Gizmodo
Microsoft CEO and sweat machine Steve Ballmer recently called Vista a "work in progress," acknowledging some of the mistakes Microsoft made in rolling out the latest version of Windows and hinting that they're considering keeping XP on the shelves a bit longer for people who still don't want to upgrade.
The biggest lesson he learned from Vista's problems? How long it took for it to come out. "Certainly, you never want to let five years go between releases. Can we just sort of kiss that stone and move on? Because it turns out many things become problematic when you have those long release cycles."
And he also acknowledged that a lot of people just want to stick with XP, so while as of now it'll come off the shelves on June 30th, it might end up sticking around a bit longer.
In the meantime, we have some customers — a lot of customers — using Vista. A lot of customers. And we have a lot of customers that are choosing to stay with Windows XP. And as long as those are both important options, we will be sensitive and we will listen and we will hear that. I got a piece of mail from a customer the other day that talked about not being able to get XP anymore. We responded, XP is still available. And I know we're going to continue to get feedback from people on how long XP should be available. We've got some opinions on that, we've expressed our views.Does this mean that if enough people write him letters about wanting to use XP, they'll keep selling it indefinitely? We'll have to wait and see. [Seattle PI via Crunchgear]
Comments
Why the fuck am I expected to pay for a "work in progress"? I should be paid instead. I swear, Ballmer is just about the most retarded CEO ever.
This is a work in progress. This dude is married? Yikes. I was cool with Bill, but I can't stand this guy.
Did you photoshop a Hoagie out of his hands?
I can just imagine a giant sandwich about to be devoured.
And I had terrible gas that swelled my rectum to about this big...
Please don't let XP go away. It's finally gotten to the point where it doesn't suck too terribly badly...and compared to vista its practically unbreakable...then again, so is a piece of crystal.
Just like my desire to pay for Vista... I'll let you know when that exits Beta
Looks like he needs a sip of water. Rabid-much?
Just a question, does ANYONE have pictures were Ballmer doesn't look crazy?
@Darrone: INVIZABL SAMMICH!!! (sorry, I had to...)
Vista is in progress, I don't know about the "work" part.
"Choking a midget can be a tricky proposition. I find they can be subdued quicker by gnawing on the cranium thusly..."
I think he is calling Love Line - something about mason jars.
Please state the obvious.
But with SP1, everyone will say 'Vista, gotta get me some!'
Yay ecosystem!
@Darrone: priceless!
[www.epicycle.org.uk]
@Log1c:
"Oh yeah. She was really loose. I mean, the hole was this big..."
Kinda looks like he's describing just how much Vista sucks...
"You see, it's a large vacuous void. It just sucks everything in around it, sort of like a black hole. Yeah that's it, Vista is the black hole of OSes."
Don't companies usually call "work in progress" the "beta version?"
I think that SP1 for vista came early but late at the same time. I see vista getting up to SP3 before XP gets to SP4.
Thats kind of sad too.
Vista actually wasnt THAT bad for me i find that Vista ran a bit better than XP originally after i got the hang of it.
Well on XP again i'll get the hang of this too eventually. =]
It is a work in progress and it has a lot of potential but they need to slim it down substantially.
@Log1c:
[www.blogsmithmedia.com]
What are you talking about?
Extending XP's life past 2009 looks a little insane.
@Samifumi: Yeah I was just thinking the same thing.
[www.engadgethd.com]
He looks perfectly sane to me.
Hey may be crazy, but he's probably got more money than the entire Gizmodo audience combined so I'm sure he'll continue laughing all the way to the bank riding the crazy train.
Why is it that every time I see Ballmer I think "sedagive"?
@Samifumi: Not at Microsoft... Still cracks me up that I used to have a book from Microsoft "How to write bugless code" or some other work of fiction. :) Wish I'd'a kep it.
Jean-Louis Gassée, we may have a buyer for that Be OS yet...
This whole backtracking and apologizing (while trying to save face) regarding Vista is really getting on my nerves.
It's like somebody bringing you flowers, but track dog shit in your house knowing it was on their shoes. Sure, they'll try their best to clean it up, but the fact remains - you knowingly trailed dog shit all over the place.
Who would want this face representing their company? He just looks evil and like a crazy mad scientist.
PUTIN-ONDA-RIIIIIITZZ!!
Absolutely despicable. After their last recall, did Toyota say, "Well, the Corolla IS a work in progress."
Douchebag.
"Work in Progress" Spare me the business rhetoric. EVERYTHING is a work in progress! Just admit that Microsoft made two significant blunders in the Vista release. Driver support was FAR from complete and you misled consumers into thinking their inadequately equipped machines would run Vista just fine.
