7 ms·
> "The question is: which approach is right?" The problem is asking that question. It is irrelevant when they products are fundamentally different. Its like co
by varunsrin 15y ago
> "The question is: which approach is right?"
The problem is asking that question. It is irrelevant when they products are fundamentally different. Its like comparing, well, apples & oranges. You cannot compare the methodology of a hardware launch (iPad) to a software launch (Windows 8).
You do not launch major pieces software without a beta / dev preview release. No one does. Even Apple doesn't do it - Lion, iCloud & iOS5 were released in 'unfinished states', which Gruber claims to abhor. So instead of comparing above mentioned software launches (in an unfinished state) to Windows 8 (also in an unfinished state), Gruber chooses hardware.
Compare the Xbox & iPad release schedules, and iOS5/Lion & Windows 8 schedules. I doubt you'll find that the hardware ships with a public beta. And I doubt that you'll find that software ships without a beta.Gruber is twisting examples to suit his arguments, and this is fundamentally flawed logic.
- ethank 15y agoAgain, "the question is: which approach is right?" assumes that either company COULD change their approach. Should they? Don't conflate what is reality with what could be. If that was the case there wouldn't be an iPad (or X-Box, or Metro).
- varunsrin 15y agoMicrosoft does not launch unfinished Xboxes (hardware + software product). Apple does not launch unfinished iPads (hardware + software product) Microsoft launches unfinished Windows builds (software). Apple launches unfinished Lion builds (software). The question is flawed in that it assumes that they companies have different release methodologies for the same class of products. Both Microsoft & Apple are making similar choices for similar classes of products. What Gruber is doing is comparing release methodologies of different classes of products that are in the same market space. What drives the choice of release method is not the market space, but the nature of the product being released.
- ethank 15y agoActually Microsoft hardware has previewed unfinished hardware which didn't debut at all, or was radically changed: Microsoft Spot Digital Home Courier Tablet And don't get me started on their abandon-ware hardware projects (Networking, WebTV, Digital Photo TV, Zune, Microsoft at Work, MS Automotive, etc)
- varunsrin 15y agoThis argument thread is rapidly diverging from the original issue. You are now talking about product announcements, not releases. Windows 8 was 'released' today, not announced like the Courier was. Your current argument now is about a different problem (one that Longhorn / Vista faced), which is about announcing features before they were actually implemented and ready for release. I'm not going to continue this, I believe my point has been made.
- jonhohle 15y agoDon't forget about the Microsoft Cordless Phone (http://web.archive.org/web/20000301023950/http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/phone/default.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20000301023950/http://www.microso...) or, of course, Kin.
- whatusername 15y agoMicrosoft/Nintendo/Sony absolutely "launch" unfinished consoles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_U http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_U The more 3rd party applications you need on your platform, the longer a lead time you need to give to those 3rd parties. And for that matter -- Apple does launch unfinished iOS builds/features.
- X-Istence 15y agoWhat Gruber is arguing about, and I would tend to agree is that Microsoft has "released" Windows 8 on top of a tablet that is nothing like what a tablet would ultimately be. It contains a full Core i5, with fan to keep it cool and all. Would it have been better to wait till manufacturers were ready with their ARM based tablets that run Windows 8 rather than something PC like that runs Windows 8? Especially since based on the current demo device we will have no idea what Windows 8 will be like on actual low power hardware...