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Sooner or Later

Microsoft may do a lot things right but getting software out the door on time is not one of them. So MS rightly takes a lot of heat when it delays releases multiple times. In the case of Windows updates, the delays can be measured in years.

But is the same standard applied to non-MS offerings? Not always. For example, Mozilla Firefox 0.9 has finally been released. If I remember correctly, it was due in March. Then it was delayed to April. Then May. So, on June 15, it finally went out the door.

But, it was supposed to be "feature complete." Only, it doesn't appear to be. For example, you can't do an upgrade update. You have to either uninstall your earlier installation and then install the new or install the new in a different directory. No, this is not hard to do but it confirms that 0.9 is not "feature complete." Or at least, in my opinion it's not if you consider in place upgrades a "feature".

So, while I am no MS evangelist, I think we need to remember that MS is not the only one to miss deadlines so maybe we should cut them some slack.