Why are Microsofties partying over a Vista beta 1 release? |
Loading ...Forgive me for being the party spoiler, but I’ve read in a couple places that Microsofties are partying over the release of beta 1 of Vista, the next version of Windows. The first thing that came to my mind is … why?
What are they celebrating? Does anybody celebrating remember that the next version of Windows was originally slated for 2004? Celebrate a wedding, graduation, a product actually shipping on time, sure, but a two plus year late freaking beta 1 release? Houston — or should I say Redmond — you have a problem!
Yeah, yeah, you can get the beta 1 release if you are part of the whole overpriced MSDN subscription game. Hip, hip, hooray!
Sure, I can see something small and dignified for the teams working on it but from the posts I’ve read, it sounds like they ran out some sort of tailgating-style bash complete with band over a beta 1 product shipping to only MSDN subscribers?
Why?
In Scoble’s comments reader Tom writes:
For me, what’s upsetting about all the Longhorn/Vista celebration is that, as your customer, you failed me (well, Microsoft not you personally). Not more than two years ago you trumpeted all these great features, I made (loose) long term plans based on those promises, and you didn’t deliver. I bet on you and you failed me and you seem to think that’s a cause for celebration.
To which, Scoble responded with:
We’re putting in long hours trying to make things better for you. We aren’t just “partying.”
Scoble, you missed the point Tom was making. I got it. Most Microsoft customers get it too.
While other companies like Yahoo are out there buying up smart web properties like Flickr and Konfabulator, Microsoft thinks it’s Geeks Gone Wild time.
So just get the darn thing done — and released to the public. Then party, celebrate, run through the street nude with tattoos of Windows Vista on your behinds and cleavage, whatever turns your cranks. You will earn it when there is a product actually on the shelf.
Until then, the only celebration most of your customers want to hear is by Kool and the Gang.
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Microsoft always does beta release parties. There are only 3 milestones in the life of a product: beta 1, beta 2 and RTM.
This beta 1 has been 3 years in coming. There’s still another year to go before RTM. Having a day off to chill ain’t a bad thing in a 4 year project.
Yes, by all accounts it was a big party. But, there were also 3500 people involved in Vista so it had to be.
I have no problem with all of Microsoft taking a day off to party every now and again, for no reason at all. Except they don’t. Beta and RTM parties are all they get.
These parties are for the devs. Who HAVE earned it. The PM’s and GPM’s and execs may not have, but the devs have worked their asses off, and deserve the recognition by Microsoft.
Comment by Jeremy Wright — July 28, 2005 @ 12:18 pm PST
Windows Vista
So, the Windows Vista Beta 1 was released yesterday. It hit MSDN sometime yesterday morning. It’s all over BitTorrent networks now too. I’m gonna give it a shot tonight as I have an extra PC to try it out on. I really don’t think…
Trackback by T. Longren — July 28, 2005 @ 12:55 pm PST
[…] 17;s programs not work. I can get on board Microsoft doing some bizarre things at times (like being party animals over a beta 1 release), but I don’t believe for even a millisecond that […]
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