Key Microