Matt Goyer: Microsoft

Wed, 29 Sep 2004 20:49:09 GMT

Seattle Weekly, Spread lots of money around. Microsoft is now the No. 3 corporate political donor is an interesting look at who and how Microsoft gives its political donations to. I thought everyone here was a democrat, but apparently not:

Historically, its ever-expanding political giving has favored Republicans—one of Microsoft's top lobbyists, John Kelly, is one of George W. Bush's top fund-raisers. But the company's political action committee (PAC) and individual employees have given most of their donations so far this year to Democrats, including John Kerry.

While looking for the above article I found this other interesting article in the Seattle Weekly, Citizen Microsoft:

Every time Microsoft hires someone in Washington, it creates 3.5 new jobs here.

Yay for immigration!

Wed, 04 Aug 2004 21:25:20 GMT

Drunken Blog, Convergence Kills:

At the end of the day it's not going to be about who is selling what end-play device, it's going to be about who is sitting in the middle. And Apple wants to be that benevolent dictator, parsing DRM-protected content to whatever device you're using at the time.

This is a very lengthy but very fascinating look at Apple's long term strategy. The best digital media article/post I've read in a long time.

...And if you don't think video on demand is here. It is. Recently we used Cinema Now to watch a video on demand. Yes, there were problems, but within a short time of selecting a movie and paying we were able to watch it. I believe the technology for VOD is around today. The barriers to adoption are one, the user interface, and two, the pricing model.

Wed, 04 Aug 2004 20:18:21 GMT

CNET, FCC lets TiVo users share shows:

The FCC also authorized about a dozen other technologies as meeting broadcast flag standards, including Sony's "Magic Gate" recording technology, Philips Electronics and Hewlett-Packard's Vidi Recordable DVD Protection System, and Microsoft's Windows Media Digital Rights Management.

Wed, 16 Jun 2004 17:22:12 GMT

Michael Gartenberg: Marketing Microsoft

Show me that one Microsoft product is good, but two are better and three is ecstasy. Too many of these things are sold in different venues with different touch points. There's no holistic story. There's no synergy. Tell me one please.

Thu, 10 Jun 2004 06:42:06 GMT

Kottke.org, Suggestions for TiVo

Thu, 10 Jun 2004 06:37:21 GMT

Lots of linking today to stories about Tivo. For instance Wired, TiVo Breaks Into Home Networks:

TiVo said on Wednesday it expanded its service to allow subscribers to download and record movies and music from the Internet, in a bid to differentiate itself from other digital recording devices offered by cable and satellite services.

Funny, you can do this today with the current version of Media Center. Napster, Live365, Movielink and Cinema Now all enable you to buy music and movies online from your couch with a remote control for viewing on your living room PC.

Wed, 09 Jun 2004 06:39:24 GMT

Yahoo News: PluggedIn: Step Aside TiVo, Here Comes Freevo

Tue, 08 Jun 2004 02:07:53 GMT

Microsoft Monitor: WMP 10 First Impression.

WMP 10 changes remind me of Windows XP Media Center Edition, even though the interfaces don't really look anything alike. But, there is an important similarity of approach.

Tue, 08 Jun 2004 02:01:03 GMT

Michael Creasy: What's a typical day for me?

Tue, 25 May 2004 07:32:15 GMT

I showed Microsoft Evangelist, Robert Scoble, the latest Media Center build today. Here's what he has to say about Microsoft, emerging markets and the Media Center:

I got over to the Windows Media Center team. Holy %%%% are they doing some cool stuff. Can't wait to show you why I think it's cool.
Is Media Center an emerging market? Heck yes. Over the next 10 years huge numbers of people will buy new large TV screens for the home. I've been watching my friends (even those outside of Microsoft). When they buy a big screen they also buy a PVR to go along with it (or they had recently purchased one). Almost every single one has done that (and I'm not the only one noticing that trend).

And of course seeing Media Center running in my office is one thing. Seeing Media Center running on a ~50" high def display in a living room with an Extender running in the bedroom on a ~15" LCD is another thing. Plus he just got the glossy five minute tour. We did not hit any of the cool end to end scenarios we've been working on.

