After reading this article on one tech’s experience in modifying Windows Server 2008 into a “super workstation OS”. The results of the Windows Server 2008 mod were quite fascinating, yielding an increase in performance in benchmarks of between eleven and seventeen percent. Not bad considering these modifications were not source-level and done post-install. Quite naturally, I did some chin stroking.

Obviously a lot of end users are unhappy with Vista. (I have been hitherto quite satisfied, nevertheless the mileage varies so to speak when you talk to different people.)

Microsoft has an opportunity here to endear itself to its user base and address some of the concerns of both OEMs, retailers, and end users. Here’s how:

Take the Windows NT 6.1 kernel and modify it at the source level to optimize it for the client/workstation.  Focus instead on driver and application compatibility. Focus on customer satisfaction.

Release it as a Windows 2009 interim release. (Interim releases can be a good thing. Mac OS 9 was well received by the general public while Mac OS X was still in the oven. On the other hand, Windows ME was not.)

Windows 2009 will not have Aero. Yes, its pretty, but your users want a functional operating system that handles their needs more than one that has bling-bling rivaling a Roger’s Jewelers. (Besides, Apple’s Mac OS X has already beaten you in that department)

Distribute Windows 2009 as an upgrade for XP/Vista/Vista SP1 available as a DVD or a direct download. Charge $25 for it. Enough to recoup costs for development. A trivial enough amount that consumers would be willing to pay for it.

Fight back against OS X. Leopard didn’t cause those upgrading from Tiger half the trouble you guys caused a lot of people upgrading from XP. While clean installs are preferable to in-place upgrades and I always opt for the former, an upgrade install shouldn’t cause the same amount of consternation as a cavity search.

(By the way. While you are at it, can you guys at Redmond make UAC a little more intuitive? I’d gladly buy your lead devs a stack of pancakes topped with warm Washington cherries if you could do that for me. Thanks!)