Channel 9 (discussion forum)

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Channel 9
Channel 9 logo
Channel 9 homepage
Channel 9 homepage
URL channel9.msdn.com
Type of site Video / Forum / Wiki
Registration Optional
Available language(s) English
Owner Microsoft Corp.
Created by Microsoft employees
Launched April, 2004
Current status Active

Channel 9 is a Microsoft discussion forum used to promote conversations among Microsoft's customers targeted at Microsoft Windows users. Channel 9 features interviews with Microsoft developers about their products, a forum to discuss the videos and other topics, and a wiki[1], which has been adopted by various Microsoft teams as a way to aggregate feedback and respond to issues.

According to the first video ever posted on the site[2], the name was picked after the on-board channel no. 9 on airplanes. On this channel, passengers can listen to the cockpit conversations, listening to what's happening up front.

Contents

Channel 9 users, unlike many Microsoft run community sites, vary in attitude and taste. No single consensus or characterization can be made about the group. Channel 9 attracts both younger and older members. The variety of views often generates lively debate.

Microsoft Developers and Employees routinely converse with users on Channel 9 forums and its wiki — even some senior employees such as Larry Osterman [3]. Careful readers may also notice that past employees will occasionally post, sometimes shedding some light on the past of Microsoft [4].

Channel 9 has the following doctrine[5]:

“
  1. Channel 9 is all about the conversation. Channel 9 should inspire Microsoft and our customers to talk in an honest and human voice. Channel 9 is not a marketing tool, not a PR tool, not a lead generation tool.
  2. Be a human being. Channel 9 is a place for us to be ourselves, to share who we are, and for us to learn who our customers are.
  3. Learn by listening. When our customers speak, learn from them. Don't get defensive, don't argue for the sake of argument. Listen and take what benefits you to heart.
  4. Be smart. Think before you speak, there are some conversations which have no benefit other than to reinforce stereotypes or create negative situations.
  5. Marketing has no place on Channel 9. When we spend money on Channel 9 the goal is to surprise and delight, not to promote or preach.
  6. Don't shock the system. Lasting change only happens in baby steps.
  7. Know when to turn the mic off. There are some topics which will only result in problems when you discuss them. This has nothing to do with censorship, but with working within the reality of the system that exists in our world today. You will not change anything by taking on legal or financial issues, you will only shock the system, spook the passengers, and create a negative situation.
  8. Don't be a jerk. Nobody likes mean people.
  9. Commit to the conversation. Don't stop listening just because you are busy. Don't stop participating because you don't agree with someone. Relationships are not built in a day, be in it for the long haul and we will all reap the benefits as an industry.
 ”

Channel 9 also features a wiki based on Microsoft's own FlexWiki, which is ASP.NET-based.

The wiki itself generally isn't as active as the forums, but sometimes has useful information for Microsoft products, such as Internet Explorer [6]

Recently the FlexWiki source was opened[7] at SourceForge under the Common Public License [8].

The Channel 9 site, via The SandBox, gives its users the ability to create and host their own Open Source projects (which they maintain ownership of). Some of the more popular projects include GusPinto' MSN System Tray Web Search and Sven Groot's C9 International Avatar Creator.

C9 International Avatar Creator: Written by Sven Groot, based on Jamie's avatar templates, with contributions by Minh and Stitch 2.0.

C9 International Avatar Creator Web Edition: Web frontend for the C9IAC, created by W3bbo.

C9Music Release: http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=102069

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_9_%28discussion_forum%29"
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