ESPP programs elsewhere

Tue, 25 May 2004 03:22:59 GMT

I know this unfact checked and just a very small sampling but this is what I've read recently:

HP: 15% discount / 6 months / First-late
Adobe: 15% discount / 6 months / 2 year loopback
Nortel: 15% discount / 6 months / First-late
Ciena: 15% discount / 6 months / 2 year loopback
Cisco: 15% discount / 6 months / 2 year loopback
Apple: 15% discount

Setting up my Media Center Extender

Sun, 23 May 2004 00:59:36 GMT

So last night after getting home from the bar at 2ish I decided to geek out and setup my Media Center and my Media Center Extender (codename Bobsled).

I have the Extender in my bedroom hooked up to my brand new 13" LCD television and my relatively inexpensive speakers. It's pretty cool and I was certainly impressed that I was able to set it up at 2am after a night out :). I think my primary use it for is going to be playing music and a digital picture frame (I'll have all my photos in an endless random slideshow). Of course it does TV, videos,... but I'd rather watch those in the living room.

Microsoft cuts benefits and I think it is an unwise move

Fri, 21 May 2004 07:23:15 GMT

Recently Microsoft announced that they were cutting employee benefits. See this article: Microsoft trims benefits to cut costs. I know we have a great deal however as both a shareholder and an employee I think the cuts are a mistake. What are we talking about?

Our employee stock purchase program (ESPP) discount goes from 15% to 10%. Also the price is based on the closing date of the purchase period instead of the min of the open and close. Cost savings: $60 million.
We have to buy generic drugs when available. Cost savings: $20 million.
We now have to take our parental leave within six months instead of a year. Cost savings: ???
New employees only get two weeks of vacation if they start after Jan 1, 2005 and it will take them two years to get to three weeks. Cost savings: ???

I am all for running a lean mean business but we are talking about an organization with >$50 billion in the bank and 10.7 billion shares outstanding. I know every dollar counts but I think that changing our ESPP will have a negative net effect. $60 million/10.7 billion shares = not enough savings to spur our stagnant share price into positive movement. Sure employees who are shareholders might see this 60 million cost savings as a net gain but only if they own MILLIONS of shares. Average employees will not benefit from these cost savings.

I'd much rather see them realize $60 million in cost savings by charging us for our pop, charging us cost on our lunches, trimming our travel and entertainment budget, cutting back on our sports club membership, life insurance,...

I'd understand them making these cuttings two or three years ago while the market was at all times low and there was a glut of unemployed talent, but with the economy recovering it is the wrong time to be cutting benefits when employees and potential hires are looking elsewhere for employment.

Perhaps Microsoft has forgotten that their greatest asset isn't $50 billion in the bank but rather their 50,000 employees.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way. I also love my job, we still have great benefits, and Microsoft continues to be a great company to work for.

Wed, 19 May 2004 08:28:25 GMT

Via BB: New Tivo Jargon:

# Passkilling is when someone cancels a Tivo request to change channels and record a Season Pass show.
# A Passkiller is someone who cancels an in-progress Season Pass recording or cancels a channel change request.

Wed, 19 May 2004 06:43:51 GMT

Gizmodo: Alienware DHS-300 Media Center PC. Super high end.

Dogfooding Media Center Extender

Fri, 14 May 2004 07:59:04 GMT

Today I told our GPM (group program manager (my manager's manager)) that if he gave me a Media Center Extender then I'd go out and buy a TV for it and use it (note that I still haven't bought a TV for the living room yet). No sooner were the words out of my mouth then I was handed one. So now I'm in the market for a cheap TV. Though I'd prefer to find a 10"-15" LCD monitor with S-video/rca/component video in. Has anyone seen one of those cheap? I.e. <$250 (it does not need to have a TV tuner in it).

I'm going to set it up in my bedroom and it will my replace my iPod for listening to music. It'll also enable me to watch live TV, act as a digital photo album, and allow me to watch videos/record TV.

And yes, once I have it setup and have a real TV in my living room, I'll invite everyone who is interested over to check out the setup.

NBC tries to outsmart Tivo/MCE

Fri, 07 May 2004 03:41:36 GMT

BB: NBC tries to outsmart TiVo?

