Warmest Greetings,

Google, Microsoft and that Little Blue Pill  

:: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 ::

Do you think Google can keep it up for the next 5 years? According to a poll put out by a Microsoft watch web site, Google will not be needing Viagra, or any other assistance thank you very much, now, or in the future. I've been following news stories, articles and the occasional poll results and Google is still running way ahead of the pack in usage, popularity and loyalty. (See Poll)

So why, I wonder, did Microsoft decide to ask their employees to forgo some benefits in an effort to cut costs?

     "An informal poll conducted among employees on the Microsoft intranet, but not under the official auspices of the company, suggests a groundswell of opposition to the changes and an unusually strong wave of dissent in a place where employees are known for their allegiance to the corporate cause.

Although the results don't reflect a scientific sample of the employee base, the poll had drawn nearly 3,000 responses as of yesterday, with more than 90 percent saying they were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the company's decision to alter the terms of a program through which employees buy Microsoft stock at a discount."

Microsoft claims to be inventing a new search engine to rival Google. How does reducing the discount on employee stock options figure into this? Google is just now going IPO and has a famous chef making free lunches for its employees. Microsoft has also announced extending software customer support from 7 to 10 years. How does a company make such big plans and promote promises, and yet kick their own employees down at the same time?

Google will not need any "blue pill" support as long as they continue to think outside the box and honor the people who work for them. It's all about attitude, teamwork, communication and constant attentiveness to partners. Or customers and employees in this case.

Search Engines

Perhaps this will help explain the game to me (or not, since I think it's the UK version of football, which is like our US soccer, or whatever.) Football search engine hits the net My son starts playing football in August. At age 10 he's already well known as a great "leftie pitcher and catcher". Last game, he pitched two no-hitters in a row. He's played on a hockey team since age 5 and is a skilled goalie. His dream is to be a Philadelphia Flyer. I'm still learning all the hockey terms for what he does. And now, football. He wants to play Quarterback. Once, when his hockey skate busted during a game, I started to go tearing into the game to check his ankle. All these guys held me back (the game hadn't stopped yet.) Can you just see me during football games????

Usability Roundup

Here is a Rah Rah piece for web designers called The Confidence Game by Brian Krause. (Thanks to WebWord for the lead.)

     "How does a user interface designer know that a given design will work? How does anybody develop enough confidence in a design to move it toward the real world? The methods designers use to evaluate user interfaces require training and experience. But the people who need to hire designers are unlikely to have those skills. How do the people who are paying the bills know they are getting good answers?


US Government web site usability is satisfactory, according to How Americans Get in Touch With Government

A bit of a rebuttal to Content management: design for rule, not exception
by Gerry McGovern is Media: New Thinking advocates Designing for the Majority. She raises the point about how important it is to avoid panicking your online customers.

Tomorrow (May 27) is my birthday. I'm turning 46. I don't feel that "old" and people say I look way younger than that. So, to all of you, I'm turning 32.

:: posted by Kim Krause Berg on 5/26/2004 11:48:30 AM

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