"+Bob+" wrote in message
...

Microsoft doesn't care about stability or the fact that each new OS
requires more and more HP to run effectively. Otherwise there would be
an SP4 and/or there would be official upgrade releases that added new
features. Instead, we get a bug ridden, driver lacking, software
incompatible, new OS every few years. Face it: they care only about
selling you a new OS.

Don't disagree with that at all. However that is the problem, neither home
consumers nor businesses want to rework their computer infrastructure every
3 years.

But, the problem for them is that there are really not that many new
features to add to an OS. Look at a comparison of 2000, to XP, to
Vista. What have they really added in terms of user features? VPN? I'm
at a loss to find anything else that's more than a refinement on the
user side. On the system side, they've simply gobbled more HP to
deliver the same set of user features (that's not a feature, it's a
major flaw).

Agree there. So between extra resources and additional DRM...we have Vista,
offers noting else.


I long for a return to the old days, when OS vendors built an
operating system then continually refined it in each release to make
it better. Wholesale replacement was not an option because customers
demanded stability and reduced life cycle costs. Over time, we ended
up with some incredibly stable, bug free, solid, dependable OS's. You
can't do that if you keep replacing your code wholesale.

Linux, the BSDs and Solaris do this. I have run Solaris 7 programs on
Solaris 10. Big departures can occur, like SunOS to Solaris but are decades
apart. Linux, is a series of incremental improvements. Continious
improvent taken seriously.

XP can compete with Linux and do well, but Vista....nada. Vista is like
the
Titanic after the water was leaking in. Vista drives people to Apple and
Linux. It will be slow at first, but will pick up as word spreads. See
Eee
PC sales....suppliers can't keep the Linux varieties in stock.

Not to worry. Windows 7 will fix everything! (Note sarcasm, see above,
note repeat cycle).

Been around too long to believe that Win7 will fix much. For everything it
solves, it will create new issues.

In fact, it is going to create a situation where you have 3 major OSes in
place for Microsoft alone. XP, Vista and Win 7. Not to mention variations
there in and of others like W2008. I anticipate MS-Windows 100 OS pickup.

(since XP was made)
(Assuming Win7/W2008 follows Vista/2003 fragmentation)

(5) Windows Server 2008 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Itanium, Web
(3) Windows Server 2008 (No Hyper-V) Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise
(4) Windows Server 2008 x64 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web
(3) Windows Server 2008 x64 (No Hyper-V) Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise
(5) Windows Win7 OEM: Ultimate, Business, Premium, Basic, Enterprise
(5) Windows Win7 Full: Ultimate, Business, Premium, Basic, Enterprise
(4) Windows Win7 x64 OEM: Ultimate, Business, Premium, Enterprise
(4) Windows Win7 x64 Full: Ultimate, Business, Premium, Enterprise
(5) Windows Vista OEM: Ultimate, Business, Premium, Basic, Enterprise
(5) Windows Vista Full: Ultimate, Business, Premium, Basic, Enterprise
(4) Windows Vista x64 OEM: Ultimate, Business, Premium, Enterprise
(4) Windows Vista x64 Full: Ultimate, Business, Premium, Enterprise
(4) Windows Server 2003 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web
(4) Windows Server 2003 x64: Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web
(2) Windows Server 2003 Itanium: Enterprise, Datacenter
(3) XP Home, Pro, MCE (2003 & 2005)
(6) XP OEM Home, Pro, Pro x64, MCE, Tablet, Mini (EeePC)
(10) CE (List is long, includes pocket PC, phone etc, this is conservative)

Did I miss any? Any not quite right?

70 not including CE, which makes at least 80+ different ways to buy
MS-Windows sold since XP was introduced.

I pity the poor MSCE that has to carry all those DVDs to a consulting gig.

No wonder the M$ salesperson can't remember pricing....as the above comes in
diffent different, business licensing and retail. And even then the support
variations.... Whew.

No wonder they can't fix Vista, engineering is buried in configuration
management issues.