Longhorn longhaul

It is reported that Microsoft will not now have their new operating system, 'Longhorn', ready for release until late 2006!

I doubt too many of us will be greatly surprised by that nor by the fact that even at that late date this long awaited o/s will be minus some quite significant features.

I won't pretend to understand the business that our beloved (not) Bill Gates is in or to understand the technicalities involved in producing such a piece of software. Given my struggles with the day to day operations of a home pc I assume it is a somewhat massive task but I have to admit to a degree of disbelief.

Does Microsoft not have the revenue to employ the very best minds in the execution of this massive task? Surely Mr Gates can afford to have on his team only those at the very pinnacle of their field and to remunerate them suitably? Yes there are shareholders to amuse and placate but come on...5 or 6 years and then to roll out an incomplete piece of gear seems a little questionable.

Forgive me then for having the fleeting thought that just maybe this has as much to do with squeezing the last drop of blood from XP as it has to do with any technical problems and difficulties encountered along the way!