> Microsoft, unlike Apple, does not control the entire vertical stack. They don't really have direct control over hardware or retail distribution (some notable exceptions - Xbox, Microsoft stores etc., but you know what I mean - it's nothing like Apple's top-down approach)
I think most people in our field, including Gruber, are well aware that MS doesn't have full control of the stack. It's good to note, but at the end of the day if you're just judging product A from product B; no one, especially the customer, gives a crap about excuses no matter how good they are. Unless you're my family or friend, you either deliver or you don't. I don't care if you have to let the dog eat your homework or not.
The argument is not about which product is better, its about which release methodology results in a better product, which I claim is a pointless argument when you are shipping different products.
Yes, customers will judge them equally when the product ships - but the developer release isn't for customers. Its for developers and partners
If that's the case, why are so many tech bloggers treating this as though it's the "OS that will defeat the iPad"? If everyone thought as you do, then they would realize that comparing this to a shipped product which has already been evaluated by the public is a pretty poor comparison, and Gruber's argument stands pretty strong.
> If that's the case, why are so many tech bloggers treating this as though it's the "OS that will defeat the iPad"?
Seriously?
Because tech bloggers are morons that want to sensationalize their story but can't seem to come up with a new way to do it. You might as well ask why every vaguely scandalous political story is labeled "something-gate." Spoiler: it's probably not because the comparison to watergate is in any way interesting.
Fair point, Thurrott calling this the iPad killer is pre-emptive, and Gruber is right in that respect.
I was railing on Gruber's snide remark about "ship something real", where he is subtly making the point that shipping when a product is final is the right way to do things.
C'mon let's be fair here... What Gruber said was that "the right way to do things" depends on whether the person is writing for Apple or for Microsoft, and he (as punctuated by the "To me") doesn't feel like MS's way is the right way.
The whole article was about how different expectations are, and the process... oh, and, ironically, both user bases are equally passionate.
apple also releases beta iOS and OS X for months in advance so developers can test and write apps against the new release.
but noticeably they don't unveil new hardware until it's ready and stable for the public. the knock on most competitors is that the overall experience is underwhelming or way too beta, which hardware is a big component.
I think most people in our field, including Gruber, are well aware that MS doesn't have full control of the stack. It's good to note, but at the end of the day if you're just judging product A from product B; no one, especially the customer, gives a crap about excuses no matter how good they are. Unless you're my family or friend, you either deliver or you don't. I don't care if you have to let the dog eat your homework or not.