Vista architect quits Microsoft for Amazon

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Brian Valentine, Microsoft's operating systems chief, has left the company to join Amazon.com, ahead of the much-delayed delivery of Windows Vista.

Instead of worrying about delivering Vista by its January deadline, he will now be on the other side of the fence, wondering if the retail boxes will arrive in Amazon's warehouses in time.

Now, as Release Candidate One of Vista is delivered, (read our preview) and Microsoft announced the retail pricing of the final product, he is leaving to become a senior vice president of Amazon.com, according to the Seattle Times and other sources.

Valentine made his name in the final push to deliver the problematic Windows 2000, and won respect by improving the predictability of Windows releases since then, including XP. Windows Vista has suffered a two-year slippage, and the project has had to have its architecture changed, but most observers acknowledge the difficulty of the project. Valentine is reportedly leaving on good terms.

The body count in the struggle to deliver Vista includes one-time group vice president Jim Allchin, who was at one stage responsible for Windows product delivery, and plans to leave whenVista is out of the door.

Talkback

Let's see...

MS has now lost the leader of the Company and the leader of the Vista OS project that is years behind schedule. It doesn't bode well for MS, and it appears Vista will become the next OS/2.

Most smart PC users will be moving up to Macs... the writing is on the wall... No Viruses, better software, and a dream to code for... The smart money is on Apple for the next few decades.

http://www.apple.com/imac/

http://www.apple.com/macmini/

http://www.apple.com/macbook/

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/

http://www.apple.com/macpro/

via Facebook 6 September, 2006 19:54
Reply

" It doesn't bode well for MS, and it appears Vista will become the next OS/2.

Most smart PC users will be moving up to Macs... the writing is on the wall... No Viruses, better software, and a dream to code for... "

Omg what an idiot, people are moving to MACS? who the hell in their right mind will move to a mac, really?

no viruses is a lie, better software? Nah its just rebadged linux with less support and less options.
All in all macos needs to be dropped and they need to start installing windows on their machines and selling them.

via Facebook 8 September, 2006 17:41
Reply

So Myles, so you're actually advising Open Source then? Or are you more about selling whatever leads to the highest overall profit margin and who cares about the customer (until they stop generating profit because then we move in some account manager to wine and dine them into their next mistake, errr, strategic investment)?

via Facebook 8 September, 2006 22:56
Reply

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