28 PM  

  • Solutions Delivery in I.T., is expecting an E-mail from Steve Tuesday the 5th @ 6:00 AM and then the "trickle down" will start. Everyone over here in 109 is talking about it, hang on to your toes!If true, finally someone is doing the right thing. This particular group within IT is full of Principal level do-nothings who were hired during the tenure of disgraced former CIO Stuart Scott.

    Let's hope the cuts take place within the right places, and not people who actually do work.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 27, 2009 at 11:12 PM  

  • I suggest stashing a couple clean towels as soon as you get into the office tomorrow. LisaB may be giving you a "special kind of shower" real soon and you are _not_ going to feel clean afterwards...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2009 at 12:11 AM  

  • wow, people have complained about Solutions Delivery on here before. I wonder if high-ups are following up on minimsft commnets? Let's help 'em out; where else can they find some expensive cruft doing nothing in high concentrations?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2009 at 1:22 AM  

  • Cut Zune!! That thing is a money pit. Sure you are offering competition but at what cost to the company and the companies bottom line? All that is doing is throwing money away. throw money away when the economy improves. In the meantime, shelf it. As Steve Ballmer says, you're not a hardware company, you're a software company.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2009 at 9:46 AM  

  • Here's an interesting bit of insight into why our crap is not cool and never will be, and that google is the same now.

    http://blog.fawny.org/2009/04/26/google-neuroanatomy/

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2009 at 10:33 AM  

  • Solution Delivery in IT has the most incompetent people in the world.I heard that several people in this organization have been promoted beyond their capabilities or outside their area of competence to principal/director levels.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2009 at 2:05 PM  

  • Re: make everything a P&L...

    Profit does not equal quality. How about focusing on what MSFT does well.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2009 at 2:58 PM  

  • "Solution Delivery in IT has the most incompetent people in the world.I heard that several people in this organization have been promoted beyond their capabilities or outside their area of competence to principal/director levels."LOL -- promoting people beyond their capabilities and/or area of competence is the foundation of American business and god knows it applies to at least 50% of Microsoft leadership.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 28, 2009 at 4:58 PM  

  • "As for more cost cutting possibilities, how about a dip in our quarterly dividend? It'll save a few hundred million each quarter."

    Are you really this fucking stupid?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 29, 2009 at 3:43 PM  

  • I know you are but what am I?

    By Anonymous PWH, at April 29, 2009 at 4:57 PM  

  • layoffs are coming. one of our managers found out today and told some of his directs. People started clearing their desks...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 1:48 AM  

  • Check this out.

    http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/04/20/ms.job.cuts.may.widen/

    Anyone knows of job cuts outside of Redmond? If you do know, please share.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 3:56 AM  

  • Anyone knows of job cuts outside of Redmond? If you do know, please share.Big cuts coming in Fargo. Sales and development are in the crosshairs.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 7:01 AM  

  • Fargo? Fargo was pretty well decimated on Jan. 22nd, as I heard it. Good grief, are they planning to close the whole thing down out there?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 8:20 AM  

  • "Good grief, are they planning to close the whole thing down out there?"

    This is MS we're talking about. If you're not in Redmond you're always at risk of being closed down.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 10:08 AM  

  • India- Big time cut started 22' APR evening 3.30 pm IST.

    Rxd IT
    Bully Nagendar Vedula empire
    had the maximum more than 20 people cut

    Mastercrook Moorthy's disciple Mehar Zafroz also got the axe with 20 people

    Sreenivas AIT & Ramkumar ExD got cut by 10 people each

    totally the count is around 50 for MS IT India in 1 week, still 400-500 people are expected to get cut in another 2 weeks before steve ballmer come here for giving balls at Tech Ed India

    pathetic thing is, NO NOTICE.

    people are asked to quit immediately . not even allowed to go back to desk after given information. managers were made FYI jokers who had no role.

    GMs were asked to sign NDA so that they were not able to disclose this even to their confidants well in advance.

    HR and Security played worst role.
    HR escorted everyone to door. Couple of girls literally cried due to their family situations and their dependency on jobs.

    Across MS IT India, everyone is talking about the decency level, management & HR could have adapted during this exercise.

    we all are confident that pregnant wife of one employee who got laid off is going to get shocked and curse Bill Gates and all his crap leaders for giving a WRONG opportunity to WRONG guys to run the organization here.

    LEADERS are just following 'SAVE YOUR OWN A$$' policy. NONE IS READY TO DISCUSS.

    PROBABLY THEY FORGOT ABOUT THE CULTURAL IMPACT THESE KIND OF ISSUES CAN CREATE IN INDIAN CULTURE( SHOWING OFF DOOR WITHOUT NOTICE TIME) MANDATE

    WHAT INDIAN GOVERNMENT IS DOING FOR THIS ABRUBTLY LAID OFF EMPLOYEES ?

    SOMEONE HAVE POLITICAL, PRESS CONNECTIONS, CAN YOU TAKE THIS TO THE NOTICE OF APPROPRIATE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS AND OTHER POLICITICAL PARTIES ?????