This bugs me.

NBC tweaks things so that Tivo/MCE does not record Friends.
Result: People miss Friends. People miss the commercials.
NBC leaves well enough alone.
Result: People watch Friends. Some people skip the commercials. Some don't.

A mail list at work warned about this and recommended tweaking your MCE to ensure you got the show.

Update: Of course I posted this without really thinking about it so read the comments and also read the updates on BB and see this other BB post on Tivo borking.

Fri, 07 May 2004 02:09:58 GMT

Today I signed up for 401k deducations and employee stock purchase. Time to stop spending and start saving.

Fri, 07 May 2004 02:09:15 GMT

DivX for Grandma: a review of Alaska Air's video iPod

Fri, 07 May 2004 02:08:30 GMT

HD movies over IP.

Cool. Though my HDTV plans will probably pushed back because of car troubles.

Fri, 07 May 2004 02:07:30 GMT

CBC: Napster to hit Canada this summer

My quest for HDTV in an apartment

Wed, 05 May 2004 02:09:28 GMT

We all have problems. Mine lately has been figuring out how to get HDTV.

My fatal mistake was not inquiring about the TV situation prior to move in.

Upon moving in I discovered my provider is Millennium Cable who sucks. And while Comcast keeps spamming me I can't sign up with them. So what are my other options?

I could get broadcast over the air HDTV which is fine for the major networks but would mean no HBO which would mean no Sopranos and no Six Feet Under. Alternatively I could get a dish but my apartment has a no dish policy. Now apartments are required to let you install a dish but only if you have access to an exclusive use area such as a balcony or patio (see Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule). I have neither. I then investigated installing a dish and pointing it out the window. As it turns out you can install dishes inside. But I was worried about how that'd look in my dining room. Fortunately you can buy discrete looking dishes.

But in the end I spent more time on the phone with Millennium and it turns out they have all the HDTV equipment installed and will be flipping the switch on Seattle coverage 'in a few weeks'. So I'm going to wait it out since I haven't even bought a HDTV monitor yet :).

Next time you move somewhere make sure you inquire about your options before signing the lease!

Wed, 05 May 2004 01:26:27 GMT

In case you're wondering the only difference between the Samsung HLN5065W and the Samsung HLN507W is that the 507 has a black case.

Tue, 04 May 2004 06:05:38 GMT

HDTV: Beauty is skin deep

Mon, 03 May 2004 15:29:45 GMT

Plasma now, LCD later

Fri, 23 Apr 2004 05:44:18 GMT

Mobile Tivo thoughts

Two data points on movies and downloading

Wed, 21 Apr 2004 04:54:30 GMT

Two interesting data points:

New York Times: Studios Rush to Cash In on DVD Boom (via Scripting News):

Between January and mid-March this year, Americans spent $1.78 billion at the box office. But in the same period they spent $4.8 billion -- more than $3 billion more -- to buy and rent DVD's and videocassettes.

Ipsos News, Downloaders Expanding To Motion Pictures And Music Videos (via David Akin):

New findings from TEMPO, Ipsos-Insight’s quarterly study of digital music behaviors, reveal that in late 2003, more than one-fifth (21%) of American downloaders aged 12 and older had downloaded a full-length motion picture off of the Internet. Further, nearly one out of ten (9%) did so within the 30 days previous to the survey.

Combining Tivo/MCE with tablets for sports

Wed, 21 Apr 2004 04:30:48 GMT

Wired: With a DVR, the Puck Stops Here

When Scott Mellanby of the St. Louis Blues apparently scored the tying goal late in a recent National Hockey League playoff game with the San Jose Sharks, Sharks assistant coach Tim Hunter wasn't worried.
He quickly replayed the whole scene on his tablet PC equipped with TiVo-like functionality and verified that there was no goal. In contrast, it took officials 2.5 minutes to call up to the booth and then rule on the play.

The Blog in Your Living Room

Tue, 20 Apr 2004 03:13:19 GMT

Microsoft Monitor: The Blog in Your Living Room

Why shouldn't the family want to gather in front of the Media Center PC to watch a video or photo blog?

