Will Windows 7 Be A Major Or Minor Release?
The Engineering Windows 7 blog is taking up full speed supplying the news hungry web community with new information about the coming Microsoft operating system. The last article took a look at the internal development structure of Windows 7 while the new article is about measuring the scale of a release.
Steven is taking a loot at various customer classes, their expectations and understanding of major and minor operating system releases. This is another theoretical article that does not contain news about Windows 7 per se but is a good read to understand the thinking structure of the development process.
Customers like End-Users, IT Professionals or Developers have all a different understanding and perspective in judging a release as minor or major. To say it blunt: It’s a major release for end-users if they go out and buy it. The problem with this line of though is that it is actually Microsoft’s classification of an end-user. End-Users themselves do not think in those terms usually, many probably cannot even name the operating system that they are using right now. And why should they..
Pleasing all customers could be difficulty and Steven talks about finding a balance to please everyone.
The key is always a balance. We can have big changes for all customers if we prepare all the necessary folks to work through the change. We can have small changes have a big impact if they are the right changes at the right time, and those will get recorded over time as a major release.
The article seems to hint that Windows 7 might be a minor release, a Windows Vista R2, and not the new shiny Microsoft operating system we all hoped to see.
Bookmark & Share
Loading ...
I always thought that the thing Windows was really missing was a fish. Now that they have realised this after ...
I feel that yes, the continued splitting of different versions of Windows will just replicate the entire Vista fiasco. 
Alright... good concept I guess... but The whole interface has got to go, it will remind everyone of vista 
I hope this makes it in windows 7, i don't like having too many media players and some plugins for ...
I cannot get any of these to work!?! Can someone provide a link, or explain, how i can install new ...
Comment by Andrew on 25 August 2008:
Looking at windows 7 is like looking at windows vista. Hmm do Microsoft never learn. I have just been looking at the windows 7 photo’s & if i walked into a room & someone asked me what was on the screen in the website pictures i would say Windows vista - they need to update the graphical interface the lazy useless shits need to pull there socks up. I personally feel vista is not as bad as the rap it gets but i would not go out and buy windows 7 looking the same as vista.
Comment by Rich on 26 August 2008:
Perhaps Windows 7 will be to Vista what SP2 was to XP. I seem to remember the intial launch of XP having the same level of bitching and whining as Vista has seen. However since the release of the service packs, esp the second XP went from beign reviled to being the best thing since sliced bread in comparison to Vista.
Personally I’ve been running Vista since launch on an old celeron system with 2g ram and an updated video card and have little in the way of trouble.
Comment by Bill on 27 August 2008:
personally i think that if microsoft is going to make a new operating sytem they need to start over for the beginning. i agree with both of the previous comments in that vista is a reliable operating system and does not deserve the bad rep that ppl give it. i am running vista ultimate 64 bit on 3.0 ghz core 2 duo, 2 gigs of RAM, and a 9800 gtx. it has never given me a problem in the slightest.
as of now and i will probably stick with this opinion in the future, Vista is a good operating system, why pay that money for an operating system that is practicaly the same thing??
Comment by Tim on 27 August 2008:
What they need to do is take out all the fancy shit and make a hardcore business edition without the fluff. They would sell then.
Comment by ekw on 27 August 2008:
@comment 3, windows 7 has a lot of new features planned/ in testing thats worth the upgrade. And the reason why they shouldn’t start over from scratch is because of the thousands of companies that spent millions of dollars for compatability to vista, would have to spend that much for the new OS. It also would not be a wise move for Microsoft as it will lose a lot of customers. But we’ll see, windows 7 will surely be integratable with windows 7 mobile
thats what im looking for!
Comment by jayemm999 on 30 August 2008:
The underlying problem is the growth in the consumer market. Computing is now an expectation in day-to-day life, in almost the same way as TV.
How can one operating system blend the eye-candy, plug & play needs of the home user with the crisp efficiency needed by commercial [etc] users?
Take a good look at the real world, Microsoft, and understand that soap opears are of no interest in the boardroom and most home users do not watch “Financial Report”.
Windows 7 business needs to be a distinctly different animal to Windows 7 Home Premium. There’s always Ultimate for those who want both!