Aug

15

Why Microsoft’s Mojave Experiment Is A Failure

Post Category: Blog Posts, Marketing, venting 

Has anyone else seen these commercials? Microsoft launched a marketing campaign called The Mojave Experiment (sounds like some kind of secret government project, doesn’t it?).

It’s basically a hidden-camera setup where they took 140 individuals and ask them what they think of Windows Vista (nearly everyone ranked it extremely poorly) and then had them evaluate a “new” O.S. called “Windows Mojave” which was really Vista running on an HP laptop.

After seeing how “fast” and “stable” it was most of the participants rated it higher than their initial rating for Vista, then WHAMO! The rug was pulled out from under their ignorant butts when it was revealed that they were in fact looking at none other than, are you ready for it? WINDOWS VISTA!! No!! Could it really be???

Mojave Is Microsoft Arrogance At It’s Best
This latest marketing campaign by Microsoft represents an entirely new low and demonstrates the lengths it will go to to prop up this dead horse.

Can’t you just appreciate the marketing strategy at work here? Rather than throwing what is admittedly a horrible product out the window (excuse the pun) or at least make some effort to replace it with something less awful, they continue to find new ways to push this operating system on its customers.

Not only do they continue to market Vista, but they arrogantly try to tell the public, ‘The problem isn’t with Vista, the problem is that you’re too dumb to see how awesome it really is!’

Brilliant Marketing Strategy: Treat Your Customers Like They’re Stupid
The entire premise of this marketing effort is fundamentally wrong. “I am wrong” isn’t the best emotion to elicit about a product. Nobody likes being shown they’re wrong or for it to be insinuated that they’re stupid. “Wow, I feel like an idiot” is light years removed from “Wow, this is a great product.”

To quote Joe Wilcox from eWeek Microsoft Watch, “What story does Microsoft choose to tell about Vista after about 15 months of silence: You the customer are too stupid to see how great Windows Vista is. Wow, that’s brilliant marketing, guys”

Brilliant indeed. I’ve seen bad marketing before, but this one takes the cake.

Jun

12

Pardon Me While I Vent (again)

Post Category: Authenticity, Blog Posts, Moving, venting 

Venting

I had another post written and ready to go this morning but it’s going to have to wait. I need to vent again.

As you know we’re having a rather difficult time trying to get our mortgage stuff together. Because I’m self-employed we’ve had to jump through quite a few hoops to prove that I’m a “financially viable” candidate for a loan.

Yesterday Lisa called my sister-in-law to have her pick up our mail that’s being held in Fort Wayne and overnight it to us here in Indy. I had a couple of checks that we need to deposit and show in our bank account in order to move the loan forward.

Imagine my frustration when my sister-in-law calls to tell me that they can’t find our mail! Lisa called to find out what the deal was and was told we would have to speak to the Postmaster in the morning.

This morning we called and found out that for the last 3 weeks our mail has been RETURNED TO SENDER! To make matters worse the lady Lisa spoke to didn’t even feel bad about it and said it was OUR FAULT for having our mail held for so long (even though we’ve spoken with supervisors multiple times over the last month to confirm it could still be held).

So instead of depositing checks today for our closing we’ve got to get new checks cut and track down who knows what else we’re missing from the last 3 weeks! Isn’t that just FINE AND FREAKING DANDY?!!?

It’s probably a good thing I’m not in Fort Wayne today because I feel like I’m about to go Postal.

May

22

Pardon Me While I Vent

Post Category: Blog Posts, venting 

I am trying to keep a good attitude but I’m not doing so good. I’m so pissed off right now!

Remember that condo we’ve been trying to close on? Back in the beginning of April we had an approved offer for $125k which was a really good deal. Then we’re heading back from Florida for the closing when jerk-face mortgage guy (that’s what I’ve been calling him lately) called us up to tell us that we weren’t going to be able to close because he couldn’t get us approved. He tells us this the day before we were supposed to close! Which leaves us scrambling to find a place to live in the meantime while we explore other mortgage options. We’re going on our third week of living in a hotel which gets pretty old!

Lisa has been doing an amazing job of checking out other banks that will work with us. Our challenge has been because I’m self-employed and don’t have two years of tax returns as a self-employed contractor. That combined with the current mortgage issues that the market is facing makes getting a loan quite fun!

So Lisa finally found a local bank that would work with us and we get our pre-approval letter together and call back on the condo. They sold it on Tuesday for $145k! Not only did we lose the condo but we lost a chance to get a great deal and have instant equity! Do you see why I need to vent?

I know that God must have something better (you do God, right?) but that doesn’t make this any easier! I’m just so ready to be over this mountain and get settled in a house.

Keep praying - for Lisa, the kids, our house (and my attitude). And thanks for listening to me vent.

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