What You Want from Microsoft in 2007
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While others look into their crystal balls and make 2007 predictions, Microsoft Watch readers make crystal clear what they want from the software giant next year. |
On Tuesday, we asked readers to pipe in with their suggestions for Microsoft. The requests are surprisingly different from the sweeping 2007 predictions or recommendations that are fairly typical this time of year.
The requests are much in line with what Microsoft says it hears--that customers want more features. I have had countless discussions with Microsoft executives about why there isn't more focus on making software easier to use. The rebuttal is fairly consistent: Customers ask for more features. The customer is always right, right?
However, maybe the customer wants to always be right, but isn't. Another trend that emerged from the feedback: requests for stuff Microsoft has announced or already offers. Microsoft executives say this is common occurrence, with Office being a great example.
The question is why, and I think the answer is twofold: Firstly, Microsoft really should worry more about usability than adding more features. If the features are there and people can't consistently find them, there is a usability problem. More isn't necessarily better, if complexity increases. Secondly, Microsoft needs to do even more to promote features and benefits. This is an arduous task because of Microsoft's integration--aka, bundling--strategy. Features get buried under layers of other features; they aren't easily exposed.
More, More, More
For 2007, Roland Crawford, an IT manager from Jamaica, wants "VOIP from Microsoft" and "SMS integration with more platforms." Microsoft is set to fulfill Crawford's requests with new versions of Exchange Server and Live Communications Server.
Abe Touset, with Dudes Unlimited, in Margate, Fla., uses his Pocket PC handheld like a portable computer. But he finds that hardware limitations limit usability. "Microsoft should recommend manufacturers to upgrade their video memory above the 2MB point, maybe 8MB or more, for better graphics and game play," he said.
His request may not be so hard to fulfill, based on where Microsoft is going with Windows CE 6.0.
However, Touset really wants a single device that can meet all his computing needs. That may not be so realistic given the current state of technology. Manufacturers make trade-offs as they add functionality to smaller devices. For example, a cell phone's added functions can sap battery life, putting unnecessary limitations on the main telephony capability.
"I want a device--one device--that is a Zune, a PDA and an Xbox portable," said Mugunth Kumar, a software design engineer for General Electric in India. "The device should be capable of running .NET Framework 2.0 applications. It should also be capable of booting a Windows machine through USB and also act as an external storage media. It should have a disk space of at least 100GB."
The device Kumar wants may manifest in next-generation Ultra-Mobile PCs or Microsoft's rumored handheld game console. Given that Microsoft pegged the same folks for Zune as Xbox and that Zune can beam music to Xbox 360, my money would be on the rumored portable gaming device. In 2007? I'll predict, yes.
Middle Child Blues
Jason Tracy, a system engineer with Centra Credit Union in Columbus, Ind., would like Microsoft to "make it easy to buy your software when you are a midsize business--easy to track, to buy, and affordable. I should not have to pay external companies to figure out how much I owe and what I should buy."
Tracy brings up something I've heard other Microsoft customers complain about for years--that software licensing is way too complicated. Licensing 6.0 was supposed to simplify licensing, but many Microsoft customers complain that it's more complicated than ever.
My 2007 prediction: Licensing is only going to get more complicated. With the 2007 release cycle, Microsoft is introducing more server and server-based software and a number of associated CALs (client-access licenses). Licensing decisions are only going to get harder as customers pore through the new products and evaluate the many, many, many cross-feature dependencies.
"Microsoft called not long ago to talk about what options we had, and even the person from Microsoft didn't completely understand how all of the ways to buy Microsoft software work," Tracy said. "It wasn't her fault. There are just too many options, and it becomes way too costly just to track the software, let alone buy it."
Perhaps more disconcerting for Tracy and his counterparts: Medium-sized businesses have long suffered a middle child syndrome. Microsoft offers the best pricing options to small businesses and enterprises.
Some friendly advice to Tracy and other Microsoft customers: Keep your receipts. You may need them the next time Microsoft calls about your software assets. Microsoft is very fussy about software licensing but puts the burden of proof on the customer. I've talked to companies that had to repurchase licenses simply because they had misplaced or lost proof of purchase.
Fix the Off Switch
One Microsoft Watch reader did ask for a usability fix, and it's one I've heard grumbled about before. Michael Pollard, technical support engineer for Universal Fiber Systems in Bristol, Va., wants Microsoft to change how applications shut down. When, say, a Word document is left open, the system waits for the user to respond to a request to save a document, making Windows appear to be unresponsive.
However, "The Windows dialog to end the application currently covers the application dialog to save the modified document," Pollard said. "Perhaps the application can respond differently on Windows shutdown versus a manual application exit," such as automatic saving and exiting.
Pollard finds this kind of behavior most troubling for Windows Update--and it's a major IT management headache he wants fixed.
