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New Microsoft hire: Forcing me from Mac to PC
- Thread starter Tofray
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Thank you all so very much for the great advice...I read every post throughout the day, and kept going back & forth, but ultimately I decided:
1) I'm going to use my iPhone at home/in-car; And I bought a Lumia 920 to use at work.
2) At&t gave me the 411 on SIM-swapping, and unfortunately, I would lose visual voicemail, FaceTime, and would have to turn off iMessage every time. This is because I would have to switch from the iPhone Data plan to the Smartphone Data Plan in order to swap. It's not that big of a deal, but decided I'd just add a line to my data plan, and use the Windows phone exclusively for work.
3) I'm going to keep the iMac and just play-it-by ear on the efficiency of using bootcamp/Windows for work stuff I need to do at home, and the awesomeness of Mac for home usage.
4) I'm going to get rid of the MBA and just stick to the laptop they give me, but use my iPad for home media use (and maybe give the Surface Pro a try).
I think the majority of you agreed that a job is what pays the bills, and with a family of 5, it's tough to just say, "I'm going sell my house, & move my family to Cupertino because I am an Apple Fanboy" (not that they gave me a job). Microsoft is a great corporation and this is an awesome opportunity I was afforded, that many would love to have...I can suck it up and be a good company man, if it means they take care of me and my family, and I also get to work with some cool products & people.
Again, thank you all for the advice, and I will see you on the forums (while I'm in the MSFT bathroom or closet)
I don't get why you would get rid of the MBA? There is zero reason for that. Let the wife use it or the kids for school work. Use it on vacation or have an extra terminal set up for that out of town family member that shows up for holiday. There are a ton of reasons to keep the MBA. I think it is a rash decision to get rid of any of your Apple gear, but it's your choice.
Enjoy working at M$. If you have an open mind to WP, I think you will find it is actually quite nice to use.
Microsoft runs "TechEd" every year. I don't know about in the US, but last year in NZ about half of the presenters were on Macs. Most of those were running Windows, presumably in Boot Camp, but some were OS X. I don't know whether there's just a relaxed culture at Microsoft NZ or whether there really are more Macs in Microsoft than people realise.
I don't get why you would get rid of the MBA? There is zero reason for that. Let the wife use it or the kids for school work. Use it on vacation or have an extra terminal set up for that out of town family member that shows up for holiday. There are a ton of reasons to keep the MBA. I think it is a rash decision to get rid of any of your Apple gear, but it's your choice.
Enjoy working at M$. If you have an open mind to WP, I think you will find it is actually quite nice to use.
Ya know, I'm usually not so impressionable, but there's been some serious wisdom being shared here today...I may just keep the MBA for extra things that I'm not considering right now...giving to wife or kids is definitely not one of them
It might as well be a Commodore 64 to them! And I've been playing with the WP for the past hour, and I have to say it is pretty slick!
Just because you work for a company doesn't mean you should stop using devices you like and alter your life. Remember work is not permanent and you can be let go at any given time or leave at anytime.
Sure, I get that...but this really wasn't a "Fight the Man" kind of dilemma. I was struggling more with how to maintain the streamlined software/app solutions I currently have, by trying to combine Windows & Mac platforms, or whether it's just more sensible to switch completely to Windows/PC, i.e. Using windows phone to sync skydrive/outlook/word with my work laptop, and then use my home PC to continue working on things that were open on my laptop...Basically, everything I do now, but with Apple products.
I think I'll just see how it goes with toeing the company line with phone/laptop, and keep my Apple Fanboy-love in the closet/at home for awhile. As another poster pointed out...I'm the new guy, and new guys need to make good impressions.
Uhh, yes it does, if the products are in direct competition with your employer and they look unfavorably upon you using them. As someone else mentioned, go crack open a Coke while working at Pepsi and see how that goes...
A find statements like this truly bewildering. You honestly think using your gadgets of choice should trump your employment? You're right that work isn't permanent, and with an approach like this you're trying hard to guarantee it won't be.
I'm guessing you've never had a job of significance or you wouldn't make naive statements like this.
Uhh, yes it does, if the products are in direct competition with your employer and they look unfavorably upon you using them. As someone else mentioned, go crack open a Coke while working at Pepsi and see how that goes...
A find statements like this truly bewildering. You honestly think using your gadgets of choice should trump your employment? You're right that work isn't permanent, and with an approach like this you're trying hard to guarantee it won't be.
