10 Improvements for Microsoft 7

"On Monday, I highlighted 10 things I told Microsoft about Windows Vista and what it needed to succeed Windows XP.

Commenter bigAPE complained: "If the author is such a visionary why is he writing blogs instead of the next Windows OS?" The commenter called the post another "told you so article." I gave the advice before Vista shipped, and it was mostly right. I didn't second-guess afterward. Anyone who followed my analyst blog between 2004-2006 would have seen this advice spread out among various posts.

But bigAPE has a point about making a positive contribution. So, once again, I offer my advice to Microsoft, this time for Windows 7. I encourage Microsoft Watch readers to do the same with their comments.

These 10 things intentionally mirror those from Monday's post.

1. Windows 7 has to be a whole lot better than Windows Vista. Better doesn't mean tons more features. CDs replaced vinyl records because of perceived better audio quality, small disc size and greater convenience. The older analog technology actually delivered better fidelity because it captured the full sound wave; the digital successor samples and compresses the sound wave. DVDs rapidly replaced VHS tapes for similar reasons. The experience was much better.

Microsoft's first priority should be reducing complexity. There, the Zune Marketplace UI has shown one way. The software/service is highly functional and fun, yet sharply streamlined compared with iTunes or Windows Media Player. Windows 7 should emphasize simplicity while hiding complexity. For example, must there really be 50 icons in Control Panel?

Any process requiring more than two mouse clicks is too complicated. Every Wizard is unnecessary. Windows 7 must wring the complexity out of the user interface. Microsoft can make Windows 7 more compelling by radically—and I mean RADICALLY—changing the UI. The old motif has got to go, and its replacement shouldn't be one motif but several. I'll explain more in No. 5 and 6. "

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/vista/10_ways_microsoft_can_make_windows_7_lucky.html


Microsoft should hire this guy to just sit in the board room and throw his ideas and responses around. His criticism of Microsoft's vista product is probably what everyone was saying when Vista was released and everyone had their trial with it.