Microsoft Must Address Windows' Pains
Last week in this space, I criticized Microsoft for continuing to burn cycles on superficial add-ons, such as multi-touch support in Windows Seven, while more significant pain points for Windows customers remain under-addressed. As I see it, Microsoft is busying itself tacking up fanciful moldings around its flagship product while the Windows through which millions of paying customers access their hardware devices and software applications remain smudged and, in some places, cracked. The best example of this misplaced focus relates to the undisputed No. 1 reason why organizations and individuals continue to choose Windows above all other platforms: access to Windows' massive software catalog. If you've deemed OS X or Linux unsuitable for your needs, chances are that the root of the misfit is compatibility with software that runs only on Windows. And yet, it's poor software management that's at the root of most users' Windows woes, including the malware issues that keep Windows customers ever on Orange Alert. The trouble is that the sea of available Windows software contains both beneficial and harmful applications. It's very easy for users to compromise the security of their systems and of their data by installing malware, or by failing to install security patches. Since installing applications can broadly impact your Windows system, these rights are reserved for system administrators, who are presumably better qualified to vet applications before installing them, and to ensure that the software stays up to date once they've installed it. However, relatively few Windows users, both in businesses and homes, have access to system administrators, and businesses that do have these IT resources would be much better served turning them on core business needs. There is no shortage of products and services intended to help fill the software installation and update holes with which Windows is riddled, but if we're ever to see a fundamental improvement in Windows application management, Microsoft must get involved. I find it hard to believe that Microsoft views media players and movie editing software important enough to bundle with Windows, and yet the best effort that Microsoft has so far mustered toward improving the state of software management is to throw up a red warning shield if PCs lack anti-virus software. I'd like to see Microsoft expand Windows update into a service that ISVs can plug into to centralize application updating, and through which customers can benefit from the efforts of application vetting firms such as Bit9. Rather than vet and update applications one-by-one, users and administrators should be able to select from one or more trusted application vetting services, and configure their Windows systems to enable regular users to install applications and subsequent updates from these pre-vetted catalogs. Perhaps best of all, a bulked-up Windows software management framework could serve the goals both of improving the experiences of millions of Windows users, and of allowing Microsoft to continue chasing Apple's iPhone--which is on track to get its own pre-vetted software installation service next month.
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Comments (8)
Not surprised of this "article" [more like a commentary] coming from Mr Brooks who has always been anti-Microsoft. Every article he posts seems to shoot down Microsoft. He has to find a weakness. Sort of like "Windows 7 has this new feature but it's been in Linux since 1979."
Linux will *NEVER* catch up to Windows in the number of computers with the OS because Linux is too defragmented with too many distributions. And because of this there will never be proper management, supported drivers, etc.
Posted by Gisabun | June 11, 2008 11:01 AM
@Gisabun: This *is* a commentary.
In any case, the Windows enhancements I'm talking about would be great for Windows users, for the Windows ISV community, and for Microsoft.
Posted by Jason Brooks | June 11, 2008 11:10 AM
Microsoft is already doing this. The Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel improves with each release including Vista. Windows Update and the Ultimate Extras work smoothly and include third party drivers and other Microsoft applications. This has an enterprise management component for real big companies. The SoftGrid purchase now provides application virtualization and side by side installs (only in the enterprise). Systems Management Server combined with Active Directory policies manages desktop software images. ClickOnce and Silverlight provide web-based application delivery. Visual Studio creates installer packages and PowerShell can help manage them.
All this adds up to a strong enterprise application management portfolio.
Are you really serious about enterprise iTunes?!?
Posted by Bill Wolff | June 11, 2008 11:24 AM
A very good article but fails to address the biggest issue of all. Micro soft drops all back-up services before getting the bugs out! All Windows OS systems fail to syncrinize properly and yet Microsoft fails to address this issue. Their answer, it seems, is toyet roll out another OS system with even more problems!
Posted by August Sullivan | June 11, 2008 12:40 PM
@Bill Yes, all the tools exist for enterprises to build out a system like this for themselves.
The trouble with this enterprise DIY model of Windows software management is that the software management problems of the individual consumer to SME Windows users (the vast majority of all Windows users) still cause problems for enterprises.
When your website is DDOSed by a bot network, how many of those pwned PCs sit under an enterprise management framework? Is proper software management even a possibility for the Windows majority?
And again, even if your enterprise has the resources to build out a proper software management framework, wouldn't you be better off turning those resources on IT projects that actually make money for your firm?
To stay in business, MS needs to deliver value in Windows. Aero Glass and Multitouch don't deliver value. Working to cleaning up the software management house for all would deliver real value.
Posted by Jason Brooks | June 11, 2008 1:24 PM
You may agree or disagree with the example discussed in this commentary. However, it is hard to deny the basic point. Much commercial software, Windows included, is "improved" for years while ignoring basic bugs and faults and producing ever more top heavy complicated versions with new glitzy features of questionable value.
How about the fact that Windows Explorer tends to crash and restart on start up or at other times without much effective recourse. This has been going on since Windows 3.x and probably before. OK, you can say this is 3rd party software related, but that's a lame excuse. Virtual machine helps, but the basic problem has really never gone away. How about that Microsoft?
Posted by Seth | June 12, 2008 11:31 AM
I agree 100% with Jasons commects on Windows. I actually like Vista and am migrating some of my newer systems to it. That said, I don't get why they spent so much effort changing the UI so that longtime windows users had to relearn simple tasks. Why did they spend so much time trying to copy crappy Mac features?
We don't need new curtains on these Windows, we need new dual pane, well insulated, and freshly cleaned Windows. Prioritize core features such as a new filesystem over transparency. Prioritize an application management system over rearranging the control panel yet again. Prioritize making windows features more modular so that features like remote desktop can be installed in any windows version over creating 17 different versions each with slight differences and sometime mutually exclusive features.
Posted by DrKhyron | June 12, 2008 2:26 PM
If your looking for even more information on PC security then I would head over here as they have plenty of stuff on identity theft, antivirus software etc.
Posted by Internet Security | July 15, 2008 3:41 AM