I was amazed at how easy it was to drop the memory for my camera into my Media Center and browse my photos (and rotate, delete, and touch them up) (thanks Ben! (Ben, my office mate, 'owns' this functionality)). The end to end solution I now want to see is using my remote control to get them on my blog. I have a bunch of photos languishing on my camera simply because it's too much effort to get them onto my blog. I need it made easier and that's what the 10' UI is all about.

NGN 401k American Express Financial Seminar

Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:37:41 GMT

This post is for all the new and soon to be new grads at Microsoft.

This evening I went to the NGN (New Grad Network) 401k American Express Financial Seminar. Basically, if you haven't signed up for 401k contributions and the ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan) spending an hour and a half going to this will motivate you to do so. It will also some basic/general questions you might have about them. If you're already signed up for those two benefits, plan to, or are a sophisticated investor then skip this.

Needless to say, I will soon be signing up for both those things. I've been planning to but what with buying furniture and waiting for the right windows and all that, I haven't.

Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:29:48 GMT

Yay, for new toys!

Tomorrow morning I'm trading my HP 873n Media Center in for the Viewsonic m2000 Media Center because I need an optical (SPDIF) audio out port on it to get surround sound working with my receiver.

Ideally I'd like to try a Gateway 901x (link goes to 901) but I'm pretty far back on the waiting list.

3rd party HDTV support for Media Center

Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:21:14 GMT

Press release, VBox Announces Support for Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center:

DTA150 and DTA151 add Digital High Definition television reception and recording to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004

Now if only my building had a @#$% HDTV cable provider!

In any event, this is very cool. I think it's also big news. I'm surprised this hasn't popped up on Engadget, Gizmodo and PVRBlog. I mean enough press people clamour for this.

Update: Engadget coverage

Sat, 17 Apr 2004 22:11:16 GMT

I got my take home Media Center yesterday! It's a HP 873n (it looks like it is no longer available). Specs: P4 2.5ghz, Hauppauge tuner, nVidia GeForce FX5200, DVD writer, CD writer,... It has DVI output and surround sound. Most importantly it's running the latest most bleeding edge build of Windows Media Center.

...A big perk at working in the eHome division is that you get a free take home Media Center. The catch is that you have to run the latest builds which is great because we get the latest functionality first but means you're finding (and logging) a lot of bugs.

I'd invite you all over to check it out but I don't have a TV or cable yet. When that happens I will.

Brad: I haven't had a problem playing any of the TV shows I've downloaded off the Internet.

Sat, 17 Apr 2004 18:15:30 GMT

$99 Re-furb'd Tivos. I just might buy one.

Newsgator + Windows Media Center

Tue, 13 Apr 2004 07:24:14 GMT

Announcing: Newsgator for Windows Media Center.

NewsGator Technologies launched NewsGator Media Center Edition today, which allows users to read syndicated content feeds on their TV with Windows XP Media Center Edition. Both text and multimedia content is supported, with an interface designed to be used with a remote control from across the room. NewsGator Media Center Edition shows information that has not already been viewed on another device by synchronizing user subscriptions with NewsGator Online Services.

I got hooked up with the beta for this but was not able to find the time to try it out until today (well Monday). My first impression is that this is very slick. I can't wait to get my slick TV and really try this out.

If it wasn't past midnight I'm sure I could go verify this.. But does it support downloading enclosures? If so, it'd be great if it would download the enclosures in my feeds and then put the downloaded multimedia into My Videos so that I could watch them easily.

(See Paul, this is an example of our rich third party bleh bleh bleh :).)

RSS + BitTorrent Utility

Tue, 13 Apr 2004 07:18:59 GMT

From Ray who has combined RSS+BitTorrent:

Thought you might be interested in this. I wrote a python script that parses RSS feeds, looks for the enclosure tag(http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/bitTorrent) then downloads any new torrent found.
My problem is that apart from legaltorrents.com there is no site that I have found that supports the enclosure tag. Ultimately I would like to put in a search string that says something like 'Alias' so when new alias episodes come out, it just downloads them for me.
Reason that I'm emailing you is, maybe you know of some rss feeds that have the enclosure tag, and I thought you might be interested in the script :)

Anyone have any feed recommendations? Would it be possible to scrap a feed together from somewhere like Suprnova?

