Gates - Microsoft late to market with IE7 & VISTA; Office 2007!
Tuesday, 21. March 2006, 14:24:21
Bill Gates told the audience at a computer trade show this week Microsoft made a mistake in waiting to build new innovations in its own browser technology, Internet Explorer. A few days later Microsoft announced Windows Vista, the newest version of its PC operating system, would be delayed until winter 2007. News media reports gave conflicting reasons for the delay including security and marketing considerations. The delay surprised Wall Street analysts. Last week CEO Steve Ballmer promoted Vista to senior executives of large corporate customers in New York, announcing a $500 million marketing campaign for the product.
Industry analysts said there are several reasons for the delay. Some features won't be ready, some hardware manufacturers won't have PCs ready to run all versions of Vista, and Microsoft wants the marketing space to itself in the post Christmas season rather than competing with general merchandising for advertising space and media attention.
Would someone please get Mr. Gates a tissue for his crocodile tears about the delay of IE7? Come on. Since when did a monopolist worry about technological innovation? The only reason Microsoft is finally getting off its stand pat position on its desktop browser is competition from Firefox and Opera. Opera is developing version 9 of its desktop browser releasing weekly builds of the preview edition. Firefox announced this week the ALPHA version of version 2 of its browser product.
Gates put a remarkable spin on the firm's answer to the wake up call from browser competitors.
According to computer trade press reports, Gates said the company is building innovations into IE to improve the user experience, enhance security, and add next-generation technologies such as RSS (Really Simple Syndication). He said Microsoft already is looking ahead to the next two releases of IE, and expects the next version, IE 7, to be broadly adopted once it is released later this year.
"In a sense we're doing a 'mea culpa' in saying we've waited too long for a new browser release," Gates said during his talk to kick off Microsoft's first show for designers and developers of high-impact Web sites. "We are very immersed in the browser as a platform."
IE 7 will be included in the Windows Vista operating system, which will now ship in 2007. Microsoft said it will offer a version for Windows XP at the same time. Really?
Readers should realize that Microsoft's so-called minimum configuration of a PC ready to run Windows Vista is probably just half of what you will really need. The main product will require a 64-bit dual core Intel-based PC with at least 1 Gb of memory and a high end video card. You'll want at least a 19-inch flat screen monitor running 1280 x 1024 resolution with a fast refresh rate. Expect to pay $1,200 to $2,000 for this machine in 2007.
Frankly, unless someone comes along with a real killer application that I can't do without, I see no reason to make that kind of investment just for a new version of Microsoft's operating system.
UPDATE
Office delayed as well.
Microsoft delays Office relaunch
BBC 3/24/06
Office 2007, like Windows Vista, will now arrive next year. Microsoft has put back the consumer launch of its new Office software suite to 2007, to coincide with the delayed start date for Windows Vista.
[snip]
But a version will be available for corporate customers from November 2006. Microsoft confirmed that the mainstream launch of its new Office 2007 system would also be delayed to January. This will enable Microsoft to market it in tandem with Vista.
The phrase that comes to mind in response is, "I'm from Missouri. Show me." This is a short hand phrase for profound skepticism. The BBC report also notes that Microsoft has replaced several key executives responsible for the Vista operating system and the next verion of Office. For a firm that has trampled many others with its clodhoppers many wonder is it really about marketing or is the Redmond software giant tripping over its own feet?
Microsoft's biggest challenge will be the value of its own products already in the hands of customers. Windows XP and Office 2003 work well enough. For a corporate customer with thousands of desktops there has to be a real value in buying the next generation of the operating system and office suite. Of course it is no small matter [drumroll please] to consider the cost of hardware upgrades to take advantage of the top end versions of these products. The best business advice anyone can offer is to wait for the first service pack of new editions of Microsoft software before upgrading.
Industry analysts said there are several reasons for the delay. Some features won't be ready, some hardware manufacturers won't have PCs ready to run all versions of Vista, and Microsoft wants the marketing space to itself in the post Christmas season rather than competing with general merchandising for advertising space and media attention.
Would someone please get Mr. Gates a tissue for his crocodile tears about the delay of IE7? Come on. Since when did a monopolist worry about technological innovation? The only reason Microsoft is finally getting off its stand pat position on its desktop browser is competition from Firefox and Opera. Opera is developing version 9 of its desktop browser releasing weekly builds of the preview edition. Firefox announced this week the ALPHA version of version 2 of its browser product.
Gates put a remarkable spin on the firm's answer to the wake up call from browser competitors.
According to computer trade press reports, Gates said the company is building innovations into IE to improve the user experience, enhance security, and add next-generation technologies such as RSS (Really Simple Syndication). He said Microsoft already is looking ahead to the next two releases of IE, and expects the next version, IE 7, to be broadly adopted once it is released later this year.
"In a sense we're doing a 'mea culpa' in saying we've waited too long for a new browser release," Gates said during his talk to kick off Microsoft's first show for designers and developers of high-impact Web sites. "We are very immersed in the browser as a platform."
IE 7 will be included in the Windows Vista operating system, which will now ship in 2007. Microsoft said it will offer a version for Windows XP at the same time. Really?
Readers should realize that Microsoft's so-called minimum configuration of a PC ready to run Windows Vista is probably just half of what you will really need. The main product will require a 64-bit dual core Intel-based PC with at least 1 Gb of memory and a high end video card. You'll want at least a 19-inch flat screen monitor running 1280 x 1024 resolution with a fast refresh rate. Expect to pay $1,200 to $2,000 for this machine in 2007.
Frankly, unless someone comes along with a real killer application that I can't do without, I see no reason to make that kind of investment just for a new version of Microsoft's operating system.
UPDATE
Office delayed as well.
Microsoft delays Office relaunch
BBC 3/24/06
Office 2007, like Windows Vista, will now arrive next year. Microsoft has put back the consumer launch of its new Office software suite to 2007, to coincide with the delayed start date for Windows Vista.
[snip]
But a version will be available for corporate customers from November 2006. Microsoft confirmed that the mainstream launch of its new Office 2007 system would also be delayed to January. This will enable Microsoft to market it in tandem with Vista.
The phrase that comes to mind in response is, "I'm from Missouri. Show me." This is a short hand phrase for profound skepticism. The BBC report also notes that Microsoft has replaced several key executives responsible for the Vista operating system and the next verion of Office. For a firm that has trampled many others with its clodhoppers many wonder is it really about marketing or is the Redmond software giant tripping over its own feet?
Microsoft's biggest challenge will be the value of its own products already in the hands of customers. Windows XP and Office 2003 work well enough. For a corporate customer with thousands of desktops there has to be a real value in buying the next generation of the operating system and office suite. Of course it is no small matter [drumroll please] to consider the cost of hardware upgrades to take advantage of the top end versions of these products. The best business advice anyone can offer is to wait for the first service pack of new editions of Microsoft software before upgrading.
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