"A user may install Windows updates, select to restart the computer, and leave for the evening," Pollard explained. "Also, some computers are scheduled to shut down at the end of the work day. On returning the next day (or the next week), [the uset finds] the computer has still not shut down because an application is still asking something."
My prediction: Unless Microsoft has fixed this in Windows Vista, there won't be any resolution in 2007. Microsoft's past tendency in addressing problems like this one has been to put it off for another version or to release a solution through some other product.
I'll add my own related request to Pollard's: Applications should remain idle until the user logs in. If I put Windows XP or Vista to sleep with applications open, such as FeedDemon or Outlook, they access the Internet as soon as the computer wakes--even before log-in. So lots of system activity is hidden behind the log-in screen, which creates potential security risk.
The responses here are only some of those received by Microsoft Watch. There are also some great comments to the original post requesting reader feedback. Please keep them coming. We'll bug Microsoft so that you won't have to.
Comments (13)
A flash-based Zune, more Zune features/functionality, and a better Zune Marketplace. I don't own one, but is sounds like Zune 1.x has "rushed to market" written all over it. (I won't buy an iPod, because iTunes doesn't offer the option of a subscription music service.)
Posted by JohnJ | December 29, 2006 2:56 PM
How about solid device drivers for Vista? This has been the achilles heel for Windows stability, and this was the area that disappointed me when I tested Vista beta 2.
P.S. Michael Pollard's question has been addressed in depth in a recent entry from Joel on Software.
Posted by Greg in San Francisco | December 29, 2006 3:13 PM
I want more digital media software from MS for consumers...and support media standards.
Posted by anonymous | December 29, 2006 3:19 PM
I wanted to see Longhorn in 2007 and all I got was an eviscerated carcass called Vista. After five years you can't say that Vista was "rushed to market", but I am disappointed that Microsoft wasn't able to meet the goals that it had promised and that consumers had expected. Even Zune has failed to revive Microsoft’s sagging reputation although Microsoft has had ample opportunity to design a true rival to the iPod. I don't know if I should anticipate better fortunes for Microsoft in 2007 or just resign myself to observing Microsoft becoming further mired in mediocrity and disappointment.
John J, I am curious, why do you find a subscription music service to be more appealing or advantageous than owing the music outright?
Posted by meatofmoose | December 30, 2006 8:16 AM
meatofmoose, a subscription music service allows a person to explore thousands of new-to-them songs at a flat monthly fee.(And no advertising.) Not all songs are worthy of permanent ownership.
iTunes buyers don't own the music that they buy. They are only renting the music, for as long as they stick with iPod brand music players. (I understand that iTunes songs can be converted, but it's an inconvenient process, and degrades sound quality.)
Yes, when an album is worthy of permanent ownership, nothing beats a CD. CDs offer superior sound quality, and can be ripped to play on any brand of MP3 player.
Posted by JohnJ | December 31, 2006 9:37 AM
Larger Xbox 360 storage, lots more content on the video marketplace, storage sharing between an Xbox 360 and networked PC for the large files that have been gracing the marketplace with that service and for when Vista comes out, MMC with HD-DVD's and BD's etc.
Posted by Tony Freakin Spimoni | December 31, 2006 1:30 PM
Console based web browser
Posted by Dazzler Ellis | December 31, 2006 2:47 PM
Microsoft should create a HD-DVD and Bluray player for the xbox360. Also, the current HD-DVD addon for the xbox360 should not have dvd playback since the xbox already has and that way they can sell the hd-dvd addon for less. happy new year!
Posted by Edward | December 31, 2006 4:16 PM
I want Microsoft to buy epic games & rockstar games in 2007 to make for us more good 360 exclusive games
Posted by Avi | December 31, 2006 4:20 PM
John J:
With iTunes, you don’t need to purchase an album in its entirety; in fact, you can purchase individual songs of your choice for your personal playlists. With a subscription service, the service provider seems to have absolute control over what music it chooses to offer. That is, what guarantees do users have that a tune offered on subscription today will not later be removed from the database? Do subscription services allow users to build various playlists?
I have heard no complaints from others about sound quality from iTunes. Anyone can increase the bit rate when downloading compressed AAC and mp3 tunes for higher quality. With Lossless, encoding the user can further reduce compression for more natural sound. Of course, if you want the best sound possible, you can save the files in either WAV or AIFF formats by ripping them directly from CD. This leads to my next question, how do current subscription services compress the tunes for the non-iPod users and how to these technologies compare with AAC and mp3? I haven’t read any new about subscription services offering tunes in WAV or AIFF formats. If I’m wrong, I need to know.
I have always liked the “try before you buy” options that exist for some brick and mortar stores. ITunes offers a miniscule amount of time to judge the worth of a song. This is certainly one advantage that subscribes have over iTunes. I just wish that I could do on line that which my local music store offers.