    Moorthy - you're the culprit behind all these faults

    None of the laid off employee's family will forgive Tony Scott, Kevin Turner also for not running the lay off show properly here

    How much cost MS IT saved by letting people go on same day ?

    No single employee will be accountable, loyal after this

    All the old employees who are high performers and reputed for their knowledge depth are also planning to go.

    some suggestions for Ravi Venkatesan/ Tony Scott to lay off...

    Jayashri, now spoiling IDC EE
    Murali krishna
    Rosh Verma
    Pinkey
    Moorthy, now spoiling SMSG
    Mahar Zaforz
    MAEDHU KOORAPATI
    Chaitanya

    and all GE CLAN of STUPID STUART SCOTT

    and all 100 recent unexperienced 3rd rated campus recruits along with the 50 illiterate bluff Rotation a$$ holes

    Sack the above leaders and put these organizations under Ram, Sreenivas. Seasoned leaders !!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 10:18 AM  

  • Both Nagender and Sreenivas is Moorthy sincere sishya disciples. Moorthy paid back his thanks by offering GM position to Sreenivas for all the dinner he offered during his redmond trips. Nagendara, the fatty man got kicked out of IDC, not even prinicipal over there. Sucked Moorthy and got GM finally for that.

    Only Ram pichai is meritorious among the current leaders. Sack Meher, Nagendra & Sreenivas, place all organizations under Ram only.

    Where are the original leaders like Tarun Sareen ?
    Bring them back !

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 10:36 AM  

  • anyone heard about layoffs in IT in Redmond?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 10:48 AM  

  • Any Idea on what was the criteria for the recent layoffs in MSIT India ? Was that purely for underperforming ones or other? Also, what would be the criteria for upcoming layoffs ? High salary? Resource utilization, or Manager affinity ?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 11:14 AM  

  • The 10:18 comment is priceless.

    Hey dude, what do you think was happening for all those years in the US as American companies were laying off to open brand new offices in India? The same thing you're now witnessing: HR and security heartlessly escorting employees outside at a moment's notice.

    Your colleague's pregnant wife will learn to get over it, just as countless American wives did before her.

    Welcome to the shitty end of the stick.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 11:51 AM  

  • Still my question is unanswered. Is it purely of performance or something else? and if so, what is the criteria for selecting people for layoff? and why always it is ICs who ACTUALLY work ?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 12:17 PM  

  • I was standing next to Lisab at the urinal bank in 18 adn she said that the insideMS blog would be updated with the companys plans by COB tomorrow.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 12:35 PM  

  • "Your colleague's pregnant wife will learn to get over it, just as countless American wives did before her."

    I wonder whether the OP realizes that there were Americans with pregnant wives who got fucked over in January.

    "Still my question is unanswered. Is it purely of performance or something else? and if so, what is the criteria for selecting people for layoff? and why always it is ICs who ACTUALLY work ?"

    It is NOT purely performance. I know of several 20 percent bucketers, patent-holders and award-winners who were shown the door, in addition to plenty of 70s and a few 10s. There were some absolutely dreadful 10 percenters still standing after round one.

    It appears to be a combination of factors: some performance, some whole teams, some people that managers were glad to cut loose. What the layoffs don't appear to involve are many managers. In other words, if you're not a manager, there's not much you can do except hope for good fortune.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 1:32 PM  

  • "Hey dude, what do you think was happening for all those years in the US as American companies were laying off to open brand new offices in India? The same thing you're now witnessing: HR and security heartlessly escorting employees outside at a moment's notice."

    LOL @ "heartlessly".

    What I want to know is how long you lived under the delusion that business should have a heart?

    Executives make roughly 100 to 10000 times more than you ever will, and they don't give a flying fuck about your life or the lives of pregnant stepford wives.

    Frankly I think more of you should stop breeding your heifers so hard -- you'd be better prepared for hard times with less mouths to feed.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 3:36 PM  

  • The MSIT layoffs can't be just for underperformance, or they'd have fired the lot, sold the furniture, turned off the lights and shuttered the doors and windows.

    Hopefully they fire them all, and then we can get back to an era of decent code produced by experienced developers.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 4:06 PM  

  • Rumour mill is working overtime... one of the post claimed 10 people under Meher i.e. BGCOE... my sources suggest it was not more than 3!!... anyways that does not take credit out of her incompetence... she and her fav directs seems to have no credibility on the floor... Tony and his directs should understand that if any leader does not have even 10% people repecting means they are not worth... trusting MS Poll in this environment is useless... people are scared and they know that last year result had no impact on Managers...

    Coming back to most vibrant topic of lay-off... no one is sure what will happen... it is all rumour but nevertheless it seems inevitable... question is whether Indian side will be fair with serverence to upheld MS credibility in market or will play the cheap trick!!... Redmond seems was fair with last 1400...

