Delayed launch puts pressure on publisher
Jim Jamieson
Province
REDMOND, Wash. — Last month Microsoft Corp. delayed the launch of what may turn out to be the most important software-product transition in the dominating technology company’s history.
This week, at its global headquarters here, Microsoft attempted to show a group of journalists that the wait may be worth it.
Microsoft was set to make Windows Vista, the successor to its flagship Windows XP operating system, available to consumers for the crucial Christmas season, but backed off when “quality” concerns arose.
That wasn’t the first delay, and the pressure on Microsoft to deliver a product that shows major improvements on the security fiascos that dogged Windows XP is huge.
Peg McNichol, product manager for Windows Vista, said the new operating system will make it more difficult to attack different areas in ways the user doesn’t expect.
During her 45-minute demo, she showed numerous layers of protection built into Vista to thwart malicious software.
“We’re trying to educate users in what’s going on with their machines, tell them what we think they need to do to fix it,” said McNichol.
The Vista demo showed an interface that offers more intuitive means to organize and view data, including a new, ultra-comprehensive search capability.
As part of its security coverage, Vista also features beefed-up parental controls, which allow moms and dads to limit kids’ computer use even by the time of day, block specific programs, and offer reports on such activities as instant messaging, e-mail and web pages visited.
McNichol also previewed new, slick photo handling and media player capabilities, which are reminiscent of Apple’s iPhoto and iTunes.
Vista‘s delay will not affect the release of Internet Explorer 7. The web browser will be built into Vista, but will also be available for Windows XP in the second half of the year.
Earlier, Marg Cobble of the Internet Explorer group, highlighted the new browser’s improved security features, the addition of RSS feeds, more efficient printing and tabbed browsing (already an Apple fixture).
The enterprise version of Vista will launch on time in November, so businesses can get on with the job of updating their networks.
© The Vancouver Province 2006