Windows Vista: Work In Progress
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Gold code used to mean software was ready for release to manufacturing. Times have changed. Even before Windows Vista launches next week, businesses can expect a bunch of updates--and more in the months afterwards. |
In a Friday post at the Windows Vista Blog, Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft's Platforms & Services division, wrote: "Now that Windows Vista has released to manufacturing, you might think that there is no opportunity for the product to get better before you get to use it." He then went on to explain how Microsoft would increase functionality and software and driver compatibility using Windows Update.
Allchin's heart is in the right place--to continuously improve Windows--but the cold, hard reality of managing updates is something else. For good reasons, Microsoft consolidated security patches into monthly distributions, as a way of lessening IT management of updates. Continuous updates to the operating system will likely create problems for IT organizations.
Directions on Microsoft analyst Michael Cherry predicted IT organizations that decided "to let auto-update go directly to the end users," would move to consolidated patch management.
In his Friday post, Allchin explained the out-of-box Vista experience:
"When you use Windows Vista for the first time, you will notice that the system asks if you want to check for any updates; I strongly recommend it--it's a good habit. And don't be surprised when the system downloads some updates--in fact you should expect it...So Windows Vista will continuously get better and better, automatically."
Isn't the approach a step backward to past mid- and large-size business patch management, testing and deployment headaches? More patches, particularly before the lifecycle of the new products even starts, is worrisome.
"Someone is going to have to filter these updates and decide which ones are appropriate for their organizations," Cherry said. He suggested that for software driver updates, IT organizations should consider letting some of them "age for awhile."
Microsoft has worked to ease enterprise patch management, even as it modifies Windows updating. But the process is slow going. Last week, the company had to extend, yet again, support for Software Update Services 1.0. Customer migration to the newer Windows Server Update Services is slow going.
Microsoft will put burdens on consumers and small businesses, too, hoisting on them a less-exciting out-of-box experience. "You basically have two-and-a-half months [of updates] between RTM and the consumer launch of Windows Vista on January 30," said Gartner analyst Michael Silver. Windows Vista won't be so shiny and new if consumers or small businesses start their experience by downloading a torrent of updates. The experience may be too familiar, like today, where new Windows XP PCs require countless updates out of the box.
Timing is part of the problem. Silver believes that Microsoft could not have made its revised Windows Vista ship date without the enhanced update mechanism supported in Windows Vista. Microsoft could certify the software as golden, yet continue to add or enhance features between RTM and release to customers.
Already, the list of non-compatible applications or hardware is fairly long. Microsoft's own Vista updates add to the number of third-party patches on which businesses will have to conduct compatibility testing. The burden is yet another reason to see slow business deployments in the early months following Windows Vista's release.
Still, the benefits of Windows Update--and consolidated Microsoft Update--shouldn't be ignored. In a November 14 blog post, Allchin revealed some startling statistics. For security updates released in October 2003, "only about one-half of the systems that downloaded the update ever installed it," he wrote. Nearly 90 percent of the updates were manually done.
By contrast, automatic updating dramatically increased following changes introduced with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Allchin wrote. For Microsoft's September 26 security updates, 80 percent "were automatically installed through scheduled updates (34 percent) or at system shutdown (46 percent)," Allchin explained. "Certainly we helped people to be more protected from attacks."
Comments (17)
I have windows xp profesional xp2 intalled.I wanted to update it with windows vista but among other answers I got
Sql server 2005
Visual studio 2005
could not work.
Does anybody can tell me if with a clean instalation instead of an upgrade,the visual studio 2005 will work?.
I asked Microsoft as well.
Regards
Posted by emari | November 21, 2006 2:22 PM
I have windows xp profesional xp2 intalled.I wanted to update it with windows vista but among other answers I got
Sql server 2005
Visual studio 2005
could not work.
Does anybody can tell me if with a clean instalation instead of an upgrade,the visual studio 2005 will work?.
I asked Microsoft as well.
Regards
Posted by emari | November 21, 2006 2:22 PM
VS2005 and SQL Server 2005 both run under Windows Vista. I've got both running right now and am a programmer on a large project
You need the Beta of VS2005 SP1 as well as the Nov. CTP of Sql Server 2005 SP2
SQL Server SP2 CTP:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=D2DA6579-D49C-4B25-8F8A-79D14145500D&displaylang=en
Visual Studio 2005 SP1 Beta:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/results.aspx?pocId=&freetext=Visual%20Studio%202005%20Service%20Pack%201&DisplayLang=en
Note that the final versions of both of these, so I hear, should be out within the next month
Posted by Sean | November 21, 2006 3:38 PM
IRT to the original article -- Gold code STILL means software that is ready to be released to manufacturing. It's never meant that it's necessarily complete, flawless, or can't benefit from some improvement.
All across the software industry you'll find examples of software that is later patched or updated -- some are updates for bug fixes, others are feature enhancements. Games are notorious for this, and examples exist from firmware on hardware devices to even the software on board the Mars Exploration Rovers (http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/status.html)This is the reality of the software industry.
At a stretch, some other examples exist in other industries. Automobile recalls and general product redesigns are instances of re-evaluating an operational product and making changes to rectify a flaw or respond to changing market demands.
Not sure why exactly we need to re-examine the role of software updates with such a negative connotation.
IRT the role of patch management, I strongly feel that MS's stance is alot better than the patch methodology and support position of some other major players in the software industry. I feel that, at least in recent years, MS has been open about patches and provides multiple mechanisms to simplify patch management -- even if businesses are unaware of their existance or slow to adapt.
Posted by Sean | November 21, 2006 4:04 PM
In regards to Sean's comment above - right on. Perhaps its time MicrosoftWatch renames themselves to MicrosoftBitch&Wine. The so called constructive-criticims are often not constructive at all. But I must say, things seem a bit less negative now that Mary-Jo Foley has left the building (she really should just start writing for The Register, she would fit right in).
