It ain’t about the technology
So I have heard it said that Google is not a technology company, it's and advertising company that uses Technology, specifically Search, as the vehicle. I have to say I agree, in fact I regurgitate that quite often. And to be fair they do a darn good job of it. They are pimping out that ride continually to keep themselves and their product out in the consumers' eye, and again, they are doing a pretty good job of it. But here's the thing, what they do is not technology for technologies sake. They do not develop things to make our lives easier or better per se. Why, they are evolving to stay in the public eye. Do you really think anyone really and truly cares about their technology, how they deliver search results or that they can let you edit docs and spreadsheets in a browser??? I don't. I think Google knows that. I think they deliver technology to stay pertinent.
Another example, it ain't about the technology. Who here really thinks that Microsoft develops Windows, Office, Messenger, ProductUFillNduhBlankHere because the technology is just bustin to be developed? I think no one. Their product is Intellectual Property. And that is sold through Licensing. Every say week or so, maybe even daily, someone posts a rant about the evil, horrible licensing models that Microsoft sells the rights to use their software under. Did you catch that? I'll get back to it… What amazes me is that knowing this is paramount to knowing the technology. IT consultants good or bad spend years honing their skills on the technology, how to do this, how to do that, how to optimize this or how to fix that bug. This is a noble enterprise and when working as a minion under someone else's direction that's enough. But here's the thing…Small Businesses don't know, they don't read things they probably ought to, they hired Jimmy Joe Bob's Barber Shop, Laptops and Aquariums LLC for the express reason that they don't know and don't have the time to learn about that stuff. They want our technological expertise to help them. But they need our knowledge to help keep them compliant on Licensing. Too often we spend hours railing against how bad Licensing is, how hard it is to explain and how hard it is to sell. Well guess what, THAT'S OUR JOB. It ain't about Technology. That's the vehicle, and a pretty nice ride when it works.
Microsoft sells the rights to use its software. So, you bought a box, that has a disc in it, and the packaging says Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition. Can you install it on your Home Office PC? Can you also install it on your Laptop? Can you also install it for your kids to use? Well follow the link above to find out. See people don't tend to do that. They see cheapest and say, great!!! Problem is, some SPF's do the same thing for their customers. It's cheapest, it'll do. Some people do invest more for features, like Access or Outlook or whatever, the point is they see they have a tangible thing, a disc, and do with it whatever they want. "I bought it I own it." Problem is they did not buy the software. They did not buy anything but whatever the EULA or PUR says they bought. Get to know this… http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx and get to know this http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/ it's real and it ain't good. You see Microsoft ain't about the technology, it's about making money and they make money by selling the rights to use that technology.
So what can you do? STOP WHINING!!! Microsoft has a formula for making money, and it works. And before you say Open Source or Apple, go read, learn about that too. Most Open source is provided with the stipulation that you contribute back. So you have a Trixbox, did you pay someone something for it? Did you write code to enhance it and make that code available back to the community? Read and learn. And don't get me started about Apple. They are in it to make money, don't let them fool you. They have good technology, but it is still a vehicle for making the cash register ring. They really could care less about the technology as long as they are making money, they'll keep making technology, and they love you all the way to the bank on your iTunes subscriptions. See also http://www.apple.com/legal/ for Apple's luv and http://www.trixbox.com/terms-and-conditions/ for the love of trixbox and then there's the http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html for GPL.
This morning's rant is about knowing what you are doing and being a professional in all areas. So sometimes my car ain't clean, I got 2 kids, a mangy dawg and manage a soccer team, I have my vices!!! But, SPF's know what you are selling and saying to customers, or you could end up in a list like this… http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/sep06/09-19MSPiracyCounterfeitingPR.mspx and yes little ole Marshall, TX is listed there at the bottom…