    Well corporate policy is very dicey... they are targeting people who are adding value to MS and then there are managers with double the salary who have no role or impact are happily moving around... specially those M2s who are lobbying hard to remove people in the name of cleansing...!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 4:40 PM  

  • IDC, my condolences on your unexpected job terminations. You are certainly correct in the loss of dignity. We understand that all too well.
    My understanding is that strategic hiring will continue in China, per a well-placed GM. Perhaps you should hop over the Himalayas and check that out.
    People were re-purposed in the US for your positions to be originally created. It may be more convenient for you to find work in China than it was for people here to find replacement work.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 5:23 PM  

  • Not to further the rumor mill, but there are alot of folks suddently getting 1 on 1's scheduled for Tuesday May 5th. I have heard from 2 that they are not meeting with their own manager, but their mangers's manager. So, good luck to everyone, but if you get a 1 on 1 scheduled on that day, you can expect the worst and hope for the best.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 5:40 PM  

  • Well corporate policy is very dicey... they are targeting people who are adding value to MS and then there are managers with double the salary who have no role or impact are happily moving around... specially those M2s who are lobbying hard to remove people in the name of cleansing...!!
    Termination of employees will be like the vista release management process. Decisions will be made on a whim without justification.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 5:56 PM  

  • It is NOT purely performance. I know of several 20 percent bucketers, patent-holders and award-winners who were shown the door, in addition to plenty of 70s and a few 10s. There were some absolutely dreadful 10 percenters still standing after round one.To the patent-holders, award-winners and top performers: good luck with your future endeavors.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 5:57 PM  

  • Decisions will be made on a whim without justification.

    Not entirely. Justification will be "the innocent must be punished".

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 6:06 PM  

  • http://mini-microsoft-india.blogspot.com/

    Indian mini kicked off a nicely written article about IDC and it's leadership

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 6:30 PM  

  • In India, people were not cut not only based on performance, even based on 'ass licking' skills.

    How much you lick your manager's ass, you're saved that much

    Do not think about stop the licking, even if he is new to the system tell him and get used to the service. He'll certainly enjoy this

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 7:27 PM  

  • If that is IDC definition of "company picnic" then one should be glad it is cancelled.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 30, 2009 at 7:30 PM  

  • Boohoo IDC, a bunch of mediocre performers are getting laid off...how do you think you got the jobs? Americans were laid off, so not a single tear for Hyberabad

    No one give a shit about the cultural impact, welcome to being a number in a book

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 12:35 AM  

  • No really -- can we talk about IDC some more? Cuz, you know, it's really interesting.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 1:40 AM  

  • headtrax is still working but the last updated date in the upper left hand corner is from two days ago. I dont think this is normal

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 2:16 AM  

  • "What I want to know is how long you lived under the delusion that business should have a heart?"

    What do you think happens to those companies that don't? They get eaten from the inside out? Employees steal, embezzle, sell company secrets, blackmail, delete files upon leaving or at the very least, don't document code and don't tell you where anything is or how anything works.

    You rely on employees good will every day and they rely upon yours. Even after you 'let them go', that good will needs to be maintained to avoid additional hassles.

    I've seen dotcoms fail because they thought they could be heartless and employees turned on the company. Maybe that's just here in America where we have a sense of individualism and aren't afraid to stab our employers in the back as we know they will stab us in ours.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 7:31 AM  

  • Boohoo IDC, a bunch of mediocre performers are getting laid off...how do you think you got the jobs? Americans were laid off, so not a single tear for HyberabadAll i can say is that you are a racist. How did you think americans own microsoft jobs ? If the world starts using linux you will be in deep shit. If you think only you can be employed why are you selling outside america, keep your shit in your own place, and stop the crap of spreading the fact that you lost jobs due to outside world. you are having jobs because most people are buying OS outside america too. If China Japan and India and others stop buying microsoft products, will more americans get jobs ?? Understand the global economy and dont bring in petty things which confuse people. I am not an MS employee and thank god i am not, since i am seeing some people like these who are almost like kids would are working, they need to first grow up and then write software. So go out , socialize, you will know there is a lot in world more than your own deep shitty world of microsoft.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 8:29 AM  

  • Boohoo IDC, a bunch of mediocre performers are getting laid off...how do you think you got the jobs? Americans were laid off, so not a single tear for Hyberabad
    How many people have this attitude in microsoft ? If a lot of americans in microsoft have the same attitude all i can say is that i will ask people outside america to rethink their OS plans. BOYCOTT MICROSOFT !!! BOYCOTT !!!! We will have a better world without microsoft.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 8:34 AM  

  • Any layoff today ?????

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 8:35 AM  

  • In India, people were not cut not only based on performance, even based on 'ass licking' skills. How much you lick your manager's ass, you're saved that much- Do not think about stop the licking, even if he is new to the system tell him and get used to the service. He'll certainly enjoy thisThat's what I would call a "curry feast"

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 8:59 AM  

  • India Mini posted about SMSG India and it's leader Ravi Venkatesan today.

    http://mini-microsoft-india.blogspot.com/2009/05/smsg-india-wazup-with-raviv.html

    Polls in India Mini are quite intriguing.

