A while back I wrote a post (surprising I know, I never do that) on The Unofficial Microsoft Weblog about how many flavors Windows Vista had coming out...whenever. I believe I have found another winner. Visual Studio 2005 has almost as many flavors as Vista, which isn't too alarming because they both come from Microsoft. Not that this is particularly a bad thing, it is just funny to think about. I often suffer from consumer confusion, for example Visual Studio 2005, Express edition, Everywhere edition, Online Hosted edition, Professional edition, or even the Virtual Images edition. What's a geek to do anyway? How am I supposed to remember which tools are in which set in which product? What if I need more than one of the product, like the "consumer-and-dumbed-down" version as well as the "I'm-an-educator-so-I-have-special-software-needs-and-want-low-prices" version, not to mention the "I-want-to-easily-build-mobile-apps" version? Microsoft continues this trend of compartmentalized software products, while most people in the world are leaning toward multiplicity and integration. Is Microsoft behind the times in segregating all these products and taking away the clear definition of what they can do? Shouldn't software adapt itself to the multi-dimensional and integrated way we all work now?Visual Studio 2005: Vista flavors wannabe
A while back I wrote a post (surprising I know, I never do that) on The Unofficial Microsoft Weblog about how many flavors Windows Vista had coming out...whenever. I believe I have found another winner. Visual Studio 2005 has almost as many flavors as Vista, which isn't too alarming because they both come from Microsoft. Not that this is particularly a bad thing, it is just funny to think about. I often suffer from consumer confusion, for example Visual Studio 2005, Express edition, Everywhere edition, Online Hosted edition, Professional edition, or even the Virtual Images edition. What's a geek to do anyway? How am I supposed to remember which tools are in which set in which product? What if I need more than one of the product, like the "consumer-and-dumbed-down" version as well as the "I'm-an-educator-so-I-have-special-software-needs-and-want-low-prices" version, not to mention the "I-want-to-easily-build-mobile-apps" version? Microsoft continues this trend of compartmentalized software products, while most people in the world are leaning toward multiplicity and integration. Is Microsoft behind the times in segregating all these products and taking away the clear definition of what they can do? Shouldn't software adapt itself to the multi-dimensional and integrated way we all work now?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-25-2006 @ 11:24AM
Alex M said...
One could argue that MS is behind the times, but one has to consider that if they simplified their offerings then the jobs of all those MS-approved consultants would be over =o)
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7-25-2006 @ 12:17PM
Daniel said...
Having a variety of versions, while annoying and confusing at times, actually benefits consumers. I'm not complaining that I can get Visual Basic for free in the Express edition. That gives me what I want, for the best price. But one could hardly expect Microsoft to give away the full version, now could one?
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7-27-2006 @ 7:22PM
Andrew said...
This is hardly consumer software now is it? And there is no Visual Stuio Everywhere Edition but there is Express, Standard, Pro, Team and DB Editions. Those other two are types of trials. Your point is valid but I think a developer would be a little more clued in than the average consumer.
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