Bob Muglia on Longhorn Server, Linux and Blackcomb

An anonymous reader writes "In a wide-ranging interview, Microsoft's senior VP Bob Muglia talks about the work involved in getting Longhorn Server out by 2007. He also gives the lowdown on the next major release of Windows Server, code-named Blackcomb. 'If Indigo (a major feature of Longhorn) took four years to develop, some major infrastructure things inside Blackcomb will also take four years to develop,' Muglia said. On competition from Linux, he said: 'When I think of Linux, I don't think about it as our competitor. I think about Linux as a technology that is used by our competitors to build competitive offerings.' Very different from what Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates have been saying but Muglia says he's trying to teach them a thing or two."

Comments

No competition

[Anonymous Coward]

That lazy penguin's no match fro Clippy.

Re:No competition

[D4MO]

"Hey, it looks like you need to spell check!"

They come and they go...

[Anonymous Coward]

When I think of Linux, I don't think about it as our competitor.

-and-

Muglia says he's trying to teach them a thing or two. (Gates and Balmer)

Gee, I wonder how much longer he's gonna be around at MS.

yeah, right

[pato perez]

He's just playing good cop...

Linux as a competitor?

[joelparker]

When I think of Linux, I don't think about it as our competitor...

... because Microsoft doesn't compete with the tooth fairy and Santa Claus

Sure...

[xxx_Birdman_xxx]

From the article:
Muglia must keep a long train of updates and service packs for older versions of Windows rolling off the production line

WOAH, slow down with all those service packs for XP microsoft!
If the service packs for XP were actually a train, the would be only one carriage.. but that carriage would be bloody long!

Blackcomb?

[Whitecloud]

He also gives the lowdown on the next major release of Windows Server, code-named Blackcomb.
Blackcomb, sounds evil. The OS from the darkside, while doing battle surfing on lava against the might of Linux.

need a website?

Re:Blackcomb?

[Anonymous Coward]

Blackcomb isn't evil... some of the ski runs there are though. Ever heard of Whistler Blackcomb? Yeah, suprisingly those two mountains were around BEFORE Microsoft.

Re:Smart Guy

[DiscoOnTheSide]

Well, as far as my knowledge goes (I.E.- watching "Pirates of Silicon Valley") that fat goon Balmer more or less roommates with a dork who had a hardon for computers and rode on his coat tails so he could bounce around like he was auditioning for planet of the apes.

Gates: "Hmmm... that developer... He doesn't look motivated enough. Release the chimp!"
Balmer: "DEVELOPERS DEVERLOPS DEVELOPERS!"
Developer: "Nooooooo!!!"

Re:Smart Guy

[AliasTheRoot]

DEVERLOPS?

When will /. have a moderation option for "+invent new word"? Deverlops is a good word tho.

To Microsoft Project Managers: Get out of BC

[Matt Clare]

As a Canadian Linux and OS X user I really wish M$ would stop using ski destinations in British Columbia for their code names. If they must use Canadian based names why not things like "Sea King," Mulroney and Hamilton?

Re:Change of policy for MS?

[normal_guy]

Surely the dreamers behind the GPL thought to include a non-Microsoft clause?

Interview Text Excerpt

[ThisIsFred]

Interviewer: So tell us what we can expect from the next version of Windows in 2005.

Microsoft Spokesperson: Well, with the release of Nexthorn in the first quarter of 2006-

I: Wait, did you just say 2006?

MS: Pardon?

I: Nevermind. Go on.

MS: Well, after the initial release, slated for the last quarter of '06-

I: Hold on. What did you just say?

MS: Er, well... Where was I? Oh yes, a new technology code-named Indigo will be a major feature in enhancement with the 2007 release of Window-

I: There! Stop! You just did it again?

MS: Did what?

I: Just now.

MS: Just what? What'd I do?

I: You keep changing the date.

MS: No I'm not.

I: Yes, you are. I just heard you. You said "2007".

MS: Couldn't have.

I: What? Why not. I just heard you say it.

MS: No, I said "2008".

I: [pause] Okay. I apologize. Please continue.

MS: Allright then. Indigo will up the standard for OS design in 2009...

NPR Underwriter

[carrier lost]

Microsoft - Your innovation, our patents

MjM