Posted by Tom | November 21, 2006 4:14 PM
Tom: Stuff it up your Astroturf, you pathetic Microsoft bootboy! Your tongue's so far up Steve Ballmer, he doesn't need to wipe his shiny pink forehead. Stay in Redmond - you're not welcome here!
Posted by Tom'sATool | November 21, 2006 9:01 PM
Tom: Stuff it up your Astroturf, you pathetic Microsoft bootboy! Your tongue's so far up Steve Ballmer, he doesn't need to wipe his shiny pink forehead. Stay in Redmond - you're not welcome here!
Posted by Tom'sATool | November 21, 2006 9:01 PM
Sean and Tom I am with you.
All software is continually updated all the time !
Why is it that the "reporters" from "Microsoft Watch" are being so "one sided" in their write ups on Microsoft products.
I am not apologist for Microsoft either, for example Windows Me was a shocker !
But the people at Microsoft Watch have overboard as far as I am concerned and are now nothing more than "Microsoft Knockers" and doing a VERY bad job of hiding it !
The knocking that they have been doing the last month or so has been very profound indeed, and in general downright shocking, the journalistic content also !
I was willing to give Joe Willcox the benefit of the doubt, but no more !
He is just as bad as the rest, this site should no longer exist as the views expressed by it's reporters are far too biased to be taken seriously anymore.
Posted by Neil | November 21, 2006 9:12 PM
Why does Bill Gates' finger smell like Neil?!?
Posted by Neil'sAToolToo | November 21, 2006 9:18 PM
Mr. Anonymous who ever you are, your comments are NOT rational at all.
I will bet that you are either a MAC or Linux fan, personally I have nothing against either OS but some of you guys are really "chaffing at the bit" in order to criticise Vista.
I find it always a bit funny that people like yourself are so insecure that they cannot put their "real" name to a piece of work, whether it be "for" or "against".
Posted by Neil | November 21, 2006 9:28 PM
Updates are a fact of like for most products in my office.
The laser printer had firmware and driver updates the first week of use AND additional updates during the past year.
The copier required a firmware update.
Both of my digital cameras have required firmware updates. Sometimes more than once. Plus software updates. Even the docking station needed a firmware update.
Gosh darn, I think my office chair had a recall due to defective widgets that might cause the chair to slide to the left if the office temperature dropped below 17F.
And software from every company has updates. My shipping software is so unstable that it has 5 or 6 updates per month PLUS the monthly fuel surcharge update PLUS the rate chart update.
And that pest Adobe is trying to update as I type this post.
At least Microsoft has simplified the updating process and limits the updates so that I can process the updates outside of normal business operating hours.
And when anybody thinks about it, Microsoft's products are a whole lot more complicate than my office chair or any other item in the office.
Instead of bashing Microsoft for providing improvements to their product, let's start critiquing every product that has unorganized updates and recalls.
Posted by SteveD | November 22, 2006 12:32 AM
Joe,
I think there is a lot more strategy here than you are giving Microsoft credit for. There used to be a time when there was no way to deploy patches and updates of any substantial size to PC’s. Gold code had to mean slow, steady, methodical testing. Now that Microsoft has tools to react to required changes, why relegate Windows update to just security fixes… The key I think is in the idea of the “release” which is only a milestone in a product lifecycle (albeit the most important one). The release stabilizes the features and code enough for third parties to start development and testing against the code. It allows hardware vendors to create and certify drivers; without these items, users won’t be able to use the new software well anyways… It lets home users, enthusiasts, and the more flexible small and medium size business take advantage of the new features right away. Further, the slow and steady customers… the mid and large business you refer to are typically SP1 adopters anyways, waiting for the first service pack before distribution to the enterprise. So the approach of release early and often, is just a sign of the evolving software industry, and a bid to stay competitive in a world where “slumbering giants” will get passed by in a heartbeat.
Dan
Posted by Dan Bartels | November 22, 2006 12:12 PM
looked forward to the RTM release but disappointed it's just not finished, e.g. the CTRL+ALT+Delete screen, any logon messages from group policy, showing off the new Aero preceeded by badly formatted text lets it down a bit, also mobile centre still beta 3 - can't deploy to customers so waiting for the updates but still seem a step in the right direction.
Posted by urky | November 22, 2006 4:48 PM
I own a Workstation xw8200 and I'd like to know if it can run your Vista software.
Thank you
Gene Rodriguez
Posted by Eugene Rodiguez | December 8, 2006 1:35 PM
Hiya, i have just installed vista ultimate build, went to the video store to rent a few movies, popped them inot my computer, and windows media player 11, is not liking dvd's. i get an error, i am too low on memory ( i have 1.256 gb) so i don't think that is the problem, then i open the "mediacenter" and it says there is missing codec for playing dvd's. i have searched high and low for a solution, but have found none. also, i can't seem to find a player that will install on vista. nothing seems compatable yet. any help would be great. thanks !!!!
Posted by Roger M. | December 11, 2006 2:08 PM
hi
I have one of these - xw8200. It runs vista fine, make sure you have plenty of memory.
Posted by davea | February 26, 2007 2:42 AM
I bought vista home premium. Paid something like US$ 200. Nothing seems to work with vista smoothly. Takes away lots of my time. I am a computer professional having used windows since its inception. I have windows xp running on the same machine. My usage on windows xp is 90% and on vista it is only 10%. Vista sucks. Makes me loose lots of time to make it work. Only good thing about vista is its aero interface. Microsoft has duped the whole world with no gain, fancy pants software!
Posted by SHIV | June 28, 2007 5:25 AM