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April 28, 1999

Dear Bill

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Microsoft recently opened an online forum to solicit direct input from IT and software professionals about its products. But here's a forum without the Microsoft ties. What's your take on NT5/Windows 2000? Should Microsoft use Windows 2000 as a way to break with the past and ditch almost all the legacy stuff that still gets dragged through each new release of Windows?

Discuss it in LangaLetter threads.

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Fred Langa is a senior consulting editor and columnist for Windows Magazine. Fred's free weekly newsletter is available via subscribe@langa.com. You can contact him at fred@langa.com or via his website at http://www.langa.com.

By Fred Langa

There's a new area on the Microsoft corporate site, and perhaps it's best described in Microsoft's own words:

"Ever want to tell us what you really think about our products but didn't know how? Now is your chance to let Bill Gates know what you would like to see in the next version of Windows. He would like to know what your long-term business needs are from the Windows desktop beyond Windows 2000 Professional. In other words, what are your most important requirements from the Windows client operating system for business use? If you've had a chance to look at Windows 2000 Professional, what do you think is missing? What features would you like to see in future versions of Windows (beyond Windows 2000 Professional) for business use?"

While the discussion is about Windows 2000--formerly known as Windows NT 5.0--the site's design makes it clear that eventually all Microsoft products will take their turn in the spotlight of public criticism.

Given the current level of anti-Microsoft sentiment, a site like this is somewhat risky. To try to prevent blatant flame-wars and nonconstructive vituperation, Microsoft also has listed what they call "rules of engagement" to which you must agree before posting. The rules aren't terribly restrictive, but I have to believe that many would-be posters--and perhaps people with the strongest, most legitimate gripes about Microsoft--might suspect that Big Brother is afoot, and decline to participate.

So let me offer an alternative: This forum. Long-time readers know that almost anything goes here. There's no editing, blocking, or arbitrary restrictions in your posts, and as you've seen in recent weeks, civil discourse on all sides of any issue is not merely allowed, but encouraged.

So, without Big Brother looking over your shoulder, what's your take on Windows 2000? Given its delay, I'm beginning to think Microsoft might best use Windows 2000 as a way to break with the past and ditch almost all the legacy stuff that still gets dragged--like a software ball and chain--through each release of Windows. Microsoft would use the new releases in the Win9x line to continue to provide legacy support, and let NT become what it was originally designed to be: a clean start, supporting the newest and best technologies, without the baggage of the past. Stripping away the legacy leftovers will result in a far leaner, more stable and supportable Windows, and at a stroke eliminate many of the compromises that limit NT today. Alas, this probably won't happen, and I'll bet the old legacy issues won't die until 2005 or later.

What's your take? Join in the free and wide-open discussion!

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