If you provide a free service should you care if it works? 4

[GreenTeeth]

I have just got to a point with my hotmail account where I cannot get to my address book on account of the server being too busy. I know that it is a free service, and that it is very kind of microsoft (with a campital m I spose) to provide such a marvelous service for us, but surely if you provide a service, you are obliged to make it run smoothly.

I admit this is a bit of a selfish rant, however microsoft (with a capital m of course) have built this service up to the point that people rely on it now. I have no email else where, and even though I spent years trying to stay away from email and computers in general, it comes to a point where it is necessary.

I kind of assume though that Microsoft have some money, and if there is any company who could stay one step ahead of the game they would. You would have thought, that what with all the moaning and slating that Microsoft do get, surely now that they have the money they have isn't it time to start ironing out some of the little things that actually wind people up on a personal level.

I wonder what it is about money and that makes you care less. If the money is coming in, **** em if it doesn't work. It is a bizarre psychology.

I shall go now, and log on later yeah?

 

[GreenTeeth]

I like yer point pmonett.

However are you saying that either Microsoft can't make a good email system? lol or are you saying they are not interested providing a good service?

I believe we come full circle.

 

[pmonett]

I am saying that Microsoft will consider its service adequate as long as they are making money on it from selling personal info.
Of course MS could make a good email system. Heck, they could show the world just how good they are and make the whole thing open source if they wanted.
MS just has no interest in doing so.

 

[greyted]

Well said pmonett, stop using the service and they will have no information to sell.

GreenTeeth,
IMHO they do not provide a good service and care even less that they do not.

I personally have not used Hotmail for years, in fact I lasted about four days, that was enough for me.

Many of my clients have the same problem as you mentioned at the beginning of this thread so I show them the alternatives and invariably they are willing to pay for a product that functions correctly and gives good service.




Ted

A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.
(William James)

 

[GreenTeeth]

Absolutely greyted, but is it not fair to say that if free emails were not there in place in the first place, people would not have started to rely on them so heavily as a way of communication?

So when is the air we breathe being privatised, is it later this year, or next?

 

[greyted]

GreenTeeth,
Indeed you are correct with your free email point but where does the software for the free email service come from?
When you load in the OS it installs the link and desktop icon.
To me this is inviting people to use the free email. Most of my home based customers have used that particular email because it installed with the OS.
Some people I must admit want to use it; the majority do not and ask what options are available.
At least they can make an enlightened decision once they are aware of the alternatives.





Ted

A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.
(William James)