Robert Scoble: Microsoft FUD Monkey on Crack
It seems that Microsoft can't even get something as hiring an evangelist right. One of Redmond's most "popular" and notable evangelists is Robert Scoble. I've been following his blog for quite sometime, more out of curiosity to see if maybe he could actually contribute something that would at least get me to look at Microsoft in a different way. But nope, he's done just the opposite. His postings are sometimes amusing, but more often idiotic rants about things he knows very little or nothing about. Instead of being the human face behind Microsoft, he is just another PR / Marketing FUD slinging Redmonite. One of the more interesting things about Scoble is that he is very selective about which comments he allows on his site, although he will claim otherwise. I have posted my comments on various occasions, often arguing his anti-Apple idiotic rants and backing up his quotes with hard facts. I guess he really doesn't want the truth to be let out because he always seems to delete my posts. And mind you, they are clean and not offensive, unlike some other comments I have seen. The difference is that I hammer him with facts. This is yet just another example of how Microsoft will censor what the public really thinks about them and how they manage criticism on their own sites. Although this is Scoble's site, he is PAID by Microsoft and blogging is part of his duties, therefore, MSFT controls him and his blog. On occasion he will however let one slip through.
On one of his most recent rants, he went off like a complete loonatic. It was actually amusing, except for the fact that he put so much FUD out there, that something HAD to be done. As a result, he caught some pretty heavy feedback over here: Incoming fire over earlier post:
One of the comments that really amused me was how he went on a rant about his stupid PC Tablet that he can't seem to put down. This guy is seriously worse than most Mac fanatics I have met when it comes to preaching about his tablet. Too bad only like 12 people on the planet actually want one. Nice try Scoble. In his response to a reader who flamed him about the tablet, Scoble writes:
"Ryan Boswell: "Honestly, how many people (of all computers users) actually use that piece of junk (Tablet PC)?" You should ask that over on Tablet PC Buzz, Tablet PC Talk, TabletPC Post, TabletPC Home, Tablet PC 2, Tablet PC Lounge, TabletPCWiki, or ask the Tablet PC podcasters. Or, ask Google. You know, those other guys who are kicking our behinds in the buzz department. Google's PR told me the guy who does the Google logo uses a Tablet PC."
Now Scoble obviously doesn't have a clue, AGAIN. He acts as if the Google logo is something that is design masterpiece. Who cares if it was done on a tablet PC? Have you SEEN it? It is a hideous selection of fonts and colors that looks like a 12yr. old designed it. Not exactly something to be proud of. Any REAL designer uses a Mac and most of us know that. There are exceptions of course, like those who are FORCED to use that heathen OS known as Windows, due to idiotic bureaucracies placed upon them by clueless corporate greed mongers.
Scoble also goes on to rant: "Can you use your Mac while standing up and writing directly on the screen? Like this? If not, don't be telling me how our next operating system is gonna just copy features you already have."
Well Scoble, AGAIN we have to set you straight. Yes, not only can Mac users use their Mac while standing up, we can do it BETTER. You see, a tablet PC is not a graphics tablet and does NOT have all the features, functions and levels of sensitivity that a REAL designer would need to use something like....say Photoshop. We don't use Microsoft Paint to do our work, unlike the peeps in Redmond. So if you want to see how we Mac folks use a "tablet", let me give you a clue....it's called CINTIQ by Wacom. So yeah, not only can we stand up, we can actually DESIGN on it, unlike a tablet PC.
I could go on and on about his other untruths, but it's probably more amusing for you to go read them for yourself. Surely Scoble will continue to spew his untruths about the competition, but that's ok. You see Scoble, there will always be people out there who will debunk your untruths for the rest of the world to see. If you are going to blog about Microsoft, keep it factual and don't be afraid to post what everyone really thinks. Otherwise, we have to assume you have something to hide or just plain and simply can't handle the truth. If we wanted PR / Marketing junk, we could just go to the PR link on MSFT's site. Keep it real man.
Comments
Frank: I never delete comments. Not sure what you're talking about.
Posted by: Robert Scoble | July 24, 2005 4:32 PM
Hi Frank,
I'm one of those 12 people (well, actually it's more like over 1 million) that own a Tablet PC. And yeah, I like my Tablet PC. I admit it.
I also own a Cintiq. It's nice. The Cintiq is great, but it _is_ tethered to my desktop and is not exactly portable.
I'm a developer so I personally can't speak to your various comments about using Tablets as a designer, but from what I've seen of my artistically-minded friends some prefer the digitizer to be separate from the display, some don't want to sacrifice their display quality in any way, some want the digitizer to be small, some want it full-size, and some refuse to use a digitizer and prefer the precision of a mouse. Point is there are lots of preferences out there and I think that's why the Tablet PC platform has a growing number of different sized Tablets with lots of different capabilities.
By the way, it is possible to run the Tablet PC OS on a system with a Cintiq (a Graphire or Intuos will work too). I think Wacom was going to offer this; not sure if they ever did. As a developer I've used this configuration for code development as well as testing. Using the Tablet PC version of Windows with a digitizing Tablet gives you all the capabilities of let's say Photoshop like you point out plus the Tablet OS features--such as the Tablet Input Panel (with its handwriting recognition and correction user interface) for entering text with a stylus in just about any program.
