Analyst warns of premature Vista launch
updated 04:30 pm EST, Thu December 28, 2006
Analyst on Premature Vista
Microsoft's Vista business launch was premature and has instilled doubt that the company was ever truly ready for a 2006 launch, according to one industry analyst. PC World analyst Russ Cooper of Cybertrust observes that much of the software compatibility in Vista is broken, leaving many early business customers and even some home users stranded as essential productivity and security tools malfunction in the new environment. The lack of support requires updates that may be months away from completion, according to the analyst. "I say Microsoft never intended anybody to run Vista prior to January," Cooper added. "What works on Vista, beyond Office 2007?"
PC World also finds that Microsoft is creating inexplicable delays for important fixes. The publication cites a recent performance fix for Internet Explorer 7 as an example of the problem, pointing to a patch that was released for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 earlier this month but that will not appear for Vista until an unspecified amount of time after the public launch of Vista has already taken place. A Microsoft spokeswoman said such fixes were handled on a "case-by-case basis" but did not account for the delay, according to Electronista.
i'm shocked!
12/28, 06:37pm reply
How can this be? How can the great company of m$ be so screwed up? /end sarcasm
I saw this coming. I'm surprised the businesses that have already adopted vista (besides development shops) are surprised at this functionality.
migs647
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
Leopard get the bugs out
12/28, 06:51pm reply
It is fun and easy to gloat over Vista especially since Leopard is at least three month away. Let's hope Apple doesn't release that cat until it purrs like a kitten.
kerryb
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Joined: Aug 2001
Stop the presses...
12/28, 07:08pm reply
Microsoft rushed a buggy product to market and intends to let its customers beta test on their own dime! Like that hasn't ever happened before.
debohun
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Joined: Feb 1999
Definately no surprise
12/28, 07:21pm reply
Definately no surprise here. There even delaying the latest Mac version of Office 2007. I wonder if Microsoft can actually get anything done on time anymore? Because it sure seems like it can't the way things are run there right now. :-)
horvatic
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Joined: Apr 2002
Thank God!
12/28, 09:43pm reply
Whew! It had to be a supernatural move of God that I ditched Windows and all the Windows-based computers! I was a long-time devotee of Dell laptops and anything Microsoft/Windows, like since 1992! Ugh! About 3 months ago, I gave up, crawled out of the sado-machoistic routine that is Windows and ordered a MacBook Pro! Oh My God! I was so amazed, indeed still am amazed, that my Mac works exactly like a computer is supposed to work! It's awesome! Right out of the box! I am so thankful to be out of the grip of Microsoft! Thanks, Apple!
Evangelist
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Joined: Dec 2006
No Suprise
12/28, 10:10pm reply
What buggy product? Breaking software compatibility is not a bug. Frankly, my macbook pro running 10.4.8 has as trouble running software for Mac OS 7.5 as Vista has trouble running some antiquated business app designed for Windows NT. MS has finally done the right thing and stopped requiring its OS to be compatable with every app available back to NT days. Perhaps they won't have to put in so many ad hocs to insure compatibility and build a more stable and secure platform.
dochsieh
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Joined: Dec 2006
good analysis.
12/28, 10:30pm reply
That is a good look on it, dochsieh.
Tack
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Joined: Jun 2006
re:No Suprise
12/28, 10:34pm reply
Nice exaggeration there dochsieh. Intel macs do not emulate Classic or the 68k processor.
The software in question is not from Windows NT 3.51 or NT 4.0 even but Windows 2000 and XP.
aristotles
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Yes
12/28, 10:38pm reply
Apple is at an advantage with Leopard. The underlying code base is already there. Apple is really just adding functionality and fine tuning OSX. Vista is pretty much a compete code rewrite, much like Apple had to do when going from 9 to OSX. Of course, Microsoft had the benefit of being able to study OSX.
I do not see why any consumer would use Vista. The eye candy might be nice, but Microsoft has put media content security above basic functionality.
Terrin
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Joined: Jan 2006
dochsieh
12/29, 06:47am reply
> Frankly, my macbook pro running 10.4.8 has > trouble running software for Mac OS 7.5
Oddly enough, my MacBook Pro has no trouble running System 7.5, or System 8.x, or System 9.x and all associated apps.
Not quite sure what you're doing wrong :-)
ZinkDifferent
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Joined: Jan 2005