I'm guessing you've never had a job of significance or you wouldn't make naive statements like this.
I was more referring to his life outside of work. At work I'll use the company provided stuff and at home I'll continue to live life like I used to prior to joining said company.
And just because I have an open mind I have a job of no significance. Only on the Internet...
Then you should say such. You can only take what's posted at face value and your post says work isn't what's important here.
And having an open mind? Not really seeing how that has anything to do with your statement or the OP's choice. Common sense, on the other hand...
I'd never consider using products from my employer's competitor at my job, unless they were actually provided by my employer.
Thank you all so very much for the great advice...I read every post throughout the day, and kept going back & forth, but ultimately I decided:
1) I'm going to use my iPhone at home/in-car; And I bought a Lumia 920 to use at work.
2) At&t gave me the 411 on SIM-swapping, and unfortunately, I would lose visual voicemail, FaceTime, and would have to turn off iMessage every time. This is because I would have to switch from the iPhone Data plan to the Smartphone Data Plan in order to swap. It's not that big of a deal, but decided I'd just add a line to my data plan, and use the Windows phone exclusively for work.
3) I'm going to keep the iMac and just play-it-by ear on the efficiency of using bootcamp/Windows for work stuff I need to do at home, and the awesomeness of Mac for home usage.
4) I'm going to get rid of the MBA and just stick to the laptop they give me, but use my iPad for home media use (and maybe give the Surface Pro a try).
I think the majority of you agreed that a job is what pays the bills, and with a family of 5, it's tough to just say, "I'm going sell my house, & move my family to Cupertino because I am an Apple Fanboy" (not that they gave me a job). Microsoft is a great corporation and this is an awesome opportunity I was afforded, that many would love to have...I can suck it up and be a good company man, if it means they take care of me and my family, and I also get to work with some cool products & people.
Again, thank you all for the advice, and I will see you on the forums (while I'm in the MSFT bathroom or closet)
Congratulations and best of luck to you in your new job. Microsoft is an excellent company and I hope you enjoy working there and find it rewarding.
Thank you!! I'm very excited...And I will be throwing my new Windows Phone around the office like a football, just to make sure everyone knows I'm a company man!
If I were you I'd stick to what I prefer. A job is just a job, even if its for Microsoft. If we're talking about personal phones, rather than company phones on a "bring your own device to work" basis, stick with what you prefer. I'd give Windows a try, maybe you might love it, but not just because of your employer.
Couldn't you ask to be transfered to the macintosh development devision
There are many folks working for Microsoft who are passionate about macs too
There are many folks working for Microsoft who are passionate about macs too
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Thank you!! I'm very excited...And I will be throwing my new Windows Phone around the office like a football, just to make sure everyone knows I'm a company man!
What you use in your private life is your business, but at work it's obviously in yourfavor to be pro Microsoft in every way. And who knows, once you start using your Windows phone and perhaps a nice laptop too, you may actually like Windows and be a strong believer in the company. I for one wouldn't look at it as a punishment by any means. Having a good job with a good company is very important in life.
The best Windows Ultrabooks available are the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus, ASUS Zenbook Infinity, and the Acer S7-392. Lenovo may have something nice as well, but those are definitely the best flagships. They will take a large chunk out of your wallet, though.
The Samsung 9 Plus is very nice. I haven't seen the Infinity yet. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon is supposed to be nice too.
Plenty of people use MacBooks running Windows, but Apple's drivers are pretty restrictive, so unless you must have the hardware, looks elsewhere. When I was shopping, the best alternative to the MacBook Air was the Lenovo X1 Carbon. It's pretty much equal to or better in every way, but it did cost more. Additionally, if you're looking for attention, the matte black Lenovo business-line look won't stick out as much as a shiny silver thing with an Apple logo.
Most Windows laptops, despite their price tag, are junk by my standards. Unfortunately you kind of have to look at a bunch of them to find that diamond in the rough. The X1 is the only one that was good enough for my and my wife's standards and we've looked at quite a few (again, at any price - the X1 was just shy of $2k).
Having said that, if I worked at Microsoft (and I have friends @ Apple, Microsoft, Google, etc.) I really wouldn't give a $h17 and would use what I want - ESPECIALLY at home. Unless you're working with clients, it really shouldn't matter. Lastly, since this is personal hardware, not company provided it matters even less. Unless Microsoft will just HAND you replacements for your gear, keep using what works for you. Seriously.