    For the yesterday's poll, none answered in favour of IDC VP Srini continuing. Interesting Times...

    When is the post and analysis about MS IT India is going to come ?

    It seems like MS IT India is impacted already. Sorry folks...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 9:55 AM  

  • HAPPY LABPURS DAY
    DEDICATING THIS PARTICULARLY FOR ALL THE STRONG COMMUNISTIC INDIANS

    WHAT'S YOUR ACTION SUPPORTING YOUR 50+ FELLOWS LAID OFF IN 1 WEEK IN AN UNAUTHORIZED MANNER..

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 10:27 AM  

  • are u sure 50+ laid off in MSIT India??????

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 10:34 AM  

  • I'm not sure about others, but I've had issues working with IDC and CDC. I'm not trying to be racist, it's just a fact. I work with some very bright Indian/Chinese on my team. I'm more of the thought that most the best and brightest of India/China have moved to the US/EU/etc for better quality of life.

    Now though, I wonder if more people will rethink their decision. MS works people to the bone, and now future prospects are bleak. Why bother?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 10:46 AM  

  • "I'm more of the thought that most the best and brightest of India/China have moved to the US/EU/etc for better quality of life.
    "<=== absolutely agree on that.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 1:35 PM  

  • More layoff news..

    150 positions's impacted across Debra's GFS Org. The D-Day is May 5as with many organizatons in MS.

    Effectively, this cuts 10%(120~) of GFS Org. in total while we open and re-position upto 20+ positions.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 3:00 PM  

  • "More layoff news.."

    Welcome to the Ballmer pain train that shareholders have been on for a decade.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 3:40 PM  

  • Does anyone know if mailbox migrations, i.e. switching a mailbox to another server, can make it look like people are unsubscribing from all DL Memberships?

    I'm thinking specifically about the colleague updates in My Sites, such as "so and so unsubcribed from abc, def, and xyz aliases." I'm seeing lots of colleagues unsubscribing to (or being unsubscribed from) lots of aliases.

    Not trying to create FUD, but wondering what might be the cause of the funky behavior. My guess is there's a technical reason of some sort, hopefully related to back-end server testing/migration, so trying not to freak.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 3:45 PM  

  • i am bored.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 4:29 PM  

  • if India/China/EU are so great, where are their great software companies? Oh, wait, there's shit in those shitty places

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 5:43 PM  

  • Let us chant together:
    Two Country enter, One Country leave
    Two Country enter, One Country leave
    Two Country enter, One Country leave

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 6:38 PM  

  • Enough with all this India layoff news. Who the hell gives a crap, have this discussion in your own freaking mini-India blog.

    We're about to get our own asses handed to us here next Tue, so let's focus on that, shall we?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 6:43 PM  

  • Anybody who's been with MS for 10 years or more and gets canned is only a victim of their own complacency.

    Those people had time to witness the out of control headcount growth and the multiplication of management layers. They saw the squandered opportunities. They saw the decline in stock price, the execs' greed, the partners who make a million and year to contribute little or nothing.

    If you've been with MS for 10 years or more you know what it used to be like, and you know what it has become.

    Most people I know in that situation who had any kind of marketable skill got out between 2004 and 2008, while the economy was good and jobs plentiful. If you didn't you either had no useful skills or were too stupid to realize that the company was on the road to nowhere.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 7:27 PM  

  • Most people I know in that situation who had any kind of marketable skill got out between 2004 and 2008, while the economy was good and jobs plentiful. If you didn't you either had no useful skills or were too stupid to realize that the company was on the road to nowhere.And where are those people now? Good chance they're laid off and looking for work, so it's not like they made out any better than those who stayed behind.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 10:03 PM  

  • If you've been with MS for 10 years or more you know what it used to be like, and you know what it has become.
    well well , i can say still HR will promote it as the best place. Marketing will kill other companies and sell its crap. Managers will think they are the gods of the world. There are some people who are DUMB who will drool and the very thought of going to MSFT, so ms doesnt need to worry, there are lots of crazy people out there, thanks to bill gates legacy. steve balmer is going to kill this company.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 10:21 PM  

  • There are two columns to look at in Headtrax: total "People" count versus "Approved Positions".

    See Figure 1 at this whitepaper

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 11:11 PM  

  • And where are those people now? Good chance they're laid off and looking for work, so it's not like they made out any better than those who stayed behindI'm doing just fine, thanks. When the bottom fell out last year my employer went into survival mode like most companies but we've since reported two decent quarters. No layoffs and I have started seeing exceptions to the hiring freeze.


    When I left MSFT 2 years ago I thought I was taking a step down in terms of job security. Needless to say I no longer feel that way.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 1, 2009 at 11:41 PM  

  • "When I left MSFT 2 years ago I thought I was taking a step down in terms of job security. Needless to say I no longer feel that way."

    ORLY.

