Log In  or  Join
Triangle-netbar

Microsoft Research in Redmond, a personal tour - On The Verge

Joshua Topolsky takes a tour of Microsoft Research in Redmond.

There are 12 Comments. Add yours.

rehbein says:

i’m quite underwhelmed by their model/design shop. we’re a very small design firm yet we’re better equipped than microsoft research :O

Posted on Dec 14, 2011 | 10:38 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

BumpyClock's reply:

I’m pretty sure that was just one of their shops.

Posted on Dec 14, 2011 | 12:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

DougB541's reply:

And also pretty sure they have rooms you can’t see. That room looked more like a “almost done, this is what we show off” room.

Posted on Dec 14, 2011 | 2:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

rehbein's reply:

well there’s that one room, the holo deck. not really a room, more like a box where ballmer can stick his head in and admire his holographic hair :)

Posted on Dec 14, 2011 | 2:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Greasy_Taco_Aficionado says:

Does anyone know what backpack that MS tour guide dude is wearing?

Posted on Dec 15, 2011 | 12:42 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

supermankd's reply:

Might be one of these
http://www.brenthaven.com/

Never actuall seen one in person but they look like nice stuff.

Posted on Dec 15, 2011 | 2:44 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

stevecla's reply:

yep, I was wearing a Rapha backpack. Beautifully well built and available from www.rapha.cc

Posted on Dec 28, 2011 | 8:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

kishorekv says:

I wish Josh would lay off the repeated Ballmer jabs.. Microsoft is more than just Ballmer himself. Microsoft Research is doing some pioneering work, and you got an invite to tour their labs, and half the tour video was lame jokes about Ballmer and vertigo in the anechoic chamber.

As big a fan of your team as I am, I must say I was seriously disappointed with Josh. You probably are not the best person to have done this piece, given how you consider Windows “poison”. Give it to Joanna or Paul.

Posted on Dec 16, 2011 | 1:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

kuruption213's reply:

I agree 100%. I’m getting sick of those who cover tech. They are more journalist then they are tech, which I understand but at least be well informed. Tech is much more than a user experience, equally important is the code behind the scenes which is not easily seen by users. This is where Microsoft and Google excel and where people who really truly understand tech can appreciate it. Apple makes nice user experience and hardware but they provide so little to the technical industry in terms of rich technical frameworks, back end cloud capabilities and enterprise architecture. True this is much less sexy than an iPod or iPad but much more important to the industry. Josh your having to bring up Apple every 2 seconds or bash Microsoft just show your ignorance in true tech. You may like Apple products (as do I) but if you were really informed it takes more than technology is much bigger than consumer products.

Posted on Dec 17, 2011 | 12:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

kuruption213's reply:

I watched this a second time thinking perhaps I was too hard on Josh. Sure enough, I was not hard enough. Josh really has to stop thinking he is doing is the next Conan. It would be great to interview these people doing really cool things and stop making it about you. Probably too much to ask…

Posted on Dec 17, 2011 | 1:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Rakib says:

Wow, this was just rude and obnoxious. You are invited as a guest and all you can do is try to insult Microsoft.

Posted on Dec 28, 2011 | 8:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions