Windows 32bit Family XP RTM - 5.1.2600
XP SP1a - 1106
XP SP2 - 2180
Server 2003 RTM - 5.2.3790
Server 2003 SP1 - 1830
Server 2003 SP2 - 3959
Vista RTM - 6000.16386
Server 2008 Beta 3 - 6001.16510
Windows 64bit Family XP 64bit RTM - 5.2.3790.1830
XP 64bit SP2 - 3959
Server 2003 64bit RTM - 5.2.3790.1830
Server 2003 64bit SP2 - 3959
Vista 64bit RTM - 6000.16386
Server 2008 64bit Beta 3 - 6001.16510
I bought a retail copy of Office 2007 today (I’m loading up the new laptop I got for the world tour, which is a Thinkpad X61s), and I must be a complete spaz, but I simply could not figure out how to open the bizarre new packaging.
Joel eventually figured it out, but only after searching for a solution on Google (to add insult to injury):
Wasting five minutes trying to get the goddamned box open is just the first of many ways that Office 2007 and Vista’s gratuitous redesign of things that worked perfectly well shows utter disregard for all the time you spent learning the previous versions.
Remind me again when the “Wow” was supposed to start? Joel is still waiting as well:
I’ve been using Vista on my home laptop since it shipped, and can say with some conviction that nobody should be using it as their primary operating system — it simply has no redeeming merits to overcome the compatibility headaches it causes. Whenever anyone asks, my advice is to stay with Windows XP (and to purchase new systems with XP preinstalled).
Now, when one of the world’s leading software developers states this (privately or publicly), you have to wonder why I’ve been taking such a beating for my position on Microsoft’s flagship desktop products. Initially, I didn’t complain about Vista or any Office product without always giving Microsoft suggestions for improvement. I only complain about the things I care about - as should you.