Why Do They Bother?

[Beetle]

Over the last several months, the MS website that is used to

view the newsgroups has been practically unusable much of

the time. I know some would argue that their website has been

lousy for years, but it has been unusually bad in recent months.

There are no problems viewing/posting to the newsgroups with

news readers and other methods, so I can only assume the problem

is with the MS website.



Many of the people who are looking for help on MS products

end up at the newsgroups via the MS website. Many of them are

not aware that the MS website in only a window to the newsgroups,

and that you can also get to them through news readers and other

websites. They end up struggling to even post a question, and then

struggling again to view any responses. Some of them probably think

that the problem is on their end.



Which begs the question. If MS is apparently not going to take the

time to correct the problems with the website, then why bother having

it in the first place? Why not do their users a favor and direct them to

one of the sites that actually works?



I know, I know... "Microsoft? Do their Users a favor? That's crazy talk."



That's my pointless rant for the day, since I know that it's highly unlikely

that anyone from MS will even see this, let alone give a damn.



PS - If you are one of the users that has been struggling with the MS

website, you can also post / view questions in the newsgroup through

AccessMonster.com, Outlook Express (which has a built in news reader -

not a great one, but it's better than the MS website has been lately) and

many other methods. If you just want to view posts, Google Groups is

an option as well.



_________



Sean Bailey

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

That's my pointless rant for the day, since I know that it's highly unlikely
that anyone from MS will even see this, let alone give a damn.

I've reposted your entire posting along with a Google Groups link in a
location where the manager in charge of the newsgroup servers and web
interface servers visits on a regular basis.

And they do give a darn. Really. But I don't have an answer as to
why the web interface is so flaky.

Fellow MVPs did have a meeting with her less than a month ago. I'm
sure my fellow MVPs strenuously, but politely, expressed their
concerns.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/

 

[Beetle]

Thank you Tony. I think there are a lot of people seeking help
that have only encountered frustration with the MS web interface.

Apologies if some of my post was a bit on the "negative" side <g>

_________

Sean Bailey

 

[Steve Sanford]

And some of us use the web interface because we must....we are behind a
company firewall. I would *prefer* to use Thunderbird (what I use at home) as
the newsreader, but at work I am blocked.

 

[Jeff C]

--
Jeff C
Live Well .. Be Happy In All You Do

I know, I know... "Microsoft? Do their Users a favor? That's crazy talk."



That's my pointless rant for the day, since I know that it's highly unlikely

that anyone from MS will even see this, let alone give a damn.

Not a pointless rank from my perspective either, I use the groups
extensively as they are the best help reference by-far but 90% of my efforts
are related to work and as another posted, the company firewall blocks most
other sites.

Possibly this or another area more suitable might host suggestions on
alternative options that get through company firewalls?