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Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

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Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

#1

Post by pwatsonwailes »

Short version: I've been asked to compile a document that will go to various people at MS, including Steve Ballmer (before anyone asks, no I'm not giving you his or anyone elses contact details).

As such, what would you guys like to see from Microsoft in the future? Suggestions can cover anything from IE9 to Windows 8, your thoughts on 7 (desktop or mobile), Xbox, Zune... Also, thoughts on competitors and their movements would be welcomed too.

Please note that this isn't just a feature request list, so anything to do with the strategic direction of MS and/or any of its divisions would be great.

Fire away!

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

#2

Post by pierrefar »

I would start with a version of Windows that is not backward compatible with really old APIs (i.e. removing a lot the old cruft) and making the remaining OS be super fast and have low memory usage.

I ask for this because although computers are getting faster all the time, booting and using Windows these days is still an exercise in patience, even on my high end laptop.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

#3

Post by petewailes »

pierrefar wrote: post #2

I would start with a version of Windows that is not backward compatible with really old APIs (i.e. removing a lot the old cruft) and making the remaining OS be super fast and have low memory usage. I ask for this because although computers are getting faster all the time, booting and using Windows these days is still an exercise in patience, even on my high end laptop.

What would you consider a maximum acceptable boot time?

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

#4

Post by pierrefar »

petewailes wrote: post #3
pierrefar wrote: post #2

I would start with a version of Windows that is not backward compatible with really old APIs (i.e. removing a lot the old cruft) and making the remaining OS be super fast and have low memory usage. I ask for this because although computers are getting faster all the time, booting and using Windows these days is still an exercise in patience, even on my high end laptop.

What would you consider a maximum acceptable boot time?

As low as possible, and ideally virtually instantaneous. From a cold boot, I'd put a cap of 10-15 seconds tops.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

#5

Post by rakkhi »

Interesting if real. Ok lets go for benefit of the doubt, starting with the highest priority items:

Mobile technology - The Windows phone 7 will not succeed. Sure you will sell a few phones but for the marketing and sheer executive brainspend on this you will not get a profitable return within 5 years. I had a good debate on Quora about what sucess looks like for Microsoft and I don't think this is realistically achievable: https://www.quora.com/Will-the-Windows-Phone-7-succeed-Why-o...

So the best decision would be to give up on the OS and focus on applications such as MS Office and XBOX game centre for iOS and Android devices. Alternatively buy RIM - it is such a good synergy with the current MS business and getting cheaper by the minute.

Consumer operating systems - The days of big desktop being a true star are dead, it is a cashcow at best. Why do you really need more than a XBOX / PS3 and a tablet & phone now? Focus on building from scratch an OS like Chromium that will run on a tablet, boot in under 3 seconds, have IE 9 as the browser and run office.live.com with proper offline mode. Use the Wintel partnership to get firmware optimization with this and use Dell, Acer and HP to get this new OS out on a powerfull (maybe dual screen) tablet by Q2 2011.

Browser - IE9 looks promising but it is a straight up rip off of Chrome no questions. Where is the real innovation - hire some people that will really think outside the box on a browser e.g. how about something like Cardspace from WebOS - organize browser and OS activities by task rather than by tabs and applications

XBOX - This is the one shining light in the last 5 years for MS for me. Focus on leading the industry not following it - how about a true cloud gaming service using optimized RDP or equivilent to allow full 3D rich client emulation gameplay on tablets, TV's and phones

Zune - must support full cloud based music streaming service - do it before Google music.

Augmented humanity - do something to lead and the define to way to private and secure augmented humanity: http://rakkhi.blogspot.com/2010/09/privacy-in-age-of-augment...

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

#6

Post by makecheck »

pierrefar wrote: post #2

I would start with a version of Windows that is not backward compatible with really old APIs (i.e. removing a lot the old cruft) and making the remaining OS be super fast and have low memory usage. I ask for this because although computers are getting faster all the time, booting and using Windows these days is still an exercise in patience, even on my high end laptop.

I would add specifically that virtualization is overdue. Apple's strategy back in the day was pretty good: sandbox the entire old OS so that users can still get most things to "just work", but then support only a subset of APIs on the new OS. Apple also kept the old OS as-is (i.e. ugly), while using all the nice new technologies and look-and-feel as bait to encourage developers to move.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

#7

Post by pierrefar »

makecheck wrote: post #6
pierrefar wrote: post #2

I would start with a version of Windows that is not backward compatible with really old APIs (i.e. removing a lot the old cruft) and making the remaining OS be super fast and have low memory usage. I ask for this because although computers are getting faster all the time, booting and using Windows these days is still an exercise in patience, even on my high end laptop.

I would add specifically that virtualization is overdue. Apple's strategy back in the day was pretty good: sandbox the entire old OS so that users can still get most things to "just work", but then support only a subset of APIs on the new OS. Apple also kept the old OS as-is (i.e. ugly), while using all the nice new technologies and look-and-feel as bait to encourage developers to move.

Yes very good point. Build a good foundation OS and then virtualise for backwards compatibility.

I think .net is a good bait for such a new system. From the little interaction I've had with C# devs, they seem to like it.

Re: Ask HN: What do you want to tell Microsoft?

#9

Post by genieyclo »

rakkhi wrote: post #5

Interesting if real. Ok lets go for benefit of the doubt, starting with the highest priority items: Mobile technology - The Windows phone 7 will not succeed. Sure you will sell a few phones but for the marketing and sheer executive brainspend on this you will not get a profitable return within 5 years. I had a good debate on Quora about what sucess looks like for Microsoft and I don't think this is realistically achi…

This post has so much FUD it makes my brain hurt.
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