Posted by: Loren | July 24, 2005 5:02 PM
Robert,
Maybe you didn't delete the comments, but somehow my comments never make it to your site. My apologies if I wrongfully accused you, but it was a little suspect since it happened more than a few times. Things happen - gotta love technology. Thanks for the comment! Good to know that at least you are listening. PLEASE consider that both OS X and Windows have unique features and everyone has different tastes. Since you are writing for Microsoft, please be sure to at least present factual points of view for both sides. Nuttin wrong with admiting you like something on the competitions side. Personally, I don't care for Microsoft, but I LOVE my XBOX! I catch a lot of heat from some Mac die-hards, but I just don't think Sony can touch the XBOX. Yet I am a Sony freak, and my entire home theater is Sony. Go figure...
Posted by: Frank | July 24, 2005 9:49 PM
Loren,
I agree with the statement that most designers prefer the display be separate from the tablet. I prefer that as well. But I wanted to at least make the point that we can stand up and use a tablet as well. It isn't portable to the same degree a tablet PC is, but it works. The Cintiq is basically just a pressure sensitive display and can pretty much be used with any computer that has a video output, such as a tablet PC. But that combo sounds a little bit like overkill to me.
I would love to see an OS X based tablet myself. Not sure if Apple thinks it would be a good thing, but they have my vote on it. Same with an Apple PDA, but that would be an entire new post. :-) Tablets definitely have their place. I know there are more than 12 people using it, but it was a figure of speech. A great application for tablets is for medical professionals. I can really see the benefit in that environment. There are many others as you know. The problem I have seen with tablet PC's is the battery life. That has to be my single biggest complaint. Until that issue is solved, I don't think the tablet PC will really catch on. It needs to be able to run a solid 8 hours nonstop before charging it. I am sure it will happen someday, but until then, I just don't see the Tablet PC really catching on in big numbers.
Posted by: Frank | July 24, 2005 9:56 PM
Yes, the Tablet PC has sold over a million units, but even MS and it's vendors admit that it's sales are far below what they would like to see.
I would not mind seeing a tablet Mac, considering that Inkwell has been in OSX for quite a while. But ultimately I would have little use for a tablet Mac. Most of my drawing is done on paper, I use a tablet (I have 3 of them currently) for painting in Photoshop and Painter and I play around in Alias Sketchbook Pro. For me the actual sketching of characters (I am an animator) is best done on paper away from the computer. I have seen industrial designers using their Tablet PCs, but even they admit that for the average design session you have to be near a wall socket since the battery will go in the middle of drawing.
Posted by: Ian Eisenberg | July 24, 2005 10:41 PM
The major roadblock I see for the mass-market tablet adoption, as I discussed previously (http://www.slashstar.com/blogs/tim/archive/category/1006.aspx), is marketing. It's really had to EXPLAIN the value of a tablet - you really have to experience it yourself to understand. Saying "you can write on your screen" doesn't have a lot of impact for most people beyond the WOW factor. It isn't until you use one that you undestand how it unlocks additional opportunities for using a computer. Unfortunately, retail stores do a terrible job of marketing the devices.
Combine this with a very high premium for first and second generation devices, and you're not going to sell a lot to the casual user. As the premium drops (and eventually) approaches zero, people are going to start getting tablets. IBM/Lenovo's introduction was a big step, and Dell's adoption might be the next big step. Once that happens, we hit a tipping point where more than just us tablet crazies have experienced, and appreciated, the tablet.
Also - what features are you referring to that are missing from the Tablet PC? If my memory serves, the only tablet that lacked pressure sensitivity was the first-gen HP TC100. In that sense, the only major difference I can see is that you're drawing on the screen. I actually PREFER that, as it's closer to "real" drawing.
Posted by: Tim Marman | July 25, 2005 11:38 AM
Tim,
You are absolutely correct in that there needs to be more marketing so that people can see the benefit of the Tablet PC. Apple itself is guity of that very problem on many of their products. These days the only thing getting air time is the iPod. I do believe that will be changing soon though.
The premium can't be argued, it has to come down for sure. I can definitely see the advantage of having a tablet in certain situations, but for me personally, I just don't do anything that I would NEED a tablet for. I prefer my desktop G5 Dualie 2.5 because of the power. I don't see that much power coming into a tablet or laptop anytime soon.
As far as the pressure sensitivity on the tablets is concerned, it isn't that they aren't pressure sensitive as much as to what degree. The Wacom tablets start off with entry level offering the general functions and features you would need in a tablet, with the higher end tablets offering more levels of sensitivty. So that is the biggest difference, at least for graphics professionals. The more levels of sensitvity, the greater flexibility you have when designing. It really does make a huge difference. That is primarily why the prices go up from the Wacom Graphire to the Intuos line. The Cintiq is super pricey because of the built-in display (which I don't care for that much). I find it a little weird drawing on the screen and I am always fearful of putting too much pressure on it and breaking the darn thing. At least with the other Wacom tablets, I am not worried about puncturing the screen. :-)
Posted by: Frank | July 25, 2005 12:04 PM