Windows Vista could be delayed again
updated 10:10 pm EDT, Tue May 2, 2006
Windows Vista delay?
As Apple prepares to unveil the first look at its next-generation Mac OS X Leopard later this summer, a new report says that Microsoft will likely delay, yet again, the release of the much anticipated Windows Vista by another three months. Industry research firm Gartner today said that Microsoft will likely be forced to delay its Vista release because of its current development cycle, previous release cycles, code complexity and lofty feature targets. "Microsoft's track record is clear; it consistently misses target dates for major operating system releases," Gartner told clients. The next major Windows overhaul will be the first since Windows XP was released nearly five years ago. The report said that Windows is too complex and feature burdened to meet the projected release target of November for corporate customers and January for consumers.
Earlier this year, Microsoft said that it would delay the consumer release of Vista again to January 2007, missing the critical holiday shopping season. Windows Vista was originally expected to ship in 2005. Gartner now expects Vista will not be widely available until the second quarter of 2007, nearly two years after the first scheduled release date.
“One should never overestimate how much Microsoft will underestimate the complexity and time needed to deliver a major new client OS,” Gartner analysts wrote. "Based on Microsoft's current schedule, we would expect the schedule to slip again, with broad availability not coming before 2Q07, nine to 12 months after Beta 2 ships, assuming Beta 2 is reasonably stable and feature-complete."
Gartner, however, believes that Microsoft could face even further delays if the quality of beta 2 is not up to par. "Slipping into 3Q '07 is possible, but we will have a better idea once Beta 2 ships and we can assess the quality," Gartner said.
Microsoft, however, said it was still on track, despite the report on possible further delays.
"We remain on track to deliver Windows Vista Beta 2 in the second quarter and to deliver the final product to volume license customers in November 2006 and to other businesses and consumers in January 2007,” said a spokeswoman for Microsoft told Computerworld.
Microsoft's continued Windows Vista delays could help Apple as the company preps its next Mac OS X "Leopard" release. Apple's next generation operating system could be released by Christmas this year, giving Apple yet another edge during the busy holiday season.
LOL
05/02, 10:25pm reply
What's the matter Billy Goat? Photocopier's broken?
Tick tock tick tock.. can you hear it too? It's the time bomb ticking before MS goes BOOM!
jarod
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2005
Another month...
05/02, 10:28pm reply
...another Vista delay... they should meet at some point? Shouldn't they? :-P
t_hah
Mac Elite
Joined: Dec 2000
lofty feature targets?
05/02, 10:50pm reply
I'd hardly call making the thing have less security holes than a swiss cheese a lofty feature target. If they'd just fix XP, IE and Outlook to get rid of their security hassles, that would buy them at least another 5 years of faithfulness from the lemmings. Maybe that's their plan after all......
beeble
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Joined: Mar 2004
LOL
05/02, 10:50pm reply
Microsoft is just going to give up, turn over, and die.
Olorin
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
gain?
05/02, 11:02pm reply
again?
ticedric
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2003
Nitpicker
05/02, 11:06pm reply
Windows Vista could be delayed gain?
This might be nitpicking again, but MacNN really needs to make sure they don't make obvious mistakes. It's as simple as one person checking the site as s/he posts one. Isn't that what we do when we comment after all?
hanskim
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Joined: Mar 2004
Neilson says, "Haw Haw"
05/02, 11:17pm reply
Now that I'm in full gloat mode, the compulsion to post has taken me.
MS is supposed to come up with a iTMS/iPod killer, next generation OS and position itself as a media/news nexus for the new millenia.
Yeah-rriighhhttt. I'll believe it when I see it. In the mean time. I'll stick to a platform that doesn't yet have a virus or security problems, but has tons of press saying it will get one someday,well-maybe, err-probably.
MS is just going to have so many problems upgrading their user base it's not funny. Even if it's in the ballpark. a OSX knockoff. Vista's workflow will be as alien to Windows users as Tiger would be to a System 7 user. Add in the security probs, tiered pricing, unchecked greed, so so build quality and MS becomes Ford Motors of the 70s to Apple's Toyota of the 2000s. Buyers of Vista, deserve Vista.
Watch any public video on MS's Ballmer and you'll know why MS is the lumbering POS it has become. Apple is gaining momentum, improving their product on or ahead of schedule and innovating to boot. What is all boils down to is that you can't keep a good man or computer platform down.
So I join in the chorus, "Haw, Haw!"
Monde
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Joined: Jan 2004
minor symantics
05/02, 11:28pm reply
In the artcile you write "Apple's next generation operating system could be released by Christmas this year, giving Apple yet another edge during the busy holiday season."
Don't you mean Apple's next next generation . . ."? I thought Tiger was being touted as a next-gen OS.
e:leaf
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Joined: Mar 2006
Stock price says it all
05/02, 11:33pm reply
Look at MS and Dell's stock performance compared to Apple's. HP is kicking Dell's @sss. I think Rollin's days are numbered at Dell...
cebritt
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2000
Well....
05/02, 11:53pm reply
...as much as I would like to believe it this doesn't mean the end of Microsoft, but it does mean big problems for them.
I would love to see someone over-dub the "dancing monkey boy" Balmer run around yelling "Delay, delays, delays, delays!!"
MacnnGregor
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Joined: Apr 2004