Most Windows laptops, despite their price tag, are junk by my standards. Unfortunately you kind of have to look at a bunch of them to find that diamond in the rough. The X1 is the only one that was good enough for my and my wife's standards and we've looked at quite a few (again, at any price - the X1 was just shy of $2k).
Having said that, if I worked at Microsoft (and I have friends @ Apple, Microsoft, Google, etc.) I really wouldn't give a $h17 and would use what I want - ESPECIALLY at home. Unless you're working with clients, it really shouldn't matter. Lastly, since this is personal hardware, not company provided it matters even less. Unless Microsoft will just HAND you replacements for your gear, keep using what works for you. Seriously.
1. Return the 920, and get a 925. The 920 is a huge brick with worse specs.
2. Drop the iPhone. I have 2 windows phones that I flip between and it's a pain. flipping between 2 different OS's is going to be worse, and it'll mean that you won't really know Windows Phone OS. At that point, you may as well as just keep your iPhone.
3. Samsung has always made good laptops, I would also suggest Lenovo ThinkPad or a Dell Latitude + docking station.
4. Xbox music on Windows Phone is a steaming piece of crap. I'm a pretty big Windows Fanboy, I hang out in a lot of Pro-Windows forums, I don't know a single person who will stand up and say that Xbox music (on WP) is a good solution.
2. Drop the iPhone. I have 2 windows phones that I flip between and it's a pain. flipping between 2 different OS's is going to be worse, and it'll mean that you won't really know Windows Phone OS. At that point, you may as well as just keep your iPhone.
3. Samsung has always made good laptops, I would also suggest Lenovo ThinkPad or a Dell Latitude + docking station.
4. Xbox music on Windows Phone is a steaming piece of crap. I'm a pretty big Windows Fanboy, I hang out in a lot of Pro-Windows forums, I don't know a single person who will stand up and say that Xbox music (on WP) is a good solution.
Actually a bunch of Microsoft journalists have said it. The divisions inside of Microsoft don't talk to each other, and that is a big reason why Ballmer is out.Random guy on the internet said it so it must be true.
QFT !
In this economy, work is work and good paying jobs are hard to find. The OP should have applied at Apple tbh.
I ran into a similar deal when I worked at Sony. I mentioned to a supervisor that I preferred using a non Sony computer, TV and phone which I got a not so nice talking to.
So all companies do this. I'd like to see an Apple new hire walk in with a ThinkPad X1 and a Nexus 5 and see the looks that would get.
I think if you work for MS or Sony, your dealing with 2 opposite ends of the same coin. A company who make software that runs on brand X and Y hardware or a hardware company who makes the systems the software company write for. Apple is it's own ecosystem, yet their entire ecosystem is built on sony installing windows or microsoft using sony as a OEM partner for pre-installed windows. Likewise for their phones, Sony will be running Android or Windows Mobile which puts your iPhone on their radar and as for the TV, they're more a case of if the specs and size are suitable and an in-store demo blows you away, you buy that brand (online cheaper). The most suitable TV is what people buy.
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This is certainly not the reason. Almost every big company has communication issues, even Apple. Ballmer has to go because he failed to see the future and act accordingly in order to protect Microsoft's future, especially regarding Windows, mobility and tablet PCs. He also had to take a hit of almost 800m Dollars unsold Surface RT Tablets...
Of course they care. Imagine working for Pepsi and going to the office with a coca cola in the hand
Funny you say that. When I was a kid I worked a summer job for Pepsi distributor located in Harford cty, MD. I believe they closed up years ago but not only did no one care if you drank Coke there was a Coke vending machine in the break room.
We were old enough to act like adults. However we did poke at the coke guy filling the machine on occasion but even he knew it was all in good fun.
I just think it's strange anyone would care especially using a Windows Phone? Blah been there noooo thanks.
Now I can understand if this directly effected your job and performance but I don't think that's the case here.
I have to disagree with this. I have no problem switching between my Windows Phone, my Nexus 5 and my iPad Mini. 3 OS's and 3 different divices. It's not a problem IMO. In fact, I have become more appreciative of all 3 OS's by using them every day in conjunction with each other... finding the pro's and con's of each and finding comparable apps.