[untrained skeptic]

The researchers damn Windows in current form, urge radical changes

Such as? Seriously. What radical changes are they urging?

What is it that they think Microsoft needs to do in order to make Windows dramatically better.

The simple fact is that most people are at least satisfied if not happy with Windows XP.

As for wanting Windows on smaller devices, Microsoft has Windows Mobile, Windows CE, and Windows Embedded. Windows Embedded is a slimed down version of Windows. CE and Mobile are made to run on different processor types, but still allow developers to use many of the same tools and libraries.

It's no surprise that most Windows users didn't run out and upgrade to Vista. That's pretty consistent with past releases as well. It's nothing new. If anything people are slower to move towards Vista simply because XP has been a good, solid, and reliable product. It's not perfect of course, but it was a big step up from past versions and really satisfied the needs of most users.

It's hard to get people to pay upgrade and migration costs when what they have suits their needs.

So these brilliant researchers are suggesting that Microsoft needs to make radical changes, but they didn't seem to have much in the way of suggestions for radical changes.

I'm guessing that they are pretty much as much at a loss as everyone else as to what Microsoft should do next with their PC OS.

Microsoft's problem is that their products have finally matured to the point where the to do list has shrunk to minor things, and they are having a hard time finding ways to add significant amounts of value to new versions.

That's good for consumers, but not good news for Microsoft's continued growth.

They are evolving their products in relatively minor ways as slightly different hardware becomes available, and as the market changes slightly.

However, unless there are radical changes in hardware, I have a hard time understanding what radical changes Microsoft is going to make that are going to add lots of value for consumers.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

What is it that they think Microsoft needs to do in order to make Windows dramatically better.

Making it secure would be a good start.

[fightinJAG]

You make some very astute observations.

[BikerJoe]

However, unless there are radical changes in hardware, I have a hard time understanding what radical changes Microsoft is going to make that are going to add lots of value for consumers.

With a mature XP and compatible applications, this is true. However, speaking from the IT end of things, having done lots of w2k->XP upgrades, and now some XP->Vista upgrades, I've seen the cause of many of Microsoft's problems...their security model.

When things don't work on one of their new OSes, it's usually due to the introduction of yet another layer of security. The software would execute perfectly, if the OS would allow it. But some bit somewhere says something isn't permitted, and things get hosed up. Similarly, when an update fails, many times it's due (again) to some permission problem. I see it over and over and over again.

If Microsoft wants to really fix something, they can COMPLETELY rethink their security model. Honestly, why does every single value in a 10 million item registry need its own individual security settings?

Just my 2 cents...

[sionnsar]

That's good for consumers, but not good news for Microsoft's continued growth.

And they are still growing, putting up several new buildings near the main campus.

If Microsoft stumbles, it's not going to be good for housing prices here.

[antiRepublicrat]

Microsoft's problem is that their products have finally matured to the point where the to do list has shrunk to minor things, and they are having a hard time finding ways to add significant amounts of value to new versions.

Much of Vista was copying OS X Tiger, and Apple still found ways to add significant value in Leopard (Cover Flow, Quick Look, Time Machine, Core Animation, etc.).