make it even bigger and buggier!
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| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| tuxchick Sep 29, 2008 8:30 PM EDT |
Microsoft needed billions of dollars and several years to produce Vista, which is less-capable, no more secure, and more expensive than XP. Why would anyone believe that Windows 7 will do better, or that MS is capable of implementing any of the ideas in the article? There is a simpler strategy. Continue supporting XP for legacy, and build a new OS without worrying about backwards compatibility. Copy Apple and build it on top of a free BSD. Apple has a long history of not worrying about backwards compatibility, and breaking all kinds of software and hardware support with every release. And the Apple faithful kept forking over more money to stay updated. MS hasn't been all that faithful with legacy support, anyway- every single windows release leaves a wide trail of orphaned software and hardware. |
| rijelkentaurus Sep 29, 2008 8:46 PM EDT |
Big problem for MS: They don't make hardware. If they come along with a new OS that is not backwards-compatible with the old stuff...well, you might as well run OS X or Linux. That would open up a huge opportunity, even bigger than the gigantic Vistar opportunity. If you're a hardware company, and you're faced with pissing off your customers by giving them a brand new OS, why not give them a free one? Or just sell XP and let the new version rot on the shelves. MS is a software company, selling a sub-par and bloated OS, a sub-par and bloated office suite, a sub-par and bloated web server, and a sub-par and bloated document management server. How in the **** have they managed to make money for so long? It is one of life's great mysteries..... Oh, and a sub-par and bloated SQL server. |
| tuxchick Sep 29, 2008 9:11 PM EDT |
They don't make hardware, true, but each Windows release has been a potent driver of new PC and peripheral sales. Until maybe 4-5 years ago, software outpaced hardware, so upgrading to a new PC actually had some performance benefits. But now PC hardware has more than enough horsepower, and Vista proved that customers won't upgrade just to satisfy an insatiable Jabba the Operating System. Especially one that doesn't deliver any cool new functionality for all of its hardware greed. When $500 buys a nice complete powerful desktop system, customers will upgrade if you give them something worthwhile. Remember in times past it took a couple thousand dollars to get a decent PC- this new era of cheap home supercomputers is a very fine one. As you say, since a major change is inevitable, why not offer customers a good stout Linux system? Oh we all know why- it's just fun to ask. |
| r_a_trip Sep 30, 2008 6:12 AM EDT |
I wonder why the guy wants a Microsoft branded Linux. He wants multiple operating environments, virtualized and/or kernel based. He wants a repository based software system. He also wants seamless customization to extend the OS to serve different purposes based on need. These are all already available on every half decent Linux Distro. So what is the appeal of having such a system based on the NT kernel and Win32 user land? Brand name Software? Hardware Support? Slavish devotion to Microsoft? Addiction to overreaching EULA's? He's out of the burning barn, but he is dying to run back as long as MS styles it after Linux. Go figure. Not that it is going to happen. First of all MS is floundering. They have all the building blocks available to produce a half decent OS, they just seem to have lost the little know how they had to make it happen. (Bill Gates is retired...) A repository like App store. Not going to happen. It would mean that MS has to create a level and open service for third party vendors, who are essentially MS' enemy because they are competition. True extensibility in the OS? Nah ah, it would make it harder to trot out "new" versions for full price. Once people know you could just extend via an add-on, the resistance to upgrade to a full price bug fix release would be staggering. Windows Seven is going to be Pigsta with a new color of lipstick. |
| TxtEdMacs Sep 30, 2008 9:05 AM EDT |
r_a_ ... [Your variable naming syntax is a bit different; what name space do you occupy?] [Public Notice, see this (the rest) as serious] Quoting: ... MS is floundering agreed Quoting: ... [t]hey have ... [ability] ... to produce a half decent OS if you accept the rewording, where I throw away existing components, we are parallel in thought. Quoting: ... they just seem to have lost the little know how they had to make it happen Not sure that is true. However, you mention Bill Gates parenthetically, which might mean we still agree. The talent is still deep at MS, technically I see no reason that they could not create a competent OS. It is their business model and modus operandi that precludes the possibility. It is the leadership and business model that makes it an impossibility, not lack of talent. This sort of article does not interest me so I did not read it. However, from your comments I infer that should MS change course it is exactly the MS brand that would allow it to cash in on name recognition. People and those within businesses are mostly risk adverse, hence a dumb icon could give them comfort buying a repackaged Microsoft Linux. However, those running MS would be very uncomfortable knowing most of the lock in features were being lost. Let's suppose they take that route, they might be forced to open their office suite to operate on most competing Linux (including what Unix still exists) to keep cash flow high. The discomfort level within the current hierarchy would be stroke and heart attack inducing. It could happen, but the a priori probability is says it is highly unlikely until there are massive changes at the top. |
| gus3 Sep 30, 2008 12:21 PM EDT |
Quoting:should MS change course it is exactly the MS brand that would allow it to cash in on name recognition.Aren't they doing that already, in large part? They could slap the Microsoft logo on a pound of rotten hamburger, and there are still PHB's and other fanbois who would buy it, simply because it's Microsoft, "so it must be OK." |
| tuxchick Sep 30, 2008 12:51 PM EDT |
Pigsta. Branded carrion. I heart LXer :D |
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