01.29.08
Vapourware Warning: Old Tricks Persist or Make a Comeback
“The purpose of announcing early like this is to freeze the market […] One might worry that this will help Sun because we will just have vaporware”
–Leaked Microsoft E-mail [PDF]
Consider this a warning. There are many known problems in the ‘DNA’ of the codebase derived from Windows XP/Server 2003, which makes Server 2008, Home Server, Vista and its successor or other siblings. Microsoft has openly admitted this, albeit very quietly. At the moment, Microsoft is trying to “freeze the market” (Microsoft’s own expression of this technique) not only through intimidation, but also using a slew of new lock-ins and announcements followed by procrastination or very poor products. Recall, for instance, the severe data corruption bug in Windows Home Server, which was revealed just weeks ago.
The Register has just published a good articles that makes some similar observations about this morbid pattern of delays.
The major issue here is that whilst Microsoft conveniently forgets the past, most of us can still remember SQL Server 2003, er…2004, oh, actually, that was eventually 2005. So Microsoft is turning into a serial offender when it comes to slippage.
Almost a year ago we mentioned vapouware tactics and provided some examples, some of which were found in antitrust exhibits that are leaked Microsoft E-mails. It’s worth making you aware of the fact that it is happening again and that has just confirmed by Microsoft.
We’ll guess that Windows 7 won’t be generally available in final form until about 2012 or thereabouts, maybe 2013.
“Didn’t Steve Ballmer promise to deliver a new version of Windows every 2 years?”The originally cited blog, which I read a couple of days ago, has run out of available bandwidth, so we’re linking to the Inquirer. The blog said that Windows 7 is only at the planning stage and will take (at least) 3 years to develop. Microsoft seems to have ‘leaked’ some mockups recently (viral marketing that Joe Wilcox apparently approves) and it also named the year 2009 in order to keep existing Windows users loyal (mind the recent comments from Stephane Rodriguez here). Didn’t Steve Ballmer promise to deliver a new version of Windows every 2 years? Promises, promises.
Have a look again at what we said a couple of hours ago when we explained the vicious (and mostly legal) attacks on Linux. The FUD used by Microsoft, ‘thanks’ to Novell kind acknowledgment, is just an empty accusation, much like SCO’s. It’s all vapour. Nothing concrete has ever been shown. █
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.