Businesses running Windows Media Center?

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 23:54:12 GMT

Do you know any businesses running Windows Media Center? Email or comment if you do.

Today I tagged along on a site visit to Bulldog News in the U-district which sells newspapers, magazines, music, and has a little Internet cafe. They also have a Media Center hooked up to a large plasma display. They currently use it to play music which they sell by the cash registers. So if you're in the area you can stop by and see a Media Center in action.

I think there is a lot of opportunity in this space of businesses running Media Center. If you're the enterprising consulting type I'd spend some time exploring this area because even without creating custom software there is an opportunity to install these in businesses. Or if you're an enterprising developer I can definitely think of some good scenarios where you could build a rich new experience on top of our extensibility platform.

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 06:15:20 GMT

Media Center alternatives.

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 06:14:58 GMT

Media Centers are selling in Korea to be used to timeshift school lectures:

HP Korea, which introduced Medic Center PC M Series last Dec., is selling around 1,000 units per month thanks largely to the demand ignited by EBS lecture.

Wed, 07 Apr 2004 06:37:14 GMT

Dave Winer asks:

What is Windows XP Media Center? Apparently it's a TiVO-like box, that runs Windows XP apps, that you can access over your LAN, without hacking. In other words, it's a software platform. We should be able to create some monster apps for this thing. If all this is true, it's one of the most under-promoted products in history.

It's a software platform. It really is. And the next release is even more so.

So just think about what you could do with RSS, BitTorrent and a Media Center.

If I wasn't so busy at work helping to get our next version out I would be coming up with some MC or MC-related killer apps because they really do exist.

Also see Scoble's post in response to Dave's. I completely agree it's under promoted.

Finding stuff at MS is hard

Mon, 05 Apr 2004 07:04:20 GMT

Scoble on that folder to weblog thingy:

...if you're a new Microsoft employee, finding stuff like that is hard. It took me 11 months to build up a store of useful stuff. Why shouldn't I share that with my coworkers?

Microsoft is a very email centric organization and I see a lot of potential for a brain dead simple mechanism for getting some of that knowledge out into a linkable and searchable space. Yes we have internal blogs but even though blogging has a low barrier it is still too high for extremely busy people.

Kevin Schofield should have a Media Center

Mon, 05 Apr 2004 06:58:32 GMT

Kevin Schofield: I have the West Wing on my Tivo from last night.

Kevin is a general manager at Microsoft Research and we should get him a Media Center to replace that Tivo.

Thu, 01 Apr 2004 03:47:52 GMT

Joe Wilcox on Microsoft Monitor:

I believe one reason for the effectiveness of the Dell and standard Media Center interfaces is the less-is-more approach. The interfaces are uncluttered and expose consumers to a confined set of functions, unencumbered of unnecessary features.

One of my ownership areas is the Settings experience in the next version of Media Center and we are working very hard to insure that less-is-more but it certainly isn't easy.

Fri, 26 Mar 2004 06:22:42 GMT

Every day I either ask for or get a tip from my office mate Ben (in reality it is more than just one tip a day. I usually need a bunch to get through the day alive). I really should have been blogging them (at least internally) but haven't been.

Anyhow, today's tip: Do not say, 'I hopefully will...'. Instead say, 'I will...'. Have conviction. Get the job done.

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 08:20:26 GMT

The other day I pointed to Michael Creasy's blog and then today I actually met him but I didn't put two and two together until just now.

Turns out I should have met him prior to today because I had a meeting today that would have benefited from meeting him prior to the meeting. Oh well. I'm learning lots.

Sat, 20 Mar 2004 17:53:42 GMT

I found another Media Center blog. Michael Creasy is a software test engineer and works in the same division as I do. If you're curious about developing for the Media Center you should subscribe to him.

Sat, 20 Mar 2004 02:14:52 GMT

This blogger likes the Windows Media Center:

Overall it is extremely easy to use and easy on the eyes!

