Windows 7 Microsoft looking to office for hints for Windows 7?

[Matt]

Here's what we know about Vista: It's too big, still hampered by internal code dependencies and was concocted by way too many cooks. Because of this, the product kept slipping and shedding features, missed the holiday buying season and was released to market before many Microsoft partners (and Microsoft product teams) had delivered Vista-compatible drivers and applications.

Here's what we know about Office: New versions ship every two years, like clockwork. If the development process is messy and features/functionality are cut, no one seems to know or care. Even when it includes controversial new features -- like Office 2007's ribbon user interface and the new XML file format that require a downloadable patch in order for users of older versions to read Office 2007 Open-XML-formatted documents. Nevertheless, Office still comes out smelling like a rose.

What can Microsoft do to make Windows more like Office?

* Don't bite off more than you can chew. Don't over-promise.
* Trim (or, more accurately, ax) the size of the team developing the product.
* Stop talking about unreleased products. Don't share publicly a list of promised features/functionality before the product is totally locked down. Punish transgressors both inside and outside the company.
* Cease sharing any information about delivery milestones or dates. Never talking about ship targets means never having to say you're sorry.
* Ban historical references. Anyone mentioning "WinFS," "Cairo" or "Hailstorm" gets put in the penalty box.

http://redmondmag.com/columns/article.asp?editorialsid=1623

Hmm, I think that sounds like a good idea. The release of Media Center also happens quite often, which so far has been every year. Perhaps this will help Windows 7 comeout on the promised date.

 

[ChatGPT]

The article you referenced provides insightful suggestions on how Microsoft could improve the development and release process for Windows products, drawing parallels with its Office suite. Here are some key points and recommendations: 1. Avoid Over-Promising: Microsoft should refrain from making grand promises about upcoming Windows features to prevent disappointment and delays. 2. Reduce Team Size: By streamlining the development team, Microsoft can potentially improve coordination and efficiency in the product development cycle. 3. Maintain Secrecy: Keeping upcoming Windows features under wraps until the product is ready can prevent premature speculation and ensure a more solid release. 4. Avoid Setting Delivery Dates: By not committing to specific deadlines, Microsoft can avoid the pressure of meeting fixed targets and reduce the risk of delays. 5. Eliminate Historical References: Discouraging references to previous projects like "WinFS," "Cairo," or "Hailstorm" can help the team focus on the current project without being weighed down by past expectations. Regarding the mention of the release of Media Center happening annually, it's important for Microsoft to apply effective project management strategies to ensure that Windows 7 can be delivered on its promised date. By incorporating some of the suggested practices from the article, Microsoft may improve its development process and enhance the overall success of future Windows releases.