It has been 20 years since Microsoft’s Grave Blunder — Here are 3 Things we can learn from it!
Oof Programmers, What were you up to?
Microsoft, A Major Corporation, A Major Tech company that is worth a $$$$$$$$$$$$(A Trillion Dollars to be exact.)
So, let me set the scene… This was the day of the Comdex, when Microsoft first proudly showcased their very new Windows 98 software to the world.
And well, something wrong happened — seriously wrong(even Bill Gates laughed — In Shame😂)
Windows 98
Windows 95 is one of the few pieces of software to genuinely change the world(it did). Windows 98 was the successor to the more primitive pieces of software earlier released by Microsoft or as Bill Gates said it — “It’s the next best thing”
It was a great success, but it got off to a rocky start due to Microsoft shitting the bed when it was due to showcase it to the world.
Windows 98 was certainly a more stable operating system, and it also improved things on the hardware compatibility front with USB support, opening up a whole new world of peripherals for users.
One of the big features was plug-and-play. You’d plug in a peripheral — like a printer, joystick, or whatever — and it’d just work, to borrow a phrase from Apple.
But let’s get back to Comdex
Comdex Spring Demo
24 years ago, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates and assistant Chris Capossela (who is now Chief Marketing Officer at Redmond) were demonstrating Windows 98 before a live audience at the COMDEX conference.
It was the first time Bill Gates got to see what’s it actually like to use NT’s little brother.
Anyway, it didn’t “just work.” Not even close. The computer threw up a blue screen of death (BSOD) error, evoking laughter and jeers from the audience.
The OS crashed while the world’s richest man was demonstrating it to a packed house, sending its dire death message onto huge monitors for all to see.
For what it’s worth, Gates handled the situation really well, joking: “That must be why we’re not shipping Windows 98 yet.”
For Microsoft, however, it was a very embarrassing public failure. The incident was even parodied in Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park Movie.
Welcome to reality, Bill.
Windows 98 was the follow-up to the roaring success that was Windows 95. There were countless expectations riding on it.
Although this SNAFU went viral (before such a thing even existed), it didn’t dent the success of the product.
Microsoft sold 25 million units in 1998 alone.
But… this humiliation for Microsoft wasn’t over yet!
Windows Me
You can probably still hear the howls of frustration of someone trying to get it installed properly for the 1,234,567th time.
Memorably dubbed Windows Mistake Edition by PC World magazine, it was an awful bodge-job.
Even if you did manage to get the thing installed — upgrade installations from Windows 98 were particular torture, the kind that could break terrorists — it took a mere gentle breeze to make the operating system fall over.
Windows Me also popularised the infamous Blue Screen of Death.
Windows 95 and 98 users were no strangers to the infamous crash screen, but the BSOD shone so frequently from a Windows Me machine that passing neighbors thought you’d redecorated.
But how did Microsoft make such a fatal mistake by releasing this buggy version?
And well:
What Can We Learn From It?
Look, let me be straightforward, these software packages were clearly not ready to be launched publicly in the market.
Let me make it easier for you and set these up as headings that roughly cover what can save you/your startup/ your business from making these silly yet unforgivable mistakes.
By the way, it does remain in people’s mind for a long, long time.
1. Don’t Release Products Too Early! Be SMART
It’s important for businesses not to be too excited to release products. They should test and test and re-test until they are absolutely sure that there will be no apparent bug in the product(especially tech companies)
Further, overspending in the planning phase cause the major disaster that unfolded about 20 years ago.
Sure! Planning may be tedious, but without a solid plan for your business that includes business idea research and market potential, you will be operating in the dark.
The most important plans include:
- Business Plan
- Financial Plan
- Marketing Plan
These objectives will set your goal clear and will lead to a smooth product unveiling experience. So, to make it a little simpler for you, let me introduce the SMART planning system that will make your life hell of a lot simpler.
It’s not that Microsoft skipped this step completely; they did it but failed miserably.
SMART is an acronym for the 5 elements of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based goals. It’s a simple tool used by businesses to go beyond the realm of fuzzy goal-setting into an actionable plan for results.
Specific
Great goals are well-defined and focused.
“Obtain two new billion dollar corporate clients in the Boston property insurance market” is more meaningful to mobilise your team than “Get more business.” — Ryan Blair
The moment you focus on a goal, your goal becomes a magnet, pulling you and your resources toward it. The more focused your energies, the more power you generate.”
Measurable
A goal without a measurable outcome is like a sports competition without a scoreboard or scorekeeper.
Numbers, data, and well decimal points are an essential part of the business. Put concrete numbers in your goals to know if you are on track.
A goal whiteboard posted in your office can help as a daily reminder to keep yourself and your employee focused on the targeted results you want to attain.
Attainable
Far too often, small businesses can set goals beyond reach. No one has ever built a billion-dollar business overnight(Not even Microsoft!)
Venture capitalists and angel investors discard countless business plans of companies with outlandish goals.
Dream big and aim for the stars, but keep one foot firmly based in reality.
Relevant
Achievable business goals are based on the current conditions and realities of the business climate.
You may desire to have your best year in business or increase revenue by 50%, but if a recession is looming and three new competitors opened in your market, then your goals aren’t relevant to the realities of the market.
Time-Based
Business goals and objectives just don’t get done when there’s no time frame tied to the goal-setting process.
Whether your business goal is to increase revenue by 20% or find 5 new clients, choose a time frame to accomplish your goal.
Remember in the end to be SMART.
2. Get Organised
The quote that I am embedding below is one that will change your life forever!
“Being organised is key. Running a small business is like being a circus ringmaster. It’s normal to have dozens of things happening at once. So, I have a daily task list, things that I need to do. And I list them by their priority. It sounds simple, but it works, and makes me far more productive.” — Tara Langdale-Schmidt, founder, VuVatech
It is just too important to not leave things scattered all around the place. It is one of the Fatal mistakes that Microsoft did when they unveiled Windows 98.
They focused too much on how and where they will first show this piece of software to the world, but got too sidetracked to see fit heir product was working or not!
This inevitably leads to a lack of focus in actually building the software.
If there’s one thing that startups are often guilty of, it’s trying to do too much, too soon. Having a clear focus means it’s easier to communicate what your product is and who it’s for.
3. Design as an afterthought
Mistakenly, startups regularly don’t see value in investing in design. This is a missed opportunity.
Did you see how ugly Microsoft’s GUI looked when they first released their computer with the software?
In the startup world, there’s been a culture of solution or technology first, whereas I believe we should be taking a more people-centered approach to building products and services.
Unless the thing you’re building has real value to someone, it’s just a vanity project, no matter the technology. Whilst the tide is turning, there’s still a need to educate startup founders about the competitive advantage well-designed products and services can bring.
It’s been proven that there’s a direct correlation between a positive user experience and loyalty.
Microsoft was giving neither a good experience nor a reputable machine that could take the load of plugging in a USB drive.
Happy customers tend to spend more, more often and tell their friends. I see design as a direct route to free marketing through the positive word of mouth it helps to generate.
So yeah, that’s all I wanted to say to you! Just think about the process and well… don’t fail like Microsoft!
Thanks for Reaching the END!
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Peace!
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