I finally got the pleasure to sit down for a dinner with a couple of the Channel 9 crew. Lenn, Charles, and I had a nice meal and some great conversation.

It is so refreshing to see people so committed to evoking change at their company, despite the risks that may come from it. It quickly became quite obvious that these guys and the rest of the team are very serious about this project and the positive implications this has for the image of Microsoft. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen a team anywhere have the drive and desire that this team does.

Given time, support, and an objective ear, this project could revolutionize Microsoft . Even greater so, this may well be the new way that companies transact conversation and dialouge with their customers. Others are already starting to follow suit.

My bets are on a positive ending. Microsoft just can’t afford to stop something like this. It’s the start of a new image. It shows they listen, it shows they care, it shows they WANT our business as opposed to EXPECTING it.

Ballmer/Gates et al, This is what the Microsoft customer public has been asking for the past 10 years, don’t take it away.