    Given the number of friends I have locally in non-MS tech who have been tossed on their asses not just once but sometimes 2 and 3 times over the last couple of years due to layoffs, I think you might be the exception to the rule.

    MSFT is still far more secure than most other places at the moment.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 12:30 AM  

  • " steve balmer is going to kill this company."

    I'd say he already has.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 6:42 AM  

  • Cinco de Mayo = D Day. Sigh. BYOB.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 8:01 AM  

  • MSFT is still far more secure than most other places at the moment
    like Iraq ?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 8:11 AM  

  • Given the number of friends I have locally in non-MS tech who have been tossed on their asses not just once but sometimes 2 and 3 times over the last couple of years due to layoffs, I think you might be the exception to the rule.

    MSFT is still far more secure than most other places at the moment.    .
    .

    Good for you. Keep working here in the most secure place of the moment.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 8:15 AM  

  • "When I left MSFT 2 years ago I thought I was taking a step down in terms of job security. Needless to say I no longer feel that way."

    Yeah, a 2-3% net reduction. OMG, the sky if falling.

    Get a grip.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 10:09 AM  

  • Yeah, a 2-3% net reduction. OMG, the sky if falling.
    You can't possibly be that gullible.


    Did you take a look at the last two quarterly results? They were bad, Add to that Wall Street's positive reaction to the cost cutting and layoffs are virtually guaranteed to exceed the original target of 5000.


    Now of course management will minimize and sugar coat. And idiots like you will blindly repeat what they're told.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 11:49 AM  

  • "I'm more of the thought that most the best and brightest of India/China have moved to the US/EU/etc for better quality of life. "

    Ur absolutely Wrong. Lots of Indians dont move out of India as they are stuck to their families here and visited U.S once in a while only to make money.
    If it was true that all the best are in U.S and not in India, then Indian economy would have never grown.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 12:13 PM  

  • "MSFT is still far more secure than most other places at the moment..."

    Good for you. Keep working here in the most secure place of the moment.

    I will, thanks. And just to help you read for meaning, "more secure than most" does not mean "the most secure". I sure hope you don't code, as that kind of logical equivocation error results in... Windows Live Search.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 1:03 PM  

  • An admin from SPAG HR has booked up conference rooms in 109 and all of RedWest from 8-5 on Tuesday. Godspeed, all.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 1:15 PM  

  • "An admin from SPAG HR has booked up conference rooms in 109 and all of RedWest from 8-5 on Tuesday. Godspeed, all."Who cares? If you haven't been living your life for the last 3 months as if you were one day away from not having a job, you deserve everything you get.

    Godspeed? More like good riddance, and I might well be in the next wave of people to get the axe so it's not like I think I'm immune.

    The purging is long, long overdue.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 1:45 PM  

  • We have a couple of old farts in our group, one is late 40s and one is 50+. I have to believe these geezers are going to get it. I think our manager has figured out that no one wants to work with or socialize with someone as old as their father.

    Make way, gramps, it's our turn now. You are how old as you are and you are only L63devs ...sheesh...time to put you geezers out to pasture and make room for new talent and ideas.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:15 PM  

  • It's obvious that you have a lot to learn from those "old people."

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:17 PM  

  • Layoffs confirmed for Tuesday. Managers already notified

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:29 PM  

  • layoffs, I had enough of this. Dear God, give me the swine flu finish me off for good

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:34 PM  

  • Well, what those old farts have taught me is that they must be pretty mediocre, otherwise, they would have been occupying a senior management position by now or have become financially independent.

    I know one thing, in 5 years, before I am 30, I will have a job at a level higher than they are now and they will be lucky to be Wal-Mart greeters.

    If MS wants it's mojo back it needs young and aggressive talent with new ideas and high drive. Also, weed the ones that are on the Mommy and Daddy track as well while we are at it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:34 PM  

  • "layoffs, I had enough of this. Dear God, give me the swine flu finish me off for good"

    Make sure you give the manager (sneeze on the face of the bastard) the swine flu who lays you off on next Tuesday

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:42 PM  

  • I don't know what job I'll have in 5, 10 or 20 years but I know for sure that I will still be able to look at myself in the mirror every morning you shallow prick.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:43 PM  

  • "I know one thing, in 5 years, before I am 30, I will have a job at a level higher than they are now and they will be lucky to be Wal-Mart greeters."

    No, no you won't -- I can smell it in the way you write, you're a loser now and will be a loser in 5, 10, 20 years.

    But do keep living the delusion, as it's a lot of fun watching trogs like you turn into bitter 40 year-olds who still don't understand how the world works. ;-)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:48 PM  

  • "I don't know what job I'll have in 5, 10 or 20 years but I know for sure that I will still be able to look at myself in the mirror every morning you shallow prick."Which comment are you responding to? C'mon, I want to either support you or call you a retard.