Fri, 19 Mar 2004 06:20:59 GMT

New Windows Media Center form factors featured on Engadget:

17" laptop - Good if you need a slim form factor to hide in your entertainment unit
Creative Portable Media Center to come out in Europe first
Shuttle's mini form factor

Fri, 19 Mar 2004 05:28:44 GMT

Today I spent two hours attending a usability study. The lab was cool with lots of monitors and the one way mirror. It was fascinating to watch someone trying to use our product. I actually learned about a few features that the participant discovered in only two hours that I hadn't yet discovered in four weeks. I also watched them experience, first hand, some of the problems with our product.

If you're in Seattle and want some free software (worth up to $500 depending on what you pick) and want to try unreleased beta software the public hasn't seen just sign up at the usability site.

Thu, 18 Mar 2004 04:52:51 GMT

Follow the Windows Media Center beta setup guy around the world with his new blog. I think this is the only Media Center blog? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Tue, 16 Mar 2004 15:40:20 GMT

Chris Pratley on my life: Starting out as a Program Manager

About 4 weeks into the job, you start to feel strange. People keep asking you to decide things you don’t know anything about, as if you’re some kind of expert. You find yourself going to your peers for help more often than you feel comfortable with. You start to wonder if you can actually do this. You start to tank.

This is my fourth week on the job as a new program manager straight out of university/college.

It's been an interesting first couple weeks. The biggest barrier has been that my manager was extremely busy my first two weeks here and then subsequently got very sick. I didn't see much of her, was given ownership of two areas, given minimal direction, no training (at Microsoft it is all trial by fire) and I guess I'm expected to produce something. So I started off by scheduling one on one's with a lot of the leads who could give me an idea of how things worked and then I jumped in and started schedulig meetings to pull people together to figure out what needed to be done (a re-org) and then how it should be done and now we're doing some preliminary work before getting down to a re-design. We'll also need approval before we commit significant resources to this re-design which will be hard to get.

And yes, I'm so dumb. Every meeting I go to is way over my head. Even though our product is young there is so much history I don't have an appreciation for and there is always a a sea of acronyms: SPDIF, AC3, DVI, 720p, 1020i, ZBB, BVT, IDX, LRPC...

To say that new PM hires need to be able to deal with ambiguity is an understatement.

Anyhow, time to get to work, thanks Chris for feeling me in on what my next eleven months will look like. Hopefully I can navigate around the pitfalls.

(Now that HR has a blog, NEO (New Employee Orientation) should get a blog and link to Chris's article).

Tue, 16 Mar 2004 04:38:37 GMT

A Media Center for $749. That's a good deal!

Sat, 13 Mar 2004 01:29:05 GMT

The other day I got an email from my HR recruiter Stacey because she had read on my blog that I had finally arrived at Microsoft. This led to a lunch today followed by some furniture shopping at Kasala.

Now I must admit it's weird to know that HR is/was reading my weblog but Scoble points out that HR at Microsoft now has their own blog. Unfortunately they aren't targetting college students who are probably more likely to blog and read blogs than non-college students but perhaps that will soon change.

Note that for several days Amazon HR had a blog, or a fake one, or something weird, and then it just disappeared. Hopefully MS is serious about this initiative.

Fri, 12 Mar 2004 05:35:15 GMT

I'm on the list of Microsoft Bloggers.

I guess now is the time to disclaim that the views expressed here are my own and do not represent those of my employer. Conversely, the views expressed by my employer do not necessarily represent my own.

Thu, 11 Mar 2004 02:30:49 GMT

Chris on Microsoft security: We Don't Need No Stinking Badges.

The first thing my office mate pointed out to me when he returned from vacation, to find I had envaded his office, was that I wasn't wearing my badges like the cool kids do. My badge is no longer on my belt.

The second thing my office mate pointed out was that our office had fluorescent lights and could we please have a lighting policy? Since I'm flexible I agreed that we would leave them off and use our floor lamp. Though as it turns out, no one uses their fluorescent lights, so why are they installed in the first place?

On the topic of security my office mate refers to Microsoft parking tags as 'key me tags' and recommends hiding your parking pass when not parked on campus. This really isn't a concern with the Neon :).

