*Now, I cannot find this response that is supposedly from Microsoft.  I did however find 1 comment posted in response to this pertaining to finding an article on Neowin.net which I've included below for you and the article is not published from a Microsoft representative but rather a Microsoft Enthusiast.

"With every ounce of devotion, and every penny that has been invested in creating and maintaining a much needed support group, 95% of whom are permanently disabled (and about 2% are bedridden), we abhor this closing/transferring which is not possible, to any other service.  The functionality, appearance and capabilities of our group design cannot be duplicated on any other service.  There will be thousands of lost individuals who depend on the information and support provided by the valuable, properly functioning groups that are managed by talented and caring individuals.  Unfortunately the appearance of a message board is much more important than anyone bothers to consider when they offer a message board service.  I, for one, remember before the "Internet" as you know it, was a basic BBS, bulletin board service, I hosted one from my home, "The Traveler's Inn".  That was back when one still booted one's computer from a cassette tape and connected to the BBS service via a phone line, read the messages posted much like this forum here, nothing much to look at, just a list of writing, and then one could type in one's note if one had anything to say. The only place to look at anything other than words on a board was the entry page.  Much like this here, but of course here we can be intrigued at the advertisements, right!  Wow, such fantastic design elements, very calming, relaxing and inviting and really has great aesthetic appeal that is pertinent to the issue  (not).  And let's not forget and highly praise the ever annoying pop-up plug-in advertisements that tick a person off to no end because heaven forbid the mouse rolled on the mouse pad as I lay here typing in bed (haven't been out of bed since 2006).

When I read posts on a forum that is as boring and cold as this one for example, I am left with a feeling of having a toe tag labeled Jane Doe.  I desire a more personal family type setting for a support group where the managers and members know my name and about my biological family.  Where we are a group of persons who all have something in common.  When I go to a board I want to see that displayed as pertinent to the issues discussed.  Not just a list of black and white comments in a string that are unrelated leaving me feeling like I am sitting in a morgue.

MSN groups has been a savior for hundreds and thousands of people and it's a shame to see that lost.  Unfortunately far too many have messed that up with their garbage and have taken advantage of the services provided for well-meaning people.   Sorry, but I am upset to see that all the efforts of so many talented people get tossed into the  garbage.  I went to Multiply, I guess I can just post pictures of my cat and post some head-banging music files and leave behind a long string of expletives. There, my job is done. There is no way that Multiply can adequately house my information in the setting I have designed on MSN groups, not without paying someone to do it.  I guess on my disability income since I have been bedridden for over 10 years and never got the chance to work as I had planned to do with my life when I was in college, I can really afford that.  So I am stuck with what they allow me and that should take care of anyone considering suicide because for years they have been suffering from excrutiating pain that is not being treated because the general view of society doesn't believe there are invisible illnesses.  If it left me feeling empty when I joined just for the heck of it to see what I could do with it, why wouldn't everyone else that is feeling depressed.  How about those that are considering suicide?  And how about letting everyone on the web join your group because you want to be listed to reach out to people who are in need but that leaves you no control to who gets in because if you are private you can't be listed and my husband and kids aren't suffering from a chronic illness and if I am private they would be the only ones to know about my group.  Duh!  How would I know who to invite, people in need don't often walk up to me on the street asking me if I have a group and give me their email address and say, "Please invite me."  So why do we need support groups to help them cope anyway?  Aren't they just a waste to society anyway?  And why should we house the information in a pleasing format because there is no real tangible evidence that it helps with mood. 

I am so tired of people knocking MSN groups when they have never invested anything to building one and mantaining it. I have not found a better one than MSN that provides exactly what I need.  I have been to ones that have groups, they all have sucked in my opinion.  I want a discussion board, many as a mater of fact.  I want a chat room, several at least, and they must be secure. I want a guestbook that I maintain control over what posts are approved.  I want control over who becomes a member and who I can gag or ban.  I want a setting that each forum looks exactly like the topic of the forum.  I want my Recipe Board to look like a Recipe Box in a kichen, and my Medical Information Library to look like a Library.  I don't want every page to be as dull and bland as this black and white as this.  I don't want each and every one of my posts to look exactly the same.  I talk about different things each time, so do my members. Our moods change with our posts, so should our posts change.  I certainly wouldn't decorate a sympathy post with Congratulations graphics and I want to decorate my posts.  It conveys messages, it shows you care and take the time to care.  I want to be human, not some piece of machinery.  That's why MSN is far preferable than any other boards or forums I have found for a support group.  If all you want is a place to show off your pictures and play your MP3's, if you just want a place where people can just gab about whatever they want, if you want a place that is just for average Joe to hang out and you don't care about what they have in common with your purpose, either go to the town bar or go with Multiply I guess.

Every service, no matter what it is has glitches, guess what, it's a fact of life folks.  Start judging yourself about how you think of yourself as better than everyone.  We are all equal, or have you forgotton that. 

So for the countless hours invested in my group this last year, we tearfully say goodbye to all that is lost.  None of us have the time to rebuild what we have done.  There will not be any smooth migration, that is not something that was considered.  The formats are not the same, they're not compatible.  The money I have invested is lost.  The people to whom I have become friends and mentor will again be left without support, heart and soul flailing in a sea of emotions far too difficult to endure alone.  I fear the repercussions."

Love, Summer