Friday, June 30, 2006

Office 2007 slips again...

Microsoft has announced another delay in the shipment date of Office 2007.

The news article quotes Michaie Silver, a Gartner analyst, on an important point - a point that must be a source of considerable heartburn for enterprise who bought the 'future" story of Microsoft:

"Gartner analyst Michael Silver noted that the delay in Office could hit some businesses hard, particularly those that signed volume license contracts in late 2003. Such Enterprise Agreement or Software Assurance contracts offer, among other things, the right to any new versions of the product that come out over a period of time, typically three years.

"Each month they miss is another group of customers that renewed EA or SA in 2003 that got no new version of Office for their payments," Silver said. "It was just March when Microsoft emphatically stated that Office 2007 would be on the October price list. Even at close range, they can't forecast this stuff."


In other words, people paid money to Microsoft for an upgrade that they never got. Boy, it must be making them- oh so mad.

One rule that I have learnt the hard way. Avoid paying for anything that is going to be delivered in the future. Even if the person who is promising you the future is the biggest software company in the world. Pay post delivery. Pay now for what you get Now.

Poeple who think about buying Duet which would deliver more value packs in the future than it does today, may want to consider the past record of one of the Duet members.

- Sangeeta

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

has your company written and delivered any software that anyone uses?

In terms of Microsoft? Microsoft makes the schedule and Microsoft can change the schedule. Why ship software if it is not ready?

Don

Sangeeta Patni said...

Its not about the delay in shipment alone from Microsoft. It is about taking money in advance through Software Assurance Plans which failed to deliver anything at the end of the assurance date.

Do check out www.extensio.com for a partial list of our customers.

- Sangeeta

Shiraj Kavathar said...

Hi Sangeeta

It took some time to find out your blog on DUET. The information on Value benefit of the product and sustainability has been illustrated well. Missing deadlines and someone else bearing a loss for your deadline is not at all acceptable. A PRomise should be a promise.Well i am working with one of the top 6 IT companies in INDIA in the web marketing team. you have played the Devils Advocate perfectly and your blog in a true sense sounds personal and opinionative. I am hunting for evangelists who can write good thought leader content and the content on your blog has thrilled me. however your email address is missing in your profile can u contact me on shiraj.kavathar@gmail.com

Shiraj Kavathar said...

Hi Sangeeta

It took some time to find out your blog on DUET. The information on Value benefit of the product and sustainability has been illustrated well. Missing deadlines and someone else bearing a loss for your deadline is not at all acceptable. A PRomise should be a promise.Well i am working with one of the top 6 IT companies in INDIA in the web marketing team. you have played the Devils Advocate perfectly and your blog in a true sense sounds personal and opinionative. I am hunting for evangelists who can write good thought leader content and the content on your blog has thrilled me. however your email address is missing in your profile can u contact me on shiraj.kavathar@gmail.com