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Comment by thenewwazoo | Hacker News Reader

If you'd told me ten years ago that I'd be working for Microsoft today, you'd have made an enemy.

If you'd told me five years ago that I'd be working for Microsoft today, I'd have laughed at you.

I sometimes still marvel that I work at Microsoft today, and don't hate myself for it. In fact - and it's still a little hard to believe - I really like what Microsoft has become, and I'm excited to contribute to it.

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I couldn't agree more. When a friend reached out to me about joining him at Microsoft my first response was "thanks but no thanks". He talked me into at least listening to the pitch and it actually worked. Talking with some of the old timers here at Microsoft it sounds like the culture has changed a ton (and is still changing) so hopefully that will continue to trickle down into the products.

Are you saying there is no backstabbing anymore? I left Microsoft in 2012 and it was the worst place on the planet ever (granted, Ballmer was still running the show). But can it change that much especially with all the layoffs they do every year on clock basis?

Yeah, the Balmer way of evaluation has completely disappeared. SWEs are no longer trying to remain outside the bottom 20% just to stay employed. Everything about evaluation is now centered around getting things done, helping others, and learning from others.

Upvotes to both of you from a former "hater".

Just promise me to make telemetry more transparent and make opt-out possible somehow.

And don't spam paying customers, that is tasteless.

I love the new lockscreen though as long as it isn't ads (even if I recognize it is a running bing ad ; ).

When I joined up, most of my acquaintances were flabbergasted. It's been a year, and they still don't quite believe it.

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