Windows Vista Isn’t for Developers?

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[...] Chris Pirillo responds:  Windows Vista Isn’t for Developers? [...]

“Now, when one of the world’s leading software developers”

What? The same guy who worked on this:
http://www.fogcreek.com/FogBugz/50tour/01.html
??

He had to Google how to open the box???? And he’s a software developer???

I’m sorry, but what in the world does the packaging have to do with the product inside. It’s so “chic” to bash Vista and MS these days. And now we’re critiquing the box? Have we really sunk that low?

Chris Pirillo about MVPs…

… says this:

Microsoft MVP program is about as effective in influencing product direction as eating graphite makes you a better swimmer

… and since Chris was Microsoft MVP for years and recently he switched to Mac and to iPhone - from …

“the Microsoft MVP program is about as effective in influencing product direction as eating graphite makes you a better swimmer”

I think that might have to deal with what product group you deal with.

I mean, one can’t point at Toyota and say ‘Look at the Prius, all of Toyota must be hybrid’, one can’t point at the single gluten-free bread from a major bakery and make an assumption about the rest of the breads, and one can’t say that all MVPs have no influence on product direction.

Oh, and for the record, when I did support for Exchange 5.0, I had many users call and complain that they couldn’t figure out how to get to the second cd, despite being able to see it.

See, they used one of those single depth cd cases where you had to flip the tray out. People couldn’t figure that one out either. It was at that point that I decided never to listen to people who couldn’t figure out how to open packaging, unless it was a puzzle box.

I had a similar experience trying to open the Vista package. Blogged about the package needing a patch back in February - even included a picture. My Vista package even included a little piece of red tape, apparently, some kind of attempt at “patching” the package. Funny post, good picture. If you want to take a look at it you can click into it here.

http://www.palmit.com/archives/2007/08/20/vista_packaging_headache.html

With all due respect, you have to be pretty moronic not to figure out how to open the box without resorting to Google.

Along with UAC this “difficulty” could be a good thing - another layer of security (testing the potential users intelligence which coresspondance to potential security hazard) to stop morons using Windows and then claiming it is virus ridden through thier own stupidity.

As for the new UI in Office - I can only say I wished Microsoft had implimented it earlier - i.e Office 2003 as it is truly way better in so many ways. I hope the next round sees it in all the apps.

a person not able to open the box will be happy with wordpad.
sorry!

+ Discussion: Zoli’s Blog andChris Pirillo

Microsoft’s flagship desktop products. Initially, I didn’t complain about Vista or any Office product without always giving Microsoft suggestions for improvement. I only complain about the things I care about - as should you. [IMG] News Source:Chris Pirillo’s Blog

I just don’t get it. I must be a special case because I switched to Vista a while back and have been using it as my primary operating system on my ThinkPad Z61t. All the hardware works.. everything from the tiny little camera to the SD card reader and fingerprint reader. Heck, even all of the IBM Thinkvantage crapware works in Vista.

As for software. I use a few different IM packages.. Office 2007 Enterprise… Firefox and a bunch of other junk and I have had no problems.

I dont get the complaints about the user interface either. maybe I catch on to these things a little fast than most? So thats why they dont bother me? In fact, the new Vista start menu is the greatest thing ever. Combined with Start++ it has saved me a ton of time doing simple things like RDP.

Anyway.

A perfect example of just why I don’t care is his latest post, an insane rambling about how difficult it was to open the Office 2007 packaging. Come on, Joel. You really couldn’t figure it out? Of courseChris Pirillo jumps in with his two cents, basically rehashing what Joel says, and also point out how bad it is for one of the “world’s leading software developers states this” information. Gimme a break. When I bought Office 2007 a month ago to install for a friend, opening the box

thinkpads in general are the best vista machines currently. lenovo has the best drivers so far

I’m a DBA/developer and both Vista and Office 2007 work very well for me. The anti-Vista bandwagon is silly and outrageous (like Jem).

[...] Chris Pirillo on Spolsky’s comments Now, when one of the world’s leading software developers states this (privately or publicly), you have to wonder why I’ve been taking such a beating for my position on Microsoft’s flagship desktop products. Initially, I didn’t complain about Vista or any Office product without always giving Microsoft suggestions for improvement. I only complain about the things I care about - as should you. [...]