    WE NEED CONTEXT.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 2:49 PM  

  • lot of people have made microsoft sort of home, husband wife working in the same office .. it sucks... its not a home its an office for gods sake .. fire all such people.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 10:34 PM  

  • Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 11:23 PM  

  • Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    What the hell kind of drivel is this? What exactly are you saying here? You're obviously not American, judging from your poor English. I hope your ass is canned on Tue. Moron!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 2, 2009 at 11:34 PM  

  • "Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave    "


    One retard comments, everyone rolls their eyes.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 12:06 AM  

  • If MS wants it's mojo back it needs young and aggressive talent with new ideas and high drive.It sucks to see this blog become an agist, xenophobic playground.

    I've seen lots of "old farts" with cool ideas and plenty of energy (and wisdom) to carry them out. Conversely, I've seen my share of young punks who are sticks-in-the-mud and want everything to be cut, dried, and handed to them with detailed instructions. Talent, mindset, and follow-through are far more important than age, gender, nationality, et al.

    I wish people would get over themselves with all the narrow-minded thinking. I guess fear is taking over and bringing out the worst in many people, especially those who already have insecurity issues.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 12:31 AM  

  • "Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave

    That is Mad Max - Beyond the Thunderdome. Pointless comment, but somehow not really that far off the mark ...

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 1:57 AM  

  • I am in my fifties and recently moved to a group where 90% devs and testers are very youyng. Boy, what a mess they have done to their product is unimaginable and most probably beyound repair at this point (I wouldn't be surprised they completely disband this group this Tuesday). Age has absoultely nothing to do with developing software. It has everything to do with finding people with talent, but you know Microsoft is clueless to find people with talent.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 9:30 AM  

  • That is Mad Max - Beyond the Thunderdome.

    I am surprised at the number of people who didn't get the reference. They should be laid off first. Let's face it, if you don't get basic nods to well known sci-fi films, you have no place in the software industry.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 9:48 AM  

  • MM: "I'm scared, Fif. It's that rat circus out there, I'm beginning to enjoy it. Look, any longer out on that road and I'm one of them, a terminal psychotic, except that I've got this bronze badge that says that I'm one of the good guys."

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 11:09 AM  

  • "I am surprised at the number of people who didn't get the reference. They should be laid off first. Let's face it, if you don't get basic nods to well known sci-fi films, you have no place in the software industry."

    The reference was retarded.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 1:10 PM  

  • "Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave
    Two Age Group enter, One Age Group leave"

    With this we can benchmark retardness.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 6:40 PM  

  • Let's face it, if you don't get basic nods to well known sci-fi films, you have no place in the software industry.

    It's been a slow news day, otherwise I wouldn't bother to respond to this drivel.

    Sorry, but I realized I had a choice between being a propellerhead sci-fi nerd who spends every weekend at the Renaissance Faire or a modern software professional who spends every weekend bird-doggin' chicks and bangin' beaver and, well, let me put it this way:

    The twins and I hope you had a good time in your Yoda costume at all those Star Wars premieres.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 6:51 PM  

  • The only women in the Seattle area who still bother with MSFT employees used to ride the short bus to school.


    The rest of us aren't impressed by your Power Point skills and your 150 annual stock awards.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 7:02 PM  

  • Who said anything about Seattle? Fuck Seattle and its hoardes of slack-jawed hags wearing their Buddy Holly glasses.

    When the weekend comes, I hightail it out of main campus in my bimmer and head to Wenatchee. Welfare mothers make better lovers, baby.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 7:25 PM  

  • Hehe, Seattle is home to the world's most unattractive, unapproachable, cold, undateable women in the world. It's a lesbian/feminist heaven, with a lot man-hating ugly women. What an embarassment!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 7:29 PM  

  • I think we should keep to the topic on Microsoft. Even though this is unmoderated. More fruitful to all reading this.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 7:36 PM  

  • I think we should keep to the topic on Microsoft.

    Wrong. This is the drunken biker bar area of minimsft where steam is to be let off.

    If you want decorum and tasteful exchange, head to the main plaza level and show your gilded invitation to an usher. And be quick about it before someone punches you in the throat.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM  

  • "I think we should keep to the topic on Microsoft. Even though this is unmoderated. More fruitful to all reading this."

    I think you should be skull fucked just because you're such a whiny nancy boy.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 10:26 PM  

  • Wrong. This is the drunken biker bar area of minimsft where steam is to be let off.

    Now here are 2 things you don't often seen mentioned together: Microsoft employees and biker bars.
    BTW none of you should ever try setting foot in a real bar. You're much safer sticking to you company sponsored "pub".

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 10:26 PM  

  • "BTW none of you should ever try setting foot in a real bar. You're much safer sticking to you company sponsored "pub"."Apparently you've never seen a drunken group of Microsofties in a "real" bar.

    I've been in groups who have been 86'd from dives in Vegas after throwing bottles at bouncers -- and that was just the woman who was pissed-off because said bouncer wouldn't fuck her in the bathroom. You'd be surprised. ;-)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 3, 2009 at 10:48 PM  

  • Most of the genuine biker dudes I've run across at MS are v-dashes doing backroom data and hardware stuff.

