Microsoft calls time on Windows Insider MVP program Microsoft has decided to axe the Windows Insider MVP program, which is now scheduled to be discontinued at the end of the year. A Microsoft spokesperson told The Register: "In an effort to consolidate MVP-style programs across Microsoft, we have decided to retire the Windows Insider MVP Program effective December 31, 2023. " …
A lack of "Exciting features"?
No.
Wrong.
There a LOADS of them.
It's just that they precisely what no one asked for, or needed. Let's fuck around with context menus so that all the most common bits everyone needs/uses/has got used to over the last couple of decades are no longer where they've always been.
Let's make it so when you right-click the taskbar, the same is now true.
Let's make the default command-interpreter PowerShell so it loads slower. Even though most people want to run...commands, not PowerShell snippets.
And on and on.
All new. All exciting. All fresh!
/s
In the crazy demonic world of Microsoft, all those things that you listed are what gets the Marketing droids all hot under the collar because the likes of SatNad has told them this is what everybody wants.
Only that almost no one outside MS wants anything to do with these bits of POS that they are serving up. No matter what any of us say or do, they will continue with this shit.
If you can, ditch Windows ASAP.
"If you can, ditch Windows ASAP."
I let my Visual Studio (formerly known as MSDN) subscription expire. The keys I already claimed for Win 7 VMs (etc.) remain valid.
If I need an 11 box in the future (let's say to do taxes) I can buy the cheapest piece o' crap with 11 pre-installed for less than HALF of what it costs per year.
I'm too old to switch gears and have PLENTY of embedded opportunities with Linux, etc.. No need to maintain it.
Saving $800/yr is something I have to do because of the economic situation degrading since 2021. I chose NOT to burden my main customer by raising rates 20% to compensate. I think I get more work that way, as they've been seeing cash flow issues from the economic stupidity that's mostly created by gummints.
So saving money by NOT renewing MSDN/Visual Studio makes TOTAL sense. Not like I've had it for over 20 years or anything...
(and if I occasionally do windows dev it's always a 7-compatible EXE with *NO* ''.Not' entanglements, and I use the 2010 DevStudio 'cause everything after that was oriented towards TIFKAM etc.)
That's right. They LOST me as a customer. Buh-Bye Micros~1. *hork* *spit*
Sounds like "Classic Shell" :) - if its still a thing.
《My suggestion would be: Under Control Panel -> Themes -> Desktop UI -> a list that comprises of:
Windows 2000 (Classic)
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8*
Windows 8.1*
*Requires reboot and touchscreen》
Former MVP, so can say with certainty it does matter.
MS is very reticent to give out MVP seats. Having a dedicated MVP program meant a dedicated budget, and thereby seats specifically for that area, and more of them. Now they'll be competing for MVP seats against other areas like Azure, development, and other sundry groups. As a result, if MS decides to do another Azure push, you won't see newly minted MVPs that aren't Azure focused, and may even see some existing MVPs shown the door to free up spots. This specifically happened to Windows Phone/Mobile MVPs, and was how many of us knew "for certain" the line was gonna die before it was official.
As for the kool-aid, that can help, sure. However, the people that get to be MVPs usually care about the product before hand. They genuinely like the stuff and use it themselves. You occasionally get someone that gunned for MVP, and focused on it to the point of driving their career and socializing to get in, but that's not particularly common. The majority are actually surprised to hear they got nominated. Also, as a group, they're pretty ready to call MS on their BS, though sometimes behind closed doors.
But don't they also punish disloyalty?
The guy that answered all the .Net questions on Stackoverflow had to hand in his badge when he got a job at Google.
There are some competent ones but far too many seem to just be there to answer as many questions as possible even if during doing so the demonstrate that they neither read the question nor delivered a remotely useful answer.
For example, ask why a particular component of server setup went wrong, and how you carefully followed all the steps as documented and you'll get a link to the document that you already followed and have the bloody question marked as answered and ignored from then on.
As if you need to be a member of their club anyway. Microsoft tried to retire our certifications in 2001.. but an old school guy knows more than these jumped up little hall monitors anyway. They had to backpedal on that.
As a Microsoft Certified Solitaire Engineer (MCSE) or MCP, the primary duty seems to be promoting Microsoft products and services. I read all the clauses I was to be subject to.
"This specifically happened to Windows Phone/Mobile MVPs, and was how many of us knew "for certain" the line was gonna die before it was official."
So we can guess that MS plan to drop Windows now? Ok, that's absurd, but less absurd is the idea that they see the actual OS as a little more than a necessary evil and anything resembling support should be weeded out. That is certainly how it has felt to me for quite a few years now.
at least one software developer online believes that Micros~1 EVENTUALLY intends to DROP the Win32 API, based on things he's read.
This would CERTAINLY *BREAK* all legacy software and any hope of using Wine.
Never say "They'll NEVER do that." Because what they did in 7 was the LAST attempt to make customers happy. Windows 8 and later have ONLY been Micros~1 STRONG-ARMING us into a "solution" for non-existent "problems" that take away OUR ownership of the computer and transfer it all to THEM, beginning with the Micros~1 Logon and FORCED UPDATES.
They believe they have the bull by the balls, and are in a position to DEMAND we COMPLY. Unfortunately this seems to be true.
Maybe because it's not impossible to be a developer and drink only 100% pure Microsoft KoolAid. Even Microsoft can no longer drink only their own KoolAid and has Linux running inside of Windows on many of its expanding services. Being loyal to Microsoft as much as you had to be to become a MVP member means cutting off your businesses legs and arms so it's no wonder the MVPs are few and far between.
Their Marketing Programs are still going strong though so the promotion of Microsoft based anything can still become a revenue stream for many ISVs and corporate devs.
I have to say that back in the age of dinosaurs when I did a lot of Visual Basic programming, I certainly found the Visual Basic MVP's on the Visual Basic forums to be very helpful, especially when dealing with the Windows API. However when it comes to Microsoft's forums of Windows in general, I don't think I've ever seen a useful response to anyone's questions. Just script responses like "turn off your antivirus", "reboot", and the like.
"Enthusiasts" being a new buzzword for "drooling fanboys" that think their opinion matters
No, the MS MVP community was always categorically different to the alt.comp newsgroups. Not denigratory and abusive to beginners and people they disagreed with, but also not bound to the idea that there was one true faith.
Why am I not surprised that Borkzilla is shutting down something that gave it valuable feedback and buzz on MS products ?
Feedback can be negative. Redmond doesn't like negativity. Redmond wants everyone to be positively enthusiastic about everything important Redmond does, like giving users a new Dark Theme that nobody asked for.
Or wait, did the MVPs ask for that ? That would be ironic.
Microsoft's "MVP" programmes have been a joke for years. Anyone remember when they used to go on Micros~1 forums, find a question with no answers, answer it with something totally unrelated to the question, then mark it as solved and close the question? Happened so many times it was just a joke. Even now I find myself automatically filtering out anyone who's a Micros~1 MVP.
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