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Microsoft to Acquire Skype for $8.5 Billion
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hmmm, well fair enough. For me I seem to burn through payments in 10 dollar increments pretty quickly. I was in Spain for 2 weeks and went through 30 dollars. I don't use my phone that often, just a few long conversations and a bunch of really short ones....
Well that depends, did you really trust that big guy asking you to come inside his basement for free cookies and milk, cause they were free and he also offered dancing girls???? Then yeah you derseved what was coming to you
I don't think you actually know what happens to WinXP before SP2. Find an old disk, install it on a computer, see what happens.
WSJ article had two interesting points:
1. CEO Bates (of Skype) and Ballmer said showing more ads to Skype users will be a natural fit. Look for more ads, users.
2. Microsoft, like many companies, keeps a lot of its extra money parked in overseas operations so that they can avoid U.S. taxes. They used some of this money to buy Skype since Skype's headquarters is in Luxembourg. Woo hoo, they found a way to use that money sitting outside of U.S. hands!
1. CEO Bates (of Skype) and Ballmer said showing more ads to Skype users will be a natural fit. Look for more ads, users.
2. Microsoft, like many companies, keeps a lot of its extra money parked in overseas operations so that they can avoid U.S. taxes. They used some of this money to buy Skype since Skype's headquarters is in Luxembourg. Woo hoo, they found a way to use that money sitting outside of U.S. hands!
It's not what being an Apple fan is about. What you are describe are the fanatics among that crowd, not most people.
But when it comes to hating Microsoft, we have 30 years of Microsoft history to cause that hate. They deserve it richly for the ways they have damaged the industry in search of greater control and power.
I think a lot of us would be saying the same thing if Apple just blew $8.5 billion. Most people are already under the impression videoconferencing should be free or included as part of a service for which they are already paying (ex. monthly smartphone data plan). Many are failing to see how, even incorporating Skype into existing MS services, Redmond can turn a notorious technological white elephant into something worthwhile.
Last year, Skype had revenue of $860 million on which it posted an operating profit of $264 million. However, it overall made a small loss, of $7 million, and had long-term debt of $686 million. It was the second time Skype has been bought out; after being started in 2003, it was purchasd by eBay in 2005 for $3.1 billion. eBay then sold the majority of its stake in 2009 to a private investment group for $1.2 billion less than it paid.
From "Microsoft Buys Skype for $8.5 Billion. Why, Exactly?" on Wired
I would facts, not obscure mentions, of this "30 years of Microsoft history" that "damaged" the industry. The anti-trust settlement? Apple was being sued for anti-trust until recently.
Other than that, what exactly, has MS done to damage the industry?
mack pro said:
I know, I'm kind of disgusted that I even share a forum with them. Unlike you all like to believe, Microsoft makes good products. Windows 7, Xbox and Kinect are some good examples.
I detest MS so much because I spent thousands of dollars on their software over the years and it never worked right. I had drunk the MS Kool Aid and thought MS was the end all be all to software. Then I found Linux and that was free and worked better than any MS OS I ever used. I felt cheated when I discovered I could get a quality product for free and had given MS a ton of money for crap. After Linux, OSX and Macs were my next step. I like the polished look and feel of OSX and design of the Mac hardware. At least now I know when I am spending money on computer software/hardware I am getting a quality product in return.
Comparing gaming on the Wii to xbox is like comparing gaming on the iPhone to xbox. They both have different target audiences. For what it is, the entire xbox campaign (since the 360) has been executed very well.
Integration with Windows, Xbox, WP7, Outlook, Kinect works for me. And unlike Facetime i dont need all parties to own an Apple device. Will be better than Google Voice/Talk
Um...
Looks to me that this is Microsoft's answer to Apple's FaceTime. Obviously they couldn't come up with something on their own. Probably would run into patent infringement somewhere too. The only thing that Microsoft bought that has done any good is Bungee, still a sore spot for me. LOL.
Looks to me that this is Microsoft's answer to Apple's FaceTime. Obviously they couldn't come up with something on their own. Probably would run into patent infringement somewhere too. The only thing that Microsoft bought that has done any good is Bungee, still a sore spot for me. LOL.
Agreed.
I think Microsoft is more like Google in that it fully understands it's better to have more people using your services no matter what platform they choose to do that with.
Oh great. Another nice service about to go bad...
You're kidding right? It's MS we're talking about. They can screw this in no time flat... Probably even before the next week!
It's funny, when you're pro-mac, you're almost automatically anti-Microsoft. I haven't seen such a negative thread since, well, the last time a thread was about Microsoft. Geez, give them a chance.
I really don't think they could do anything but improve the Skype interface. I'm an existing skype user and I think the interface is about the worst I've used. I use Skype everyday for business as I have my cell phone and office phone both forward to my Skype number after several rings which rings my MBP and iPad at the same time and still think the UI stinks and haven't gotten used to it. It's damn reliable though so I ignore the shortcomings.
I really don't think they could do anything but improve the Skype interface. I'm an existing skype user and I think the interface is about the worst I've used. I use Skype everyday for business as I have my cell phone and office phone both forward to my Skype number after several rings which rings my MBP and iPad at the same time and still think the UI stinks and haven't gotten used to it. It's damn reliable though so I ignore the shortcomings.
Let's not freak out, guys. In five to ten years, Microsoft will go bankrupt and Google will buy them.
And let the problems with Skype begin!! Better not see any of Microsoft UI on the Mac version of Skype or am uninstalling!
Oh awesome. I just renewed my number yesterday. If they screw this up any further than the last skype update did, I'm switching to googly-voice.
...on the other hand, maybe someone smarter than ballmer will realize that if you can't sell an iPad rival, then you can at least sell iPad users repeat purchases through services and software, and decide that finally getting around to making an iPad UI might open up their newest acquisition to several million more paying customers.
Maybe.
...on the other hand, maybe someone smarter than ballmer will realize that if you can't sell an iPad rival, then you can at least sell iPad users repeat purchases through services and software, and decide that finally getting around to making an iPad UI might open up their newest acquisition to several million more paying customers.
Maybe.