    They tend to congregate on certain DLs, and they think you're all a bunch of fuckin' douchebag pussy sellouts.

    And they're probably right.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 6:56 AM  

  • I've been in groups who have been 86'd from dives in Vegas after throwing bottles at bouncers -- and that was just the woman who was pissed-off because said bouncer wouldn't fuck her in the bathroom. You'd be surprised. ;-)That wild side of MS is long gone, they all cashed out and retired.. perhaps find them ridin around in their choppers. Today MS is filled with these uppity pansies who wrap their tires with snowchains and do 10 miles/hr coz they saw one fuck'n snowflake, or look to buy military grade gas masks because the morning news said something about a new strain of flu.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 7:10 AM  

  • "Did you take a look at the last two quarterly results? They were bad, Add to that Wall Street's positive reaction to the cost cutting and layoffs are virtually guaranteed to exceed the original target of 5000."

    Yes, they were awful. You guys suck. Wall Street always has a positive reaction to cost cuts, especially with companies who have a track record of over spending. But maybe you noticed that for nine year MS hasn't cared a lot about what Wall Street wanted? The original target was never 5000. It was "up to" 5000 over *18 months*, inclusive of normal attrition, AND immediately qualified that the company would be hiring between 2-3K new positions. So 2-3K effective including attrition, which is less than 2-3%.

    "Now of course management will minimize and sugar coat. And idiots like you will blindly repeat what they're told."

    No, management will continue to avoid doing what it needs to and making token cuts. Meanwhile morons like yourself, who probably aren't adding value anyway, will remain employed and complaining instead of being grateful.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 8:22 AM  

  • Can anyone confirm if the layoffs on 4 and 5 May are for real? There seems to be more talk about it rather than actual experiences shared so far.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 10:43 AM  

  • Mini-Microsoft-India posted a new article MSR- The ray of Hope in Microsoft India

    By Blogger Mini Msft India, at May 4, 2009 at 10:55 AM  

  • "Can anyone confirm if the layoffs on 4 and 5 May are for real? There seems to be more talk about it rather than actual experiences shared so far."You can ask this fucking inane question a million more times and YOU STILL WON'T GET AN ANSWER.

    Jesus people, can you please stop masturbating over the next round of layoffs? This is an anonymous internet forum, you're not going to get any real information here.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 10:55 AM  

  • "Most of the genuine biker dudes I've run across at MS are v-dashes doing backroom data and hardware stuff.

    They tend to congregate on certain DLs, and they think you're all a bunch of fuckin' douchebag pussy sellouts.

    And they're probably right."

    Let's not talk about douchebag pussy biker dudes who work at Microsoft as v-dash backroom data trogs and fancy themselves real bikers.

    Puh-lease, Nancy. Give me a fucking break -- we're talking about IT monkeys who dream about being rebels, they're hardly *real* bikers. Real bikers are not vendors at Microsoft, for the love of christ.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 10:58 AM  

  • has the conversation here really deteriorated to pretending that Hell's Angels are running our labs?

    "You're a sellout because you work in an office, while I WORK IN A CUBEFARM!"

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 11:46 AM  

  • "Most of the genuine biker dudes I've run across at MS are v-dashes doing backroom data and hardware stuff.

    They tend to congregate on certain DLs, and they think you're all a bunch of fuckin' douchebag pussy sellouts.

    And they're probably right."

    HAHAHAHAHAHA

    Hint: if you went to ITT Tech after High School and live in Renton with your skank wife and 3 kids, you're not a real biker, even if you have a chopper in your garage and hang-out in the right bars when you can get away from your miserable life for a few minutes.

    You're actually just a douche with a trade school pseudo-education living in a shitty part of town with an even shittier job in a cube at Microsoft who dreams of bustin' out of the system.

    But thanks for the laugh -- the thought of a bunch of network techs pretending that they're something other than the class of people who clean my house is highly amusing. ;-)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 12:22 PM  

  • Was Ray Ozzie RIF'd in round 1? Or was it years ago? I don't think anyone knows.


    WhereIsRay.com

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 5:11 PM  

  • we're talking about IT monkeys who dream about being rebels, they're hardly *real* bikers. Real bikers are not vendors at Microsoft, for the love of christ.
    Iz you surez? Cuz sum of dem haz long hairz and beardzes and wearz sunglassez in deys profile picturz! Bikerz!

    O Noez! Santa Clawz not realz too?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 6:25 PM  

  • Two dog leave, One dog enter
    Two dog leave, One dog enter
    Two dog leave, One dog enter

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 6:57 PM  

  • > a bunch of network techs
    > pretending that they're
    > something other than the
    > class of people who clean
    > my house

    And you I presume are a program manager?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 7:03 PM  

  • Hell's Angels are running our labsNow THAT's funny.

    "Yeah, we work at Microsoft. But don't fuck with us 'cause Hell's Angels are running our labs."

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 7:49 PM  

  • ">a bunch of network techs pretending that they're something other than the class of people who clean my house."

