Is It Just Microsoft's Fault?

Man… oh man, was last week infuriating.

Between Canada Post recreating this ancient ProZD skit, returning multiple pairs of earbuds because their sound quality was such garbage, and spending multiple hours troubleshooting multiple devices rather than using them…

It’s occurred to me how much of my negative opinions on technology is mainly just a negative opinion of Microsoft.

To start, Bluetooth.

I hate Bluetooth.

Everybody hates Bluetooth.

The best part of last week was listening to Zoe Kravitz on Subway Takes bitch about how much she hates Bluetooth. Didn’t give her quite as many cool points as Cate Blanchett on the same show complaining about Leaf Blowers, but it was a very close second place. Thing is, on retrospect about my last week, all the Bluetooth pains I dealt with were almost exclusively from one source.

In recording footage of Gunman Contracts and John Wick Chronicles for my next video, and wanting to throw my Vive Pro’s Wands out the fuckin window, I decided to pick up a cheap PSVR2 on eBay and finally have some controllers that were genuinely good.

The controllers are Bluetooth.

And…

They work really well!

Getting the Headset and Controllers setup on my PS5 was maybe the smoothest hardware configuration I’ve had in years. In my brief time on the console there haven’t been any notable tracking or connection issues, and it’s integrated with the console seamlessly.

My earphones died and needing podcasts/music to endure morning stretches and workouts, I bought several cheap pairs on Amazon and in-stores until finally settling on these Beats Solo’s. I wouldn’t recommend them, they’re pretty mid, and the only reason I’ve kept them is because I don’t want to spend multiple days troubleshooting a better device, and they were on-sale for a good discount.

The important thing is, I started my phone, and they connected almost instantly.

For all my hatred of Bluetooth, I have to admit that the experiences with it these past couple days were, while not living up to the ease of use Sci-Fi movies teased us with, were generally positive…

Then I tried using the PSVR2 on my PC.

So many people have laid the blame on Sony and don’t get me wrong, the Software’s inability to account for any particular scenario other than the most optimal is a huge oversight, but, almost all of the issues I encountered from trying to connect these controllers to my PC was squarely due to Microsoft’s pathetic integration.

This company’s operating system is like a tumble dryer.

Nothing ever remains how it was just a moment ago.

The first time I plugged in my recommended ASUS Bluetooth Receiver into an extension cord near my VR play-space, it detected the controllers, but with a poor connection quality. So I tried to install the drivers…

Windows declined.

Then I restarted the computer.
Now the controllers aren’t detected at all.
Still can’t install the drivers, but now with a different error message.
Restart the computer.
Now the left controller is detected, but not the right.
People recommend plugging it into a different USB slot.
I do.
Restart the computer.
Now the right controller is detected, but not the left.

This goes on for hours.

I bought another USB receiver, and it worked instantly!
Then I restarted the computer, and it broke.
Then I restarted it again, and now it works…

Mostly.

There’s still occasions when it completely shits the bed in the middle of playing despite no other devices being utilized in the area, and with no communication or clarification on what could possible ‘cause this.

It is such a stark contrast to every other device I use despite Windows being way more popular than any gaming console, and despite Microsoft being way bigger than any hardware company like Sony, though in a way, it does make some sense.

It’s kinda impossible to communicate how big Microsoft is. They’re currently 3.79 TRILLION in Market Cap,. Sony is 174 billion. They need the equivalent of McDonalds’ entire company value just to meet their shareholder demands. The Xbox division’s revenue is a drop in the bucket compared to their Office, Server, and Cloud services.

They’re not too big to fail; they’re so big, they can’t help but fail.