Posted by meatofmoose | December 31, 2006 11:38 PM
I want to be able to freely mod my games just as many games are capable of on the PC. I want to use the ECS to make mods for my 360 version of Oblivion. I am tired of the PC counterparts of many multi-platform games getting special features yet the console version are left with little or no extras. I don’t like it when games like Doom 3, Half-Life 2, F.E.A.R., Halo 2, Far Cry, Oblivion, and countless many other games that allow for user modding on a PC yet restrict it on the consoles. If I pay for a console game that cost more then the PC version then I should have all of the rights as the PC players and more.
Posted by Eric | January 1, 2007 12:38 AM
Microsoft needs to make sure that they do a few things:
* It is essential that the Xbox 360 receives Final Fantasy III, because that game series is so popular in Japan and other parts of the world. Microsoft needs to get Square-Enix to announce that this game is in development.
* It is essential that the Xbox 360 receives a Dragon Quest game, because that game series is BY FAR the most popular games series in Japan! Microsoft needs to get Square-Enix to announce that this game is in development.
* Microsoft needs to get Namco to announce that Soul Caliber 4 is being released for the Xbox 360.
* Microsoft needs to get Namco to announce that Tekken is being released for the Xbox 360.
* Microsoft needs to get Capcom to release Devil May Cry 4 for the Xbox 360.
* Microsoft needs to make it clear that Unreal Tournament 2007 is DEFINITELY being developed for the Xbox 360.
* It would be EXCELLENT if Microsoft were to purchase Epic, as a result of their excellent work on Gears of War, just like Microsoft purchased Bungie, as a result of their excellent work on Halo.
* It would be EXCELLENT if Microsoft would purchase Capcom.
* It would be EXCELLENT if Microsoft would purchase Square-Enix. This would truly help the Xbox 360 in the Japanese market, because Square-Enix owns the two most important intellectual properties in Japan: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.
* Microsoft needs to improve the D-Pad of the Xbox 360 controller. If there is a new slightly modified version of the Xbox 360 that includes an HDMI output and perhaps a larger hard-drive, then it would be nice to also see a slightly modified controller with a D-pad that was more precise when using it for fighting games like Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.
* Microsoft should consider changing the faces of some of the characters in Gears of War when that game is released in Japan; that way, the characters look a little bit more like Japanese people. This is something that other developers have done in the past and experiences success with.
* Microsoft needs to talk to the German government about the way that Germany does not review certain Xbox 360 games due to their Mature rating. This prevents those games from being released in Germany; although, consumers can just order the games on the Internet or go to a nearby European country and purchase the game. Crackdown is the third Xbox 360 game that Germany has refused to rate. Microsoft needs to talk to Germany about this so that those games can be sold in Germany, with the proper rating; that is the whole point of putting the rating system in place.
Posted by Michael Zoran | January 7, 2007 12:48 AM
Microsoft needs to make sure that they do a few things:
* It is essential that the Xbox 360 receives Final Fantasy XIII, because that game series is so popular in Japan and other parts of the world. Microsoft needs to get Square-Enix to announce that this game is in development.
* It is essential that the Xbox 360 receives a Dragon Quest game, because that game series is BY FAR the most popular games series in Japan! Microsoft needs to get Square-Enix to announce that this game is in development.
* Microsoft needs to get Namco to announce that Soul Caliber 4 is being released for the Xbox 360.
* Microsoft needs to get Namco to announce that Tekken is being released for the Xbox 360.
* Microsoft needs to get Capcom to release Devil May Cry 4 for the Xbox 360.
* Microsoft needs to make it clear that Unreal Tournament 2007 is DEFINITELY being developed for the Xbox 360.
* It would be EXCELLENT if Microsoft were to purchase Epic, as a result of their excellent work on Gears of War, just like Microsoft purchased Bungie, as a result of their excellent work on Halo.
* It would be EXCELLENT if Microsoft would purchase Capcom.
* It would be EXCELLENT if Microsoft would purchase Square-Enix. This would truly help the Xbox 360 in the Japanese market, because Square-Enix owns the two most important intellectual properties in Japan: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.
* Microsoft needs to improve the D-Pad of the Xbox 360 controller. If there is a new slightly modified version of the Xbox 360 that includes an HDMI output and perhaps a larger hard-drive, then it would be nice to also see a slightly modified controller with a D-pad that was more precise when using it for fighting games like Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.
* Microsoft should consider changing the faces of some of the characters in Gears of War when that game is released in Japan; that way, the characters look a little bit more like Japanese people. This is something that other developers have done in the past and experiences success with.
* Microsoft needs to talk to the German government about the way that Germany does not review certain Xbox 360 games due to their Mature rating. This prevents those games from being released in Germany; although, consumers can just order the games on the Internet or go to a nearby European country and purchase the game. Crackdown is the third Xbox 360 game that Germany has refused to rate. Microsoft needs to talk to Germany about this so that those games can be sold in Germany, with the proper rating; that is the whole point of putting the rating system in place.
Posted by Michael Zoran | January 7, 2007 12:49 AM