[OT] Gates sees next Windows "sometime" in next year

Boy, a huge disincentive for anyone, especially businesses, to upgrade
to Vista.

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Gates sees next Windows "sometime" in next year
Fri Apr 4, 2008 12:39pm EDT

MIAMI (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp.(MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research)
co-founder Bill Gates said on Friday he expected the new version of
Windows operating software, code-named Windows 7, to be released
"sometime in the next year or so."

The software giant has been aiming to issue more regular updates of the
operating system software that powers the majority of the world's
personal computers. Nevertheless, Gates' comments suggested that a
successor to the Vista program might be released sooner than was
generally expected.

Microsoft has said it expected to release a new version of Windows
approximately 3 years after the introduction of Vista in January 2007. A
company spokeswoman said Gates' comments are in line with a development
cycle that usually releases a test version of the software before its
official introduction.

"I'm superenthused about what it will do in lots of ways," Gates said in
a seminar on corporate philanthropy held during an annual meeting in
Miami of the Inter-American Development Bank.

"That'll be sometime in the next year or so that we'll have a new
version," Gates said in response to a question from the audience.

Gates, who is due to leave his day-to-day functions at Microsoft and
dedicate himself to the philanthropic efforts of the Gates Foundation in
June, said the company aimed through its $6 billion annual research and
development budget to take the products running on its software to "the
next level."

He said new versions of Windows would help revolutionize mobile phones
and run the desk of the future, which would have a touch surface display
allowing users to call up items using their hands.

(Reporting by Michael Christie, Editing by Gunna Dickson)

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requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.

http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN0430179020080404?feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

 

This sort of announcement sure could put the brakes on sales of new computers,
since it goes hand in hand with Microsoft's announcement to end OEM sales of XP
at the end of June, 2008. Of course, the economy is down and maybe this is a
good time to cut back on the sale of computers to people who don't have much
disposable income any more.

The other reaction I have every time I read a Gates or Ballmer pronouncement
about an operating system is a cynical "same old, same old." I'll believe the
ship date when the product is sitting on the shelves at 11:59pm the day prior to
the official date of availability, and all the big box mass market stores open
their doors at midnight to let the hordes lined up outside to come in and buy.

To put it more succinctly, Microsoft pronouncements as to availability of new
versions of Windows have zero credibility, even with a ballpark "next year or
so." ... Ben Myers

 

Hi!

This sounds suspiciously like my thinking.

Another Windows 95?

I wonder if Microsoft could pull that off again. Say what you will
about the actual product, the buzz was phenomenal...it really had
people excited, or at least that is what I perceived at the time.

(No, I wasn't there when it first "dropped". I waited...and well
remember feeding my Compaq Contura 4/25 all thirteen setup diskettes.)

William

 

<SNIP>

And then there's this:

http://thebetaguy.com/exclusives/?postid=1029344029&title=microsoft-windows-7-exclusive

Bob

 

You can have that now.
Just buy a touch screen monitor for your current machine. I just
bought a conversion kit to make a 19" monitor into a touch screen. Plan
on using it to make a unit for the shop. Should make it easier when I
want to pull up manuals and test data on vehicles. No hunting for a flat
space for the keyboard and mouse.

--
Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York

Life is not like a box of chocolates
it's more like a jar of jalapenos-
what you do today could burn your ass tomorrow!

 

I suspect so.
Even if the actual release is 6-18 months later than announced, why would I
get Vista???

Mel, who is pleased enough with XP Home

 

Good point. I think it's damage control at this point. Looks as though
MS is still selling vaporware, a term I can't remember seeing lately.

 

Well, Yes & No.

Breaking from the past would cause some trouble to be sure but I have
been wanting the OS guys to do this for over twenty years now.

At a certain point you come out with some thing new, and if you didn't
have to support _everything_ from the past things would run a lot
smoother.

OF course you would expect the current crop of endusers who systems
work just fine to forgo upgrading if it's too disruptive/ expensive to
replace all new apps and everything.

If the end user is told what to expect and it isn't some big surprise
then you can manage expectations (to a certain degree).

Tell em; "We are working on a new OS that will be starting from
scratch so don't install that crappy free screensaver you downloaded
ten years ago and expect it to work.

OTOH the major players will likely put out a new (hopefully) paired
down version of Photoshop, CD Burn utils, Digital still & movie apps,
etc.

Some times you just need to move on.


TBerk