Thu, 11 Mar 2004 01:13:44 GMT

My beater Neon arrives Friday morning to Building 50. Turns out there are a few Neons sprinkled amongst the Porsches, BMWs, Mercedes, Hummers and SUVs in our overcrowded parking lot at work so it won't feel so alone. Though truth be told I'm hoping to either bus it or carpool with my office mate who lives across the street from me.

I'm signing my lease and getting the keys to my kickass apartment Tuesday at 6pm.

Thu, 11 Mar 2004 01:02:59 GMT

What's up at work?

I called the first feature team meeting for one of my features and we're now doing work.
I sent out my first wide distribution, action required, slightly disruptive email.
I got a Toshiba m200 Tablet PC. Yay digital inking.
Sandwiches are $3.25-$3.50. I don't think I'll be bringing a lunch as I planned.
I'm a 7up drinker but while we have Coke and Pepsi we only have Sprite
There is no premium OJ. Only tiny 5 ounce cans of from concentrate stuff.

Mon, 08 Mar 2004 05:20:58 GMT

This could be the koolaid talking but after two weeks here I can honestly say that I'm loving it.

(But I guess we'll see how I feel after I really start working).

Mon, 08 Mar 2004 04:56:02 GMT

Omar hacks his Media Center's front panel display.

I just got my Media Center working at my office on Friday and hopefully I'll be getting one at home soon and then I can geek out and hack the thing to pieces. Though I don't own a TV... Or a couch...

Mon, 08 Mar 2004 04:01:58 GMT

Random reflections after two weeks of being a new hire straight out of 'college' PM at Microsoft:

Things will start slowly even if everyone else is super busy
Eating your own dogfood is good but it doesn't mean it tastes good
Find your peers and start sitting in on their meetings
Schedule short one on one's with a broad range of people in your division as well as all the people you'll be interacting with on a daily basis.
There is a surprising number of Waterloo grads here
The benefits are great
You don't really need a SSN straight away. I thought I wouldn't be able to do anything until I had one but I was able to get a cellphone, open a bank account, get a credit card,.. without one
Get up to speed with all the potential tools you will be using as soon as possible
The intranet is a vast resource though I wish there was more
I wish the personnel directory had everyone's photo (Amazon has a nice HR org tool with photos and all)
Mailing lists are your friends.
In two weeks only one MS person has called me on the phone
Voicemails show up as emails. Why can't my cell phone work like this??
You're free to leave a meeting if your issue has been addressed
Cell phones do not work in our part of the building
It's okay to watch TV at work
Everyone really is 31.2 just like from Microserfs
Microsoft cares about saving money. They have these turn off your unnecessary equipment posters in the elevators.
Everyone is very friendly. I've already been invited out mountain biking and sailing
I've seen no evidence of Bill Gates worship. I don't think anyone has even mentioned him.
Having an office mate is great (whether he feels that way is another question). He's a great resource and is teaching me lots of bad habits and filling me in with the backstory.

If you have questions about me moving to Seattle/working for the devil maybe I have answers so go crazy in the comments.

Sat, 06 Mar 2004 01:52:54 GMT

Today on my way out of the office I had to turn around and for thirty minutes felt genuinely stressed about work. I'll write about it later, first it's time for a night on the west side.

Thu, 04 Mar 2004 04:18:38 GMT

Robert Scoble visited TechFest today and so did I. Here's what he had to say:

This is an annual event, for employees only, where researchers and other groups bring out their coolest and most interesting technology.
I saw tons of stuff that would get me fired for talking about it here.

I too saw lots of cool stuff. If you're going to grad school make sure you check out interning options at Microsoft Research. (I met a few interns demoing stuff.)

And Scoble points to an article about the event, Microsoft's TechFest: Technology you don't know you need yet.

Update: Here is another article from the Seattle PI who does a good job of covering Microsoft stuff, Show and tell at Microsoft's annual research fest.

Not surprisingly I was most impressed by the social software and media apps. The Swarm mobile app mentioned in the PI article is live. I forget the URL but have it at work. It looks like an easy to use and very simple tool to get your friends to 'swarm' to the hotest bars and parties on the weeekend. If I had more friends in Seattle we could try it out :).