AcquiredJuly 22, 2024

Microsoft Volume II

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Audio URL: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/media.transistor.fm/54402842/6376d479.mp3

About this episode

In 1999, Microsoft became the most valuable company in the world. And in 2019, Microsoft became the most valuable company in the world, again . But… what happened in the twenty years in between? The answer, as we discovered in our research, is probably not what you think. In this episode we explore and analyze the browser wars and the DOJ case, Windows XP through 8, Surface, Xbox, search, Yahoo!, Bing, the iPhone, Nokia, mobile, social, Facebook… and oh yeah, a little thing called Azure and the enterprise — which ended up becoming so big that no failures mattered. Tune in for Microsoft, Volume II.

Book mentions

6 book mentions in this episode.

Jump to books

Tip: Click “Mentioned at …” to copy a timestamp.

Tip: Click a cover image to open a book link.

Books Mentioned

Hit Refresh

Satya Nadella

“Satya references his book 'Hit Refresh' in discussing the changes at Microsoft and his motivations for joining the company.”

Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: Microsoft's cultural changes

For: Business leaders and tech enthusiasts

Key quote: “He writes, I joined Microsoft in 1992 because I wanted to work for a company filled with people who believed they were on a mission to change the world.”

The hosts mention 'Hit Refresh' to illustrate Satya Nadella's perspective on Microsoft's transformation during a challenging period. They highlight how Nadella's insights provide a nuanced understanding of the company's evolution from success to struggle and back again.

ASIN: N/A

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The Road Ahead

Bill Gates

“Bill Gates writes a book to evangelize the information superhighway, which later gets revised to focus on the internet and web browser in its softcover version.”

Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: Bill Gates and the internet

For: Individuals interested in technology history and business strategy

Key quote: “In this book called The Road Ahead, I have two copies of it here on my desk, the hardcover copy and the softcover copy, which was revised and came out in 1996.”

The host discusses Bill Gates' strategic vision for the future of computing and how it led to the writing of 'The Road Ahead.' The book serves as a pivotal moment in understanding Microsoft's approach to the emerging internet landscape and its evolution from the concept of the information superhighway.

ASIN: N/A

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World War 3.0

“The author has a comment on the trial involving Microsoft and Judge Jackson, discussing the implications of videotaped depositions.”

Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: Microsoft trial analysis

For: Listeners interested in legal battles and technology industry dynamics.

Key quote: “One of the things that I read to prepare for this episode is a book called World War 3.0, which is exclusively about this trial.”

The host mentions 'World War 3.0' to provide a detailed background on the legal challenges faced by Microsoft during the trial. The book offers insights into the court's rulings and the strategic maneuvers of both the prosecution and defense.

ASIN: N/A

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Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future

Satya Nadella (with Greg Shaw and Jill Tracia Nichols)

“Satya talks about in the book, there's a straw poll taken of all the division heads, all the top leaders in the company, whether they're for or against the acquisition.”

Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia

For: Business leaders and professionals interested in corporate culture and leadership transitions.

Key quote: “Like, there is truth to what Satya wrote in his book that we said at the very beginning of the episode.”

The host references Satya Nadella's book to highlight the cultural shift needed at Microsoft during a pivotal time in its history. Nadella's insights emphasize the importance of resetting company culture to move forward effectively after years of internal challenges.

ASIN: N/A

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Seven Powers

Hamilton Helmer

“The section called Seven Powers is named after Hamilton Helmer's book, which poses questions about what enables a business to achieve persistent differential returns.”

Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: business analysis framework

For: Business professionals and entrepreneurs

Key quote: “And the first one is a section called Seven Powers, which is named after Hamilton Helmer's book.”

The host mentions 'Seven Powers' to introduce a framework for analyzing how businesses can achieve sustainable profitability. This framework is particularly relevant in discussing Microsoft's historical performance and competitive positioning in the tech industry.

ASIN: 7521752929

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Hardcore Software

“Steven's blog, Hardcore Software, he published in book form. It's a thousand page book. It's like a textbook sitting on my desk. It's awesome.”

Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: enterprise software tradeoffs

For: IT professionals and software developers

Key quote: “I think Steven Sanoski even writes about this in Hardcore Software in his book and on his Substack, that at some point, they were trying to ship features that the PMs thought were great and users would love.”

The host references 'Hardcore Software' to illustrate the challenges faced by software companies in balancing user demands with enterprise needs. The book highlights how corporate IT administrators often prioritize stability and backward compatibility over innovative features, which can stifle progress.

ASIN: N/A

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