Microsoft's Most Valuable Professionals program spared the ax
 
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Up until last week, Microsoft had indicated that it was ending its MVP program. MVPs are volunteers who donate their time to help out their peers who've run into problems with, or need to find solutions using, Microsoft products. It's been a worthwhile program, one that I've used in the past to find information about the real workings of MS software.
Last week, Microsoft announced that, responding to customer complaints, it was not going to pull the plug on the MVP program after all. Just goes to show the power of the consumer. (More details in next week's newsletter).
Given the current state of developments, I thought I'd discuss the MVP program.
According to MS Director of Business Development Joseph Lindstrom, Microsoft was going to replace the MVPs in the Microsoft support newsgroups (news://msnews.microsoft.com/) with regular Microsoft employees. There would have been a number of things wrong with this approach.
MVPs use the software productively every day. No matter what situation you are facing, it's highly likely one of them has already faced, and solved, the problem. The Microsoft engineers are, essentially, help desk clerks. They don't administer or manage the software at all - especially when it comes to networking software.
MVPs use Microsoft software in conjunction with third party software. They know what works and what doesn't. Microsoft engineers can recommend Microsoft software. If there's an interaction between the MS software and third party software, the MS engineer most likely hasn't the foggiest idea of how you should proceed. The MVP has probably already faced the problem and solved it.
One of the reasons the MVP program was started was that Microsoft's support was spurned by customers who wanted to talk to people who had been in their situation and knew the products intimately. With Windows 2000 on the horizon, I'd want to be able to talk to people who have been using it (some of them for two years or more) before and during the upgrade, and whenever problems occur.
I've known many MVPs over the years; they've frequently given me good advice and often pointed out problems in Microsoft's own documentation and procedures - outlining for me the better way to do something. If an MVP has ever helped you, you might consider dropping a note to Mr. Lindstrom (jlindstr@microsoft.com) and letting him know how you feel.
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