High-end tech jobs outsourced by Microsoft

[dArKeR]

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , NEW YORK
Thursday, Jun 17, 2004,Page 12

In the debate over high-technology work migrating abroad, there has been widespread agreement on at least one thing: The jobs requiring higher levels of skill are the least at risk.

Routine software programming and testing jobs, analysts agree, are the ones most susceptible to being grabbed by fast-growing Indian outsourcing companies. By contrast, the people who devise the early blueprints for projects -- the software architects -- have been regarded as far less likely to see their jobs farmed out.

But Microsoft contract documents show that as far back as 2001 the big software maker had agreed to pay two Indian outsourcing companies, Infosys and Satyam, to provide skilled "software architects" for Microsoft projects. The documents were obtained earlier this month by WashTech, an organization of technology workers based in Seattle, which gave copies to The New York Times.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2004/06/17/2003175447

[Skittles]

1. America is losing its technological edge

these greedy f***s only see the bottom line; nothing else - even the future of their own country - is considered.

[Virginian]

4. Where do the Americans go?

If the Indians come to the US to take the higher paying jobs and the Hispanics come her to take the lower paying jobs, soon, the Hispanics will end up working for the Indians.
Where do the Americans fit in to the equasion? Where do Americans go to get jobs?

Nearly 1/3 of the jobs Bush said were created on his watch went to non-Americans. Federal contracts went to companies who are based in a closet in the Bahamas so that they don't pay the US taxes that pay for their contracts.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Nobody is "taking" anything

The Hispanics and the Indians should not be blamed. The bad guys in this mass felony are the corporate executives who do the hiring, firing, H1B paperwork, outsourcing, and all-around exploitation of the guest and off-shore labor force.

I'd hasten to add that the government, at many levels, has stoked this train. As much as I hate to say it, Bill Clinton has to share a little of the blame, too. This problem has been building since the late 1980s.

--bkl
Computer Programmer. How employed do you think I am?

[robcon]

13. There is no 'blame' to share

BareKnuckledLiberal wrote" ...I'd hasten to add that the government, at many levels, has stoked this train. As much as I hate to say it, Bill Clinton has to share a little of the blame, too. This problem has been building since the late 1980s."

I'd say outsourcing (of jobs and production) is responsible for at least half of the U.S. economic resurgence of the 1990's. It's at least as important, if not more so, than the internet bubble for the spectacular economic performance of the Clinton years.

[Virginian]

14. But in the 1990s, there were enough jobs to go around.

[Tight_rope]

7. Get your passports in order....American's a goner!

[eridani]

2. Mohammed Atta was an unemployed engineer

Not smart having a lot of technically skilled people running around with no way to support themselves.

[squidbro]

3. Bad move

This one is going to back fire on Microsoft.

When MS outsources the majority of their coders to India and/or China, what will keep those countries' from simply nationalizing their own software industry and taking control of the Windows software market?

It is a bad move, but it really doesn't matter to myself anyway. I don't use Microsoft products.

For those that don't know, Linux is really just as easy to use. And I don't get the spyware I used to when using IE.

As bad as Gates and Microsoft are, Walmart is an order or two magnitude worse.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. Good point, but share the blame

Microsoft is usually a leader when it comes to corporate malfeasance, but a lot of the other IT giants outsource heavily, too. Sun, Oracle, Apple, and most of the other big names have been outsourcing to beat the band, too.

I'm (I was) a Microsoft developer. I've watched as long-time code jockeys, some of whom started with Gates with DOS 1.0, get the boot in favor of five-dollar-an-hour coders from India, China, Bulgaria ... even from Canada! (Though at more than $5 per hour.) Anywhere, it seems, except the USA.

But people who have been loyal to Ellison, Jobs, and hundreds of other self-appointed visionaries are hanging out with them in unemployment offices all across America.

As far as I'm concerned, they're hard at work killing the geese that gave them golden eggs for the last twenty years. And it may come down to the American electorate saying, "Share the wealth -- or we'll vote Socialist."

I wish I could share your enthusiasm about Linux. I give it a try every two or three years and end up with several days of frustration. Especially after the Red Hat mini-debacle, I find the hype difficult to believe. But maybe it's time to try it out again.

--bkl

[Liberal Veteran]

8. I can't totally agree with you.

Having had my job outsourced by Microsoft to India, I have no love for them, however....

I use Linux myself, but I think it's an overstatement to say Linux is as easy to use as Windows. It still has some issues when it comes to installing new software, although they have made some progress. It's irritating to install something and have to go hunting to see where the executable decided to place itself (god forbid it show up in the launcher). They have to "dumb it down" a bit more and get some better versions of commonly used software (cd-burning software being one that kinda sucks on Linux).

Remember. While you and I might be able to figure it out, software needs to be written with the complete novice in mind.

[Tommy_Douglas]

9. You know what was great?

BeOS that OS was the best one I ever used and I know Palm bought it, but if some of these software giants would put their efforts into it, I honestly believe it could cut into Microsofts share. Yes it is that good.

Plus if they made the C+++ hooks widely available to the open source crowd you'd have all the apps you need.

I'll be honest I haven't paid for a Window's OS in a long time. Using slop coders from India isn't going to improve it either.

[Triana]

10. How does Linux do with...

...scanners, webcams, PDAs and other USB devices?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. In each of those categories

You'll find a number of models that work under Linux and a number that don't. http://www.linux-usb.org has a compatibility list if I remember right -- can't go there because my work blocks any URL with "x-" in it. Dumb, ain't it? :argh:

[Triana]

12. awesome, thanks...

..I'm in the process of converting as much as possible. I H8 MickeySnot!