Previous WinHEC write-ups:
WinHEC Day 1: Ecosystems & Rockstars
WinHEC Day 2: Tastes Better When It's Free
One advantage of waiting a few days to write about my experience is that I had a chance to really think about what I saw at the show. I also have discussed it with a few people here, which helps with seeing big picture things. I'm thinking now of what seems to be a serious commitment by Microsoft to address the concerns, complaints, and needs of their users, both consumer and professional. This was evident from a few initiatives.
]]> First off, Microsoft is going to be making good use of the Windows Update and Windows Error Reporting systems. I think most people are familiar with Windows Update. (If you're not you're either not using Windows to read this, or your system has been compromised by malware, become a spam zombie, attained sentience, and developed an interest in extending its power to the rest of your home.) Windows Error Reporting is the part of Windows that pops up when there's a crash on your computer and asks if you want to send information about the problem to Microsoft. It's also the system inside Microsoft that records that data. Believe it or not, Microsoft already uses that data to improve Windows, and also contacts other software and hardware companies that they get a lot of error reports from to see if they can help them fix their problems.Both of these systems figure prominently into Windows Vista and the relationship with software and hardware vendors (ISVs and IHVs in Microsoft-speak). In Vista, Error Reporting will be turned on by default. Microsoft will start sharing error data with hardware and software partners through their online services to allow the vendors to post information there that can be provided to the customer directly. They will also be sharing data on hardware driver installation. The goal is to make Windows Vista more responsive for customers than previous Windows versions by giving companies like X10 a way to provide updates and information to customers in a way that addresses problems directly, and without going to another Web site. If this initiative succeeds, it should be pretty neat. I heard about aspects of it in several different sessions, so it seems to be a big deal.
The other way in which I felt the emphasis on user feedback was the prevalence of citing that feedback as a source for new features and improvements in Vista. Since I spent most of my time in driver development sessions, this was usually in reference to changes to the driver frameworks, deelopment tools, and testing systems, but it seemed clear to me that this was the case in all parts of Vista. Since this was my first WinHEC I don't know if they always say these sorts of things, but for me this time it was encouraging.
On the last day of WinHEC, I talked to two people who were X10 users. I always find it interesting to hear what people do with X10 products and what they think about X10. At lunch Dave and I sat down at a table and found ourselves talking to Dean Klein of Micron. When he saw X10 on our badges he told us about using X10 cameras for projects with a science museum in Boise, ID. On of the coolest things was helping kids to build their own versions of the Mars Rovers with X10 cameras on them to view their journeys.
After lunch I went to an "Ask the Expert" table (where Microsoft employees from particular groups answer your questions) to ask a couple questions about driver installation in Vista. Eugene Lin was very helpful, and when he saw I was from X10 told me all about having his whole house automated. Well, his previous house. He told us he hadn't put in X10 in his new house yet. I'm sure he'll get to it though.
Day three was a short day, so after lunch there were only two more sessions. Since all the driver installation stuff was over, I went to a few Media Center sessions to see if there's anything new and exciting going to be happening. The sessions were pretty empty, and there wasn't that would be too exciting for most users. I did learn that Microsoft is going to include a DVD/MPEG-2 decoder in Vista by default, so that will mean you don't need to by or install separate programs to watch DVDs in Vista. Minor, but nice.
Random thoughts from day 3: people installed Firefox on at least 3 of the uncontrolled Vista systems used as part of the "CommNet" at WinHEC; the last few sessions were really empty; reviewing log files in a presentation is always boring; next time I should try to play in the 20-on-20 Half Life 2 game center sponsored by AMD.
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