Windows Vista

Windows XP is a very stable operating system. A tremendous improvement from Windows 98. On top of that Windows Update has proven itself as a platform for distributing components of that core. Hindsight or not, I believe the correct approach to releasing Vista (Longhorn) would have been in purchasable components through Windows Update. Aero and other components could all have be modularly upgradeable. There are many reasons why Microsoft could have decided against this approach. It’s possible that Windows XP was not modular enough to upgrade that way. It’s also possible that this is what they have planned post-Vista. Or maybe they don’t have the same vision I do. What I do know though, is the Linux distributions I use like Debian have had this model for a long time and it works. All you need is an apt-get update; apt-get upgrade for a ‘Linux Update’ and an apt-get update; apt-get dist-upgrade for to migrate from ‘Linux XP’ to ‘Linux ista’. Microsoft made the wrong choice releasing Windows Vista (Longhorn) as a completely new operating system and this is going to hurt their pocket books long term. They had plenty of years to slip this capability into Windows XP. Only when Windows Update starts to offer purchasable upgrades will they really get to where they should have already been in the beginning with Longhorn and I think the consumers will be appreciative. No upgrades, just updates. That’s a lot less frightening to the average computer user.V