Quote-modo anyone?
"You see, the reason im always so sweaty is because ive got fuckin' sweat glands as big as a road apples."
fail? yes.
Steve Ballmer: most undeserving billionaire EVER.
That this clown is where he is now is fate's greatest prank upon mankind in the history of this planet.
Well, him and Paris Hilton...
@AhnyerKeester: Ooooh, so you didn't know you had their ONLY copy?
Attention Vista Fanboys. Both of your leaders have now admitted that your OS sucks.
@JustEaton: Yes, he's married. Most billionaires are desireable spouses. I've heard that he can be a really fun guy.
@dwight-schrute: Oh dear God that was funny.
Someone needs to 'shop an apple in Steve's hands 'cuz we all know that's what he'd really love to take a bite out of...
Remember the lessons of Y2K: People will use software for 30 years if you let them.
One day MS will pull the plug on XP, and there will be people that complain.
Vista > you
Well what happened was they guys in development accidentally reshipped Windows ME. The "real" Vista is coming soon. This is once again a stopgap product. Thank you and goodnight.
@Joseph: There's such a thing as a Vista fanboy?
When is this guy (MS in general) going to realize that people DON'T want to be forced into a new major release every 5 yrs, which is just as much to blame for the lack fo adoption of Vista as it's own crappiness.
lol talk about shoot yourself in the foot *again*
work in progress? who wants an os that still isn't complete
@Claystil: Ya know, I don't know--probably not. Maybe I saw em on lifehacker.
It's time to release "Vista Supreme Editition". It's lean and fast, requiring half the memory footprint and squandering far fewer clock cycles on eye candy. It offers the greatest compatibility with hardware and applications.
All Microsoft needs to do to get Vista Supreme to market is to re-package Windows XP.
@Joseph: Dude... militant, but funny.
@dwight-schrute: HAhahahahahahhahahah - just dropped by pen into my coffee.
@Claystil: Sure, but they're very rare.
@Gonzie: This may go on for years...Windows 7 hear we come! (sarcasm)
@dwight-schrute: Me too! I have always thought he looked like Peter Boyle (aka The Monster), especially in that picture....
Sweet mystery of life at last I've found thee.....
Yo everyone!
• Any OS that needs a patch or service pack is a "work in progress".
(Apple, Windows, Linux or any other flavor)
• Any NEW version of an OS (pending a complete re-do of the OS architecture) is just a collection of patches and new eye-candy... AKA a whole system patch... AKA work in progress.
(Sad... but that includes Apple,Windows, Linux or any other flavor...)
So everyone, "my OS is better than your's" does not apply anymore.
Stop writing stupid statements, and get some work done this Friday on your "work-in-progress" OS of choice.
Or listen to some music / make some calls on your iPhone.
(another work-in-progress device now on it's upteen firmware update... right?)
@aec007: Is that you Ballmer?
@tamoko: No, he's forming coherent sentences and not foaming at the mouth. Definitely not Ballmer.
they're creepy and they're cooky
hehe nice
MS needs to start over and cut the old code loose. Leave XP or whatever for the people who can't or have no interest in upgrading.
Kinda like what Apple did with OS X except leave the old stuff functioning for the old timers and the mission critical infrastructure stuff.
@aec007: Life is beta, dude.
[i193.photobucket.com]
Couldn't let the poor guy go hungry.
@aec007: Back to work cubicle monkey! I have some super absorbent suit blouses to pick up!
*tosses chair*
Bill's gone bitch! Prepare for white lightning!
~Steve.
Microsoft has a real problem on their hands because Vista really is a major let-down. Too slow. Too resource-hungry. Too little in the way of improvements to make up for its shortcomings.
Meanwhile, OS X is pretty, solid, and leaner than Vista. Ubuntu Linux is pretty, solid, and way faster than Vista.
Windows 7 needs to arrive fast and be great.
Of course, I'm glad to see Microsoft's mistakes creating a bit more chance for competition on the desktop.
@gunnk: Anyone who thinks MS has a real problem because of Vista obviously doesn't understand the marketplace.
A vast majority of computer users couldn't care about Vista's performance standards. These are the majority of computer purchasers. The overwhelming minority are those who complain about its performance.
It doesn't matter how Vista works, as it's going to be the OS of choice for >85% of new computer purchasers, which means plenty of money in MS's pockets.
Just because a vocal tech community is up in arms over Vista doesn't mean MS is 'in trouble'. It just means a handful of people with an outlet to speak have an opinion; the majority of computer users don't share it.
It makes me laugh to see the apple fanboys prance about how superior their OS is, how MS is doomed, then to see market share results that come out to prove just how irrelevant apple is.