From: Kenneth Canfield <ksc2103@columbia.edu>
  To  : <cpc@emoglen.law.columbia.edu>
  Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 12:54:29 -0500

[CPC] MS to rewrite 60% of Vista code, Intel to delay too

See:  http://tinyurl.com/gkgvh

In addition to rewriting the code, "Microsoft has also admitted that it
has major problems in it's  Windows division and has has immediately
initiated a total restructure of the division."  I am not familiar with
how long it actually takes to write software once you are committed to
it, but it seems difficult to believe they can have a working product to
deliver to this fall.

On that note, I was wondering what the terms of the license were so get
an idea of what MS promised businesses.  Info on the Software Assurance
Program is available at http://tinyurl.com/6kumq.  It is clear that they
promised Windows Vista Enterprise, but I couldn't yet find details about
what/when they promised it.   They do say that it is "[c]urrently
scheduled for release in late 2006."  (http://tinyurl.com/zavav). The
same site says it is "available exclusively to Microsoft Software
Assurance customers," which I find interesting.  Does that really mean
that businesses cannot buy "Windows Vista Enterprise" without having
subscribed to the Software Assurance program?

Another interesting thing is that "The [MS] team are [sic] also working
closely with engineers from the Intel Viiv team. and it is now expected
that the next version of Viiv could be delayed to line up with the
launch of the consumer version of Vista at the 2007 CES Show in Las
Vegas."   (See http://www.intel.com/products/viiv/index.htm for info on
the Intel Viiv.)  I'm unfamiliar with Intel Viiv and the page didn't
help too much, but if this is something sold in a normal computer, this
probably makes irrelevant my claim in class that Dell/etc. could sell
computers with a promise of the Vista upgrade later.  Now they won't
even have the appropriate hardware to entice buyers.

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