Thoughts on MS acquiring LinkedIn

[IBMJunkman]

I am retired so I don't need LinkedIn. It has let me find 2 old friends, though.

I plan to delete my account tomorrow. I don't need what limited info I have there integrated into the Overlords databases and searchable by Cortana.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/06/14/welcome_to_the_microsoftlinkedin_apocalypse/

http://www.cio.com/article/3083789/...ught-linkedin-for-your-relationship-data.html

https://blog.linkedin.com/2015/10/01/linkedin-integrates-with-cortana-in-windows-10

 

[SKORPI0]

already posted about 3 1/2 days ago...
Microsoft buying LinkedIn for $26 billion

 

[DesiPower]

Microsoft still suffers from same terrible terrible PR... they were never able to shed the image... While everybody and their grandma are "stealing" out data, MS sneezes and it becomes a sign of end of the world...

 

[JEDIYoda]

who cares

 

[Router_help]

who cares

If you don't, great for you. There are many of us who use LinkedIn professionally and will be impacted.

 

[lxskllr]

If you don't, great for you. There are many of us who use LinkedIn professionally and will be impacted affected.

fixed

and linkedin was always spyware cloaked in "professionalism". Different wrapper, but the same crap inside.

 

[Red Storm]

I thought it was a huge waste of money. $26 Billion? Are you kidding me? Maybe - Maybe - a couple billion, but no way they are worth $26B.

 

[velimark]

fixed

and linkedin was always spyware cloaked in "professionalism". Different wrapper, but the same crap inside.

Might be

 

[Fritzo]

LinkedIn: Salesmen trying to sell services to other salesmen.

 

[KeithP]

I plan to delete my account tomorrow. I don't need what limited info I have there integrated into the Overlords databases and searchable by Cortana.

So the information you make available on linkedin so people can find out about you will now be deleted so people can't find out about you. Sounds rational.

-KeithP

 

[Denly]

Satya is either the many steps ahead of everyone else or he is going to drive MS into IBM way. I must say I don't understand any of his moves after he become CEO of the company.
26b wth is going on? How does it worth more than whatsapp?

 

[Homerboy]

My thoughts are that the topic really only deserves one thread.

 

[NutBucket]

fixed

and linkedin was always spyware cloaked in "professionalism". Different wrapper, but the same crap inside.

Bingo.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Is there a single site that can delete all your social media accounts?

 

[TwiceOver]

Didn't know a spam email company was worth $26B, but to each their own.

I wish Microsoft could get back on track. So stuck to x86 applications that what was their livelihood is now their doom.

 

[Imp]

Classic Microsoft overpaying for something that will probably end up worth a fraction in a few years.

And I realized that LinkedIn == identity theft central a while ago. On Facebook, you can piece together a few stupid, vague useless things about me. In contrast, I was putting everything plus superficial bullshit on LinkedIn. There were verifiable degrees and a high school diploma, companies and locations I worked at, people I knew. Essentially the who's who of places to call/email/pillage to get official records. Need my social? Call any of those places up and pretend to be verifying info. Some temp or 16 year old will probably slip up at some point.

 

[peter6667]

It can go sooo wrong...

 

[Balt]

They paid way too much and people are less likely to use something that asks for all of their personal information if it's linked to MS.

If they wanted to throw away money they could have bought twitter where we're all free to be anonymous douchebags.

 

[ultimatebob]

LinkedIn: Salesmen trying to sell services to other salesmen.

Don't forget the job recruiters spamming every profile in the country that matches a keyword search.

 

[1sikbITCH]

So the information you make available on linkedin so people can find out about you will now be deleted so people can't find out about you. Sounds rational.

-KeithP

It is rational. He's retired now. Why do you want people to find out about him? See what lure he's using to fish with?

I don't think LinkedIn will be any less secure now than it was before MS took over and not a reason to suddenly not use LinkedIn. Those reasons already exist.

 

[Svnla]

Will this be another AOL + Time? We will see.

Remember Hotmail? MS paid a busload of money for it and now it is very much worthless/gone.

 

[desura]

Kinda sorta makes sense but damn $26 billion.

But after the whatsapp 18 billion acquisition, it looks like whatever goes there.

I feel like Silicon Valley is fiddling while the rest of America burns. Imagine what Ford Motors could accomplish with $26 billion. Or spaceX. Instead, we get insane internet valuations.

 

[Imp]

Will this be another AOL + Time? We will see.

Remember Hotmail? MS paid a busload of money for it and now it is very much worthless/gone.

Wait, they bought Hotmail?

I thought they made it from scratch... MSN messenger was a thing around 2008.

 

[Lonyo]

Will this be another AOL + Time? We will see.

Remember Hotmail? MS paid a busload of money for it and now it is very much worthless/gone.

Sure, $400m a couple of decades ago for something that at the time gave them a userbase and email setup, total waste of money to change the name 15 years later and start to phase it out... sure...

And MSN Messenger was a thing around 2000.

 

[Lonyo]

Kinda sorta makes sense but damn $26 billion.

But after the whatsapp 18 billion acquisition, it looks like whatever goes there.

I feel like Silicon Valley is fiddling while the rest of America burns. Imagine what Ford Motors could accomplish with $26 billion. Or spaceX. Instead, we get insane internet valuations.

Whatsapp wasn't worth $18b to most companies. It was worth $18b to Facebook to prevent anyone else buying it and become a competitor. It was a defensive move to retain existing company value, and had nothing to do with the value of Whatsapp itself, and everything to do with making sure it couldn't erode the value of Facebook.

Also it was mostly a share purchase (25% cash, 75% shares, give or take).

LinkedIN is a cash deal with no such justification for the pricing or timing, so it makes a lot less sense.