    And you I presume are a program manager?"

    You can just call me "Sir", and don't forget to clean the windows.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 9:34 PM  

  • ""Most of the genuine biker dudes I've run across at MS are v-dashes doing backroom data and hardware stuff.

    They tend to congregate on certain DLs, and they think you're all a bunch of fuckin' douchebag pussy sellouts."

    Now THERE is a visual: dangerous "genuine biker dudes" congretating on certain DLs.

    Yeah, they're all hanging around on the dangerous side of the distribution list tracks and waiting to shank some poor product group geek who wanders into their discussion group territory.

    ::snort::

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 10:08 PM  

  • and that was just the woman who was pissed-off because said bouncer wouldn't fuck her in the bathroom.

    Was she a lab-dwelling biker?
    You stay classy microsoft.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 4, 2009 at 11:06 PM  

  • Real bikers are easy to spot: as a sign of rebelion, they enter the numbers from right to left into http://timecard

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 12:29 AM  

  • so yeah... anyone get any meeting requests. I dont think it is going to be today. They are to sneak it up on us like last time. Before everyone thought the big day was going to be Jan 15th.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 2:24 AM  

  • My whole group got meeting request for 2PM (6AM PST).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 5:06 AM  

  • The loving email on job layoffs from Ballmer just came out. Read your email.

    You gotta love the guy for his passion. (Sarcasm)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:02 AM  

  • Ballmer just sent the layoff email.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:02 AM  

  • What is the number of cuts in the email?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:10 AM  

  • Number should be close to 3600, or so he says. Not ruling out more cuts if things get even worse. This is not good news even for those who gets to stay.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:15 AM  

  • C&O all-hands at 3.30pm gmt...lovely

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:32 AM  

  • Anyone willing to c/p the e-mail for those of us who got fucked over in January?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:51 AM  

  • Don't copy any internal emails. You will read it in the news soon enough. Have some respect for your employer for peet's sake.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:53 AM  

  • As SB always said in the company meetings 'is this a great company or what?'
    I now know what the 'or what' means.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:54 AM  

  • "Have some respect for your employer for peet's sake."

    Why? Because it's so respectful to us? Exactly what will loyalty get us?

    You're a fucking moron. Go give yourself a toilet swirly, Opie.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 6:55 AM  

  • But thanks for the laugh -- the thought of a bunch of network techs pretending that they're something other than the class of people who clean my house is highly amusing. ;-)Exhibit A why Microsoft will never win the Internet. "Network? Who cares about the network?"

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 7:00 AM  

  • Ballmer's mail was vague. You're safe if you haven't gotten a surprise meeting invite for your group or from your GM.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 7:09 AM  

  • the end is near! repent

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 7:10 AM  

  • In January, in response to the global economic downturn, I announced our plan to adjust the company’s cost structure through spending reductions and job eliminations. Today, we are implementing the second phase of this plan.

    This is difficult news to share. Because our success at Microsoft has always been the direct result of the talent, hard work, and commitment of our people, eliminating positions is hard.

    Today’s action includes positions in the United States and in a number of countries around the world. In the U.S., affected employees will be notified directly by their managers today. In other countries, local leadership teams will provide more specific information about the impact to their organizations.

    With this announcement, we are mostly but not all done with the planned 5,000 job eliminations by June 2010. We are moving quickly to reach this target in response to consistent feedback from our people and business groups that it’s important to make decisions and reduce uncertainty for employees as quickly as possible, and so that organizations can concentrate their efforts and resources on strategic objectives.

    As we move forward, we will continue to closely monitor the impact of the economic downturn on the company and if necessary, take further actions on our cost structure including additional job eliminations.

    For those of you directly affected by today’s announcement, I want to thank you for your contribution to Microsoft and assure you that we will continue to provide support as we did during the previous job eliminations.

    And for everyone across the company, I want to reemphasize how much I appreciate the way you have pulled together to help the company respond to this difficult economic environment. There’s no doubt that these are very challenging times. But together, we are making the right choices to ensure that we will continue to deliver great products and position ourselves for strong future growth and profitability.

    Thank you for your continued hard work, commitment, and focus.

    Steve

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 7:19 AM  

  • report on zdnet
    http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=2668

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 7:23 AM  

  • You're safe if you haven't gotten a surprise meeting invite for your group or from your GM.

    The meeting invite from our GM came half an hour after SteveB's message, and it's for 9AM today. But it's a phone-in meeting for all. Maybe that's not so bad--unless we're all getting laid of by teleconference. Sort of liking dumping your girlfriend by text, I guess.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 7:25 AM  

  • "With this announcement, we are mostly but not all done with the planned 5,000 job eliminations by June 2010."
    dear steve can we get rid of you by putting yourself in the third phase?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 7:26 AM  

  • And also Steve, take that slimy fuck Kevin Turner with you. Between your two salaries, we can keep 50 good people that actually get shit done.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at May 5, 2009 at 7:30 AM  

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