arstechnica.com — Microsoft has again confirmed that the "big release" approach to software development is alive and well at Microsoft. Ballmer said as much earlier this year in advance of the retail Vista launch, but the company is reiterating the point now as it ramps up preparation for the next version of Windows and a renewed push for software subscriptions.
Jul 23, 2007 View in Crawl 4
mynameisrodJul 24, 2007
it's going to be buggy and crap and they're going to force people to pay a subscription to use it! Ok, my next computer's going to be a mac or run linux.
jamangoldJul 24, 2007
Hopefully by then or shortly beyond the design of computers will be changed to the point where an operating system would be irrelevant. It would be like worrying about an operating system for your television or your toaster. I realize that right now it sounds ridiculous, but we have to move beyond our current way of thinking about how hardware and software interact.
ravatarJul 25, 2007
I enjoyed Windows XP x64, the main issue I had with it was nvidia and its terrible lack of updates for 64-bit drivers. Updates every 6-8 months makes for a sour userbase when 32 bit users are receiving updates monthly. After all, x64 is nothing more than Windows Server 2003 w/ SP1 and some minor adjustments.
astrotrainJul 25, 2007
blah... probably said that when he was doing his "Right Said Fred" impression on his desk for the magazine article.<a class="user" href="http://images.codinghorror.com/gates-centerfold.jpg">http://images.codinghorror.com/gates-centerfold.jpg</a>
astrotrainJul 25, 2007
Blakes 7?
init100Jul 26, 2007
Exactly. Just like a more effective WGA. If piracy of Windows would become impossible, I have a hard time believing that everyone now running it would actually go and buy it.
init100Jul 26, 2007
The reason is that with Windows 7, they can sell another copy to the same customers, while service packs and patches are usually free. That means more money in the coffers.
sunnzJul 29, 2007
I really hope that they can get the subscription going, and the sooner, the better.Because I like to see more people move to Linux or Mac rather than blindly downgrade to newer versions of Windows 2000+XP+Vista.