Interesting Points
Microsoft isn't clearly communicating their vision to their different target markets. You sound like a Linux pundit pushing the blame for not understanding the complexities of that platform back onto the user. Linux has managed to carve out 2% of the target market with that approach - how well do you think that will go over for Microsoft?
I reached out to a contact at Microsoft Skydrive prior to writing this article. I explained my situation in detail. That contact never responded to me. That was part of the original article, was cut in editing.
I do appreciate that you've pointed out that Microsoft offers a pro version that addresses many of my security concerns regarding SkyDrive. It seems that I and a lot of other SMB IT professionals are not aware of this. This is not a failure on our part as IT professionals, it is a failure on Microsoft's part to communicate their services, products and intended markets to consumers, end users and professionals.
The lack of communication and the tiered levels of support where consumer platforms are treated like second class citizens at Microsoft is part of the current threat Microsoft finds itself challenged with. Apple and Google have carved out a business that is eroding Microsoft's market share slowly but surely in part by increasing the focus on consumer and leisure users. That wasn't just by making compelling consumer/leisure platforms, but also by being *available* to assist consumers with the same degree of availability as they provide business customers. It should have been easy for me to contact a real person for support of a *consumer oriented* service, who could have told me, "I see what you've done, I'll fix it right now, you need to remove that file, and may I recommend that for business use you research SkyDrive Pro for your corporate enterprise needs."
If Microsoft doesn't figure this out soon, (and this goes for other Cloud Service providers that approach cloud services with a similar model, too), they're going to find themselves in trouble.
Keep in mind, this isn't a warning about SkyDrive or Microsoft in particular, this is a warning about cloud service providers and BYOD solutions in general - especially in the manner that SMBs might be tempted to implement those solutions. I'm sure SkyDrive Pro is a lot more expensive than SkyDrive? For a lot of small businesses with tight budgets, when Microsoft says, "Well Run Enterprises," they mean, "organizations with deep enough pockets to afford our Enterprise solutions."
You've brought some good information to this discussion, Smfrazz - it is too bad your snark and condescending attitude detracts from that.
