Your Computer Blog

Where is Microsoft Headed With Windows?

Microsoft has gotten fat and sloppy over the past decade.  They’ve allowed Windows to get so bloated that it uses more computer real estate (memory) than one could have conceived a few years back.  It’s become unwieldy and slow to respond.

There has been a lot of press over the fiasco that’s called Vista.  So many people have resisted switching to Vista they’ve forced Microsoft to extend the available of Windows XP.  Hardware manufacturers were preloading their newly manufactured computers with Vista.  They have not exactly been flying off the shelves.  Actually, sales to a degree  the retailers demanded and got machines preloaded with Windows XP.  I have always considered my self an early adopter.  By that, I mean I switched to new products early in their life cycle.  With all that I have learned about Vista I initially said I would wait until service pack 1 became available.  It is now available and indications are that it shows some improvement but not enough to get me to change.

I find my self questioning where or why they came up with the name Windows 7  for the next version to follow.  The name they used in the press releases has been Windows 7. It is also the code name being used for the next version.  That would make the Windows family tree look something like this:  Windows 3; Windows 3.1; Windows 3.5; Windows 95; Windows 98; Windows ME (Remember that fiasco?); Windows 2000; Windows XP; Vista and now Windows 7.   Is that logical?    That is not progression.  That is wandering.

The next version of Windows has to be successful for Microsoft after the resounding dud that is Vista.  It must be significantly faster. It must  also require significantly less resources.  Microsoft must provide OEM manufacturers with access to the code for it to arrive on release date with the requisite drivers for existing peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, routers, switches and the countless other devices that we will want to attach.  Vista still is unable to work with some the market that is legacy.  Another necessity is that it must make its presence felt quickly and it must work.  If the development cycle extends as did Windows 98 or XP, Microsoft will be dealing with an exodus of users.  Where will these former users be headed?  In my opinion, the majority of them will be going to the Big Mac and I am not talking about MacDonalds.  There will be some of them going to Linux but again, my opinion is they will be calling Mr. Jobs and taking a bite of his Apple.

Apple’s software systems have the reputation for working on delivery.  It also is quicker.  Have you noticed the Mac is powered by a processor slower than the Intel processor?  And have you also seen they get the job accomplished quicker than an Intel processor?

Apple made a brilliant strategic decision when they came out with Bootcamp software.  In case you are not familiar with Bootcamp, when you run Bootcamp on your Mac you are able to run Windows programs.  Not only did they come out with it.  They gave it away!

Here is some advice for Microsoft.  Get it done and get it right.  If you don’t, I am afraid you will be going down the tubes.  One last piece of advice:  When you find yourself going down the tubes, clasp your hands together over your head.  This will reduce the tendency to skin your elbows.

Even Microsoft can’t beat our cheap desktop computers.