Monthly Archives: January 2013

Surface Compression

Posted on January 30, 2013 by halberenson

Yesterday I Tweeted the suggestion that one could use NTFS compression to gain more storage space on the Surface or other Windows RT tablet.  People quickly pointed out there are a number of questions around, and potential issues associated with, … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Outlook RT for Windows RT

Posted on January 29, 2013 by halberenson

A few days ago Mary Jo Foley  reported that Microsoft was testing an Outlook client for Windows RT.  She also reported on some of the internal controversy around this move, and I wanted to add some analysis to this apparent situation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows | Tagged , , , , | 27 Comments

More Surface Devices (Part 1)

Posted on January 27, 2013 by halberenson

I listened in on Microsoft’s Q2 conference call, and when I started seeing articles about what was said regarding lower priced Windows 8 devices I really started scratching my head.  It seemed to me that reporters and bloggers were trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

What to expect in today’s Microsoft earnings report

Posted on January 24, 2013 by halberenson

Seriously I have no idea if Microsoft will come in below, at, or above expectations.  It’s pretty clear that Windows 8 hasn’t done something “magical” to earnings, but that doesn’t mean the Windows and Windows Live Division’s revenue won’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Having a versatile Surface

Posted on January 22, 2013 by halberenson

On Sunday night I was sitting on the couch watching TV with my wife when I decided on a Windows 8 app I wanted to write.  So I picked up my Microsoft Surface and installed Visual Studio 2012 Express for … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged , | 32 Comments

Better thinking about Surface sales

Posted on January 22, 2013 by halberenson

We don’t have actual sales numbers for Surface yet, but let’s put this one in a little perspective anyway. The most thrown around number is that Microsoft sold 1 Million Surfaces during the holiday season. The Surface was only available … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

About that $2B annual loss from Microsoft’s search business

Posted on January 18, 2013 by halberenson

A few days ago Scott Cleland published a thought-provoking piece on what would happen if Microsoft exited the search business.  It was all about what that would do to Google, but might just as well have been titled “Microsoft should … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Google, Microsoft, Search | Tagged , | 26 Comments

Crapware, and how we got here

Posted on January 15, 2013 by halberenson

Crapware is in the news in a big way this week thanks to Oracle’s recent Java “security” update and a blog post by Long Zheng that exposes the economic incentives for software developers to bundle crapware installers.  He also points out that … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Search, Windows | Tagged , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

The impact of “cheap” on PC buying psychology

Posted on January 6, 2013 by halberenson

Paul Thurrot wrote an excellent analysis of what may have held back Windows 8 sales during this past holiday season.  I think when you couple consumer’s expectations that notebook PCs should sell for $300-$500 with the absence of any of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

The Windows Phone developer business experience

Posted on January 5, 2013 by halberenson

This morning a blog entry by Steve Behrendt got me thinking about what the business experience must be like for Windows Phone developers.  Actually it is more than Windows Phone developers, it is developers for any of the app stores. Prior … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Mobile, Windows Phone | Tagged , , | 17 Comments