Top 10 Worst Microsoft Products Ever

Summary

The video counts down Microsoft products that failed or were widely disliked, starting with the annoying Clippy assistant. It continues with Windows tools like Genuine Advantage and MSN TV that had critical flaws. Other Microsoft gadget flops highlighted include the Microsoft Band, Windows Phone, and Zune music player. The video also calls out software like Windows Vista for poor reception and Internet Explorer 6 for security issues. Despite efforts to compete with Apple and Google, Microsoft has released many products that missed the mark with consumers and developers.

Takeaways

• 😟 Clippy, the Office Assistant paperclip, was intended to provide helpful suggestions but quickly became annoying and unhelpful
• 😠 Windows Genuine Advantage backfired spectacularly by triggering false positives and rendering PCs barely usable
• 😴 MSN TV attempted to bring the internet to TVs but failed to achieve mass adoption
• 📉 The Microsoft Band fitness devices sold quickly at first but were soon discontinued due to high prices and strong competition
• ☎️ Windows Phone failed to surpass iOS and Android despite acquisitions like Nokia due to copying the unsuccessful Windows 8 interface
• 🎪 Microsoft Bob presented an animated living room interface but was doomed by hardware requirements and a goofy interface
• 🔒 Internet Explorer 6's security flaws and incompatibilities plagued it despite high market share
• 😫 Windows Vista received mixed reviews and criticism around hardware requirements and new features
• 🎧 The Zune media player attempted to compete with the iPod but failed due to Apple's stronghold on the portable music market
• 📱 The Microsoft Kin social networking phones lasted only 48 days and lacked basic features like calendars and contact lists

Q & A

What was Clippy and why was it so disliked?

Clippy was an animated paperclip assistant introduced in Microsoft Office to provide helpful suggestions. It often interrupted users unnecessarily and became very annoying, leading Microsoft to remove it in Office 2007.

What was the goal behind Windows Genuine Advantage?

Windows Genuine Advantage was meant to detect illegal/pirated copies of Windows running on PCs. It aimed to ensure PCs were properly licensed but often falsely flagged legitimate systems, rendering them barely usable.

How did Microsoft attempt to bring the internet to TVs in the 1990s?

Microsoft bought a web TV service and rebranded it in 2001 as MSN TV, which allowed people to access the internet and features like email on their televisions. It failed to gain mass adoption and was shut down in 2013.

Why did the Microsoft Band wearable device fail?

Despite strong initial sales, the Microsoft Band struggled due to high prices, lack of features compared to rivals like Fitbit, and Microsoft's inability to compete with more established players in the fitness wearables market.

What made Internet Explorer 6 so infamous?

IE6 was notorious for security flaws, lack of web standards support, and months-long delays in fixing vulnerabilities - despite having over 90% browser market share at its peak due to Windows bundling.

How did Windows Vista compare to Windows XP?

After the success of XP, Vista was plagued by a difficult development, high hardware demands,Annoying new features like UAC, and many performance issues. Most welcomed its 2009 replacement Windows 7.

What was Microsoft Bob and why did it fail?

Bob was an early 1990s attempt to replace the Windows desktop with an interactive living room. It featured cartoon characters to help guide users but had complex hardware needs. It was discontinued within a year.

Why couldn't the Zune compete with the iPod?

Apple had a stronghold on portable music players. The Zune tried copying the iPod too late, with an interface and features most users weren't interested in. Microsoft couldn't catch up.

What was the Microsoft Kin?

The Kin was a short-lived 2010 attempt at a social networking-focused mobile device. It completely failed due to lacking key features expected of smartphones and was discontinued within months.

What product disappointed users by not delivering on advertised promises?

Microsoft claimed Windows 98 would be faster, more efficient, and provide better Internet access than prior versions. It failed to deliver on these promises, disappointing many users.