Preventing Another Vista-like Release With Windows 7

CRE writes "An article at the OS News site details how Microsoft could best avoid Windows 7 becoming another Vista-esque release. The author advises Microsoft to basically split Windows in two. Windows 7 would be a new operating system based on the proven Windows NT kernel, but with a completely new user interface, with backwards compatibility provided by VMs. In addition, to please business customers and other people concerned with backwards compatibility, Microsoft should create 'Windows Legacy', basically the current Windows, which will receive only security and bug fixes. Relatedly, APCMag is reporting that Microsoft has moved Julie Larson-Green (the driving force behind Office 2007's Ribbon UI) over to work on Windows 7's interface."

Re:The "current" Windows?

[Anonymous Coward]

A relevant comic. [penny-arcade.com]

Try Linux

[Anonymous Coward]

The driver situation is going to be just crazy. Its bad enough now with windows.

Then try Linux, and you'll never complain about the Windows driver situation again...

Re:I for one..

[ozmanjusri]

I'm wondering why they keep on calling 'em "Windows". Why not Microsoft "Doors"?

They tried "Microsoft Gates" at one stage, but people got confused.

Re:Try Linux

[enjerth]

Then try Linux, and you'll never complain about the Windows driver situation again...

Yeah. Cause then it'll be Linux that you're complaining about.

I mean seriously, when you have driver troubles in Linux, it's NOT going to be solved by running a self-executable installer downloaded from the hardware manufacturer.

Re:Try Linux

[Anonymous Coward]

I mean seriously, when you have driver troubles in Linux, it's NOT going to be solved by running a self-executable installer downloaded from the hardware manufacturer.

You should really try running the self-executable installer downloaded from the manufacturer of your sarcasm detector, I think you're having driver problems.

Re:Try Linux

[WED Fan]

Then try Linux, and you'll never complain about the Windows driver situation again...

How dare you, sir? How dare you?

I hope you go to GNU/Hell for such slander and heresy. I hereby declare GNU/Fudwah upon you.

The Prophet, holiness and peace be upon RMS, will surely smite thee in the name of the All Sharing GNU. There is but one GOD and GNU is its name, and RMS is its Prophet, and its Holy Writ is GPL (now in the GNU and IMPROVED, heretic ass-kicking, version 3, call now GNU/Operators are standing by).

"Uh, just one question, what does GOD need with a driver?" - James T. Kirk, Star Trek

GNU/Linux, although written by a heretic and apostate, is GOD's perfect design the Prophet has claimed as His own, GNU/Peace be upon his posterior. It is the weapon to crush the Infidels of Redmond and their Satanic Gospel of Commerce and Property.

Face east, kneel, and pray towards MIT before it is too late.

GNU/Fudwah has been proclaimed.

Re:Vista is not a failure

[hxnwix]

I've been using Vista since November of 2006

Wow... sorry. No wonder you're so angry.

easy

[dweebzilla]

Just implement a process that involves actually throwing out 2/3+ of all the features before coding, then cycle that about three or four times to let the really needed items rise to the top. Then simplify, simplify, simplify.

"Just cause it fits in there - doesn't necessarily mean you should put it in there." ~ Words of wisdom from my sophomore roommate after 3 months of debauchery.

Re:An OS lesson from... STAR WARS???

[Anonymous Coward]

Ok, so yer saying that the "D2" was his service pack level? Holy Mother of Anakin!!! That's Service Pack #226!!!

My "extra pixels" are on the SIDES, not the top

[Anonymous Coward]

I would have expected them to transfer the designer behind the ribbon UI to the other side of the front door, not over into the shell team. The ribbon UI is quite probably the single most misdirected UI effort that has ever taken place within MSFT. Yes, it's worse than Clippy.

Right as take-up in widescreen LCDs is reaching record highs, they go and release a version of Office that not only takes up more vertical space than the previous toolbars could be adjusted to, it completely ignores the nature of the screens everyone is buying. Completely ridiculous.

In a few years everyone will be using 24+ inch widescreen displays, except that the ribbon and start menu/taskbar will have grown to occupy all but one vertical inch of the screen, leaving a sliver of space where we can read a line of text at a time.