Why Doesn't Microsoft Have A Cult Religion?
The following articles were brought to my attention and did a great job at making me think. . .
Why Doesn't Microsoft Have A Cult Religion?
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/05/why_doesnt_micr.html
A good question: Where ARE the Microsoft fanboys?
http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2007/05/14/good-question-where-are-the-ms-fanboys
After reading the above articles I thought to myself what planet are these guys from and then I spent a little more time thinking about it and I might not totally disagree, but I have a real reason for it, hear me out. So I thought to my self, self what exactly is a cult? David Koresh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh)? Wikipedia defines cult (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult) as “a term designating a cohesive group of people devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be outside the mainstream.” By its very definition most Microsoft products are not “cult” products because they are mainstream, and IMHO that is a good thing. I like the fact that everyone is using it, and I have the support of literally millions of people world wide, and I don’t need to hunt down a MAC “Genius” at an apple store.
On the other hand I strongly disagree with the comment that Windows and Microsoft products in general have lost there passion. I think the felling that when Microsoft releases a new product people don’t blindly start cheering is due to the fact that most Microsoft products are tools that we use to get out jobs done. As people that use the tools we are always looking for better and better tools. When I go to an event where they are launching something new I do here the ooh’s and ah’s, but the overwhelming feeling I get from the crowd “that is a great tool, that will make it easier for me to do my job”. I think that is the big difference between a “cult” project and a mainstream tool. I don’t use Microsoft products because they are wiz-bang, because they look cool, because they have funny commercials, I use them because they help me get my job done. When was the last time you heard a roofer saying “Yea, man! My new hammer rocks!”
From what I see as the President of the Orlando .NET User Group there is plenty of passion in the community. The developers I meet are passionate about the upcoming Orcas, Silverlight, and SQL Server Katmai releases. They are embracing these tools as exactly that tools (http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tool) “something used in performing an operation or necessary in the practice of a vocation or profession”. While tools are usually not sexy and usually not cool, tools allow us to get things done. If I wanted something sexy and cool I would buy a sports car. It might go really fast, but don’t even think about taking it to the grocery store.
What do you think? Post comments below