Confirmed - Vista Stinks

Two Garter analysts announced at a company-sponsored event what we've been saying - Vista stinks, and Microsoft better do something about it.

Chief among the root causes of stinkiness:
1. Lack of compelling new features
2. Bloated code base

"This is a large part of the reason [why] Windows Vista delivered primarily incremental improvements," they said. In turn, that became one of the reasons why businesses pushed back Vista deployment plans. "Most users do not understand the benefits of Windows Vista or do not see Vista as being better enough than Windows XP to make incurring the cost and pain of migration worthwhile." (from ComputerWorld)

As we've been remarking for some time, cloud computing, mobile computing, Linux, and embedded systems will eventually take their toll on Windows. And let's face it, Windows Mobile is also a substandard product at this point - if only from a usability perspective.

Which strategic direction will the behemoth choose? Developing server software and development tools? Becoming an internet giant? Improving its desktop software? Being a gaming force? Each of those spaces, at this point, are looking tough. Fighting in all arenas doesn't seem to be working out super well for Microsoft.