By Paul McDougall, InformationWeek Jan. 9, 2008 URL: http://www.informationweek.com/... From the article:

First off, Microsoft needs to realize that less can be more--especially when it comes to PC operating systems--and start designing products accordingly. Surveys and anecdotal evidence suggest that many users have rejected Vista because of its bulk and resource requirements

I like that. Less is more, and boy does MS need to embrace that.

Microsoft may be getting the message. Acknowledging that Windows has become "bloated," a senior company official said that Microsoft is adopting a new, modular approach to OS development that will yield more streamlined products beginning with Windows 7--a successor to Vista that's expected to be available some time in 2010. "We are starting on this path," Microsoft distinguished engineer Eric Traut said last year during a presentation at a college campus.

Geeze. Windows has been bloated ever since XP. Windows 2K was a nice, slim, slick running OS. At least XP, though, is pretty time tested and has finally gotten to where 2K was before the company scrapped it--solid and reliable. It's ridiculous that they are going to now wait until 2010 to do something about Vista. I think they should scrap Vista as a bad idea and start now. Cut out massive swaths of the OS and let people bolt on what they want to their existing product: Windows XP. A little like the Windows 2003 Server idea. Or, dare I say it, Linux. Speaking of Linux, Microsoft could really use a package management strategy, which they've ignored to their peril. They even have a name for the problem: DLL Hell. And I'm not talking about trying to kludge it using the Microsoft Installer. They need to seriously look at GNU/Linux distros like Ubuntu to really appreciate how a good packager like APT can keep your system in great shape. Each installed file is completely managed, and each package may have pre and post install and remove scripts. The biggest and best feature is the dependency management, which prevents DLL Hell from ever happening unless you go around the packager and hand-install something. Why doesn't Microsoft have something like this http://www.cnr.com/? The article goes on to mention Microsoft's bungled attempts at competing in the Web 2.0 world. And a possible Yahoo take over. I agree with the sentiment that it should focus on its core business and forget trying to be all things to all people. They are an operating system company. Why don't they just accept that?

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