[Ryan Dognaux]

Originally Posted by 1885.Blake

Ryan,

Answer me this. Do you think that Microsoft the corporation wants anything less than for the MSRS product and its offspring to be a product used by every robot, every robot manufacturer, and every roboticist in the entire world?

They are a business, so I'm sure they would be quite tickled with a large majority of people using their products.

It is their duty to attempt to dominate any market they attempt to enter. Asserting that Pavan's comment is motivated by "Microsoft hate" might be something of an insult. You should tread lightly there. An alternative interpretation of Pavan's statement is that Pavan does understand how businesses make profits, and that he thinks that Microsoft's entry into the robotics market is one of their significant business thrusts, not just a boutique, research endeavor.

It's not an insult, it's just a fact. There are a great number of Linux, Apple, etc. users on this forum. Some people on ChiefDelphi despise Microsoft and are vocal about it, there's no hiding or denying that. Whether Pavan does or doesn't is not for me to judge. His thought about it being a significant business venture by Microsoft is just that, his own thought. I think that FIRST would be a great wide spread testing ground for something like this, as there are over a thousand teams.

If it is one of their important business thrusts, then I suggest that any organization that has robotics at the core of its existence would be foolish not to view how their own organization might be affected by the entry of an enormously large, influential and wealthy corporation like Microsoft, into that market.

I wasn't really concerned with the rumor of a Microsoft product being used, but rather their sponsorship of the regional event. Microsoft has put forward a lot of money to get their name in the title of the regional. This is huge in my opinion. But what if one of their representatives came here to Chief Delphi and saw Pavan's comment? It's somewhat rude and risky to be posting things like that out in the open about very large sponsors. Out of respect for the company, as with all companies that sponsor FIRST, I would not go out of my way to publicly question the money they've invested in this program.

You said you are "sick of the Microsoft hate here". If there is unfounded "hate", or even mild dislike, here, then I applaud your being sick of it. However, you didn't say that anyone in the discussion has made a false assertion or drawn a false conclusion from an assertion. Please point out where you see the holes in the thread's arguments, along with expressing your feelings, so that we can see if we agree or disagree with you.

I think talking about Microsoft taking over FIRST is the hole in the argument. They're sponsoring one regional and people assume they're going to dominate the entire organization instead of applauding their sponsorship. I'd even go so far as to say "thank you Microsoft for supporting FIRST."

PS: In reply to your question about "people crying out about IFI"; in this very thread the current FIRST FRC/FTC monopoly held by Intellitek/IFI was pointed out as an example of something to try to avoid. I did it in my PS here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...56&postcount=9

I think it's hard to lump VEX into this equation. VEX is a kit that you buy. That's it. There aren't nearly as many options as with FRC (i.e. AndyMark and other suppliers). Sure, IFI had a monopoly on the controllers. But it would be a nightmare if people had options between multiple systems, all with their own headaches and breakdowns. It's simply not a viable option, all teams are going to have to be given the same 'kit of parts' to be on a level playing field.

My hands are cramping, but I hope I've made somewhat of a valid argument. In summary: I don't want Microsoft to come strolling into this thread and be offended by the very people they're supporting.