What's the next step in Redmond's server plans? Ask Microsoft's Doug Miller
No, you don't need a new pair of glasses nor is it April Fools' Day. This week, we're honored to have a senior representative from Microsoft as our interviewee: Doug Miller, who is the director of competitive strategy in Microsoft's Windows Server marketing group. This interview gives our community members an unusual opportunity to pose questions directly to an official, senior representative from Microsoft.
Over the next three days, we will be discussing various topics, including Microsoft's OS strategy, core technologies, future directions, and view of Linux and the open source movement. Controversial and emotion-stirring as this discussion may become, it is a rare opportunity for exchanging views and ideas. Therefore, let's keep this discussion professional.
Doug is responsible for a team within Microsoft focused on competitive strategy and enterprise interoperability products. Before joining Microsoft, he was CEO and cofounder of Softway Systems, which produced Interix, a complete Unix operating system environment for Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000. Microsoft acquired Softway Systems and the Interix product in September 1999. Doug has over 18 years' experience in the Intel (Unix and Windows) operating system market.
Our first question concerns the future of the Windows OS. For years there has been talk about unifying the Windows codebase, i.e., converging all variants of Windows into a single, ubiquitous operating system suitable for desktop computers, embedded systems, and servers alike. In practice, however, this target hasn't been reached. On the desktop we have four or more different versions of Windows (95, 98, 98SE, and Millennium Edition). On the embedded systems market, we have Windows CE and embedded NT. Finally, Windows 2000 and its predecessor, Windows NT, are aimed mostly at the server market. Will all these systems ever converge? Is this convergence still one of Microsoft's goals? Would end users benefit from this convergence? Finally, what is the role of the highly touted XP in this regard and what are its novel features?
As the interview develops, we'll also be asking tough questions about Windows' notorious instability -- why has it been so hard for Microsoft to come up with a stable OS? But you don't have to feel limited by these questions -- bring your own concerns! We hope to see you there.
» posted by jfruh
ITworld.com
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