Ok...lemme scratch my head :P
Vista, code named Longhorn, was supposed to be released in late 2003. It was supposed to be the stepping stone to Windows Vienna. Their schedule slipped. Lots of crap happened. WinFS and several key features were dropped. Scheduled slipped yet again and again and again and ... well ... again. Then they gutted the entire codebase. Hehehe... and switched to Win2k3 code base hoping they'll get back on track. This was in 2004. Finally its release date was set to be in 2005. It slipped twice or thrice after which they were supposed to release it for Christmas 2006. That didn't happen. There was a big out cry as Dell and other vendors lost a lot of $$$$ due to this stupid move. Then Jan 2007 was set as the final date for its release ;)
So my dear friend it was 101% clear that Vista was doomed. By May 2006, several key features were dropped, code based was jettisoned and a new code base was adopted, schedules slipped, heads rolled at M$.
:-) The funny thing is that's not very uncommon in software :D
In fact it happens most of the time due to bad project management or budgetary constraints or fluctuating requirements or unrealistic release dates. The only difference is there was is IMHO more hype around vista than any other software in history :-)
not too convincing but never the less IMO an end to this thread. Though personally i don't think anyone other than those familiar with M$' core inner workings can accurately answer that one anyway.
So DAJ, why don't we end this thread now and think of more constructive things for the next GLUG meet instead? Agreement?
Regards,
- vihan