Does Microsoft have corporate ADD?

After watching Bill Gates' CES keynote, I'm convinced Microsoft has ADD.

They have too many products for a start. But another thing that makes me think they have Attention Deficit Disorder is the way they let products rot. Windows Defender is an example.

Giant AntiSpyware was a good product when MS bought it. Over time, Microsoft fiddled and tinkered with it until it had a totally different interface, although one that still didn't mesh with the rest of Windows. Then it stopped working.

In the last few months we've seen a lot of spyware slip past Defender. To add insult to injury, our friends at 180 Solutions seem to have done a deal that their spyware is marked as not to be deleted. It appears they weren't the only ones.

This month, we're telling our subscribers not to uninstall Windows Defender, the AVG free spyware product is better. It's this failure of Microsoft to stick with a product that makes me wonder if they do have ADD. That would also explain why products are so late to market.

The new Windows Home Server

Well, the rumours were right, Bill Gates announced Microsoft's Windows Home Server.

The whole thing raises some serious questions: Will it be restricted to HPs running AMD chips or will there be more products? Will it's advanced features such as automatic backup work on Vista or will it be XP compatible? Will it really ship at the end of the year?

It's also a concern on if it will distract from the launch of the domestic versions of Vista.

As a tech, another concern is there are too many versions of Windows kicking around. These are the Windows domestic and small business systems that will be in common use later this year.

Windows Server 2003
Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard
Windows Small Business Server Premium
XP Home
XP Pro
XP Media Centre

Windows Home Server
Vista Home Basic
Vista Home Premium
Vista Business
Vista Ultimate

All of the Vista versions may or may not have the Aero interface and other features enabled.

And then there's Windows 2007, should it be released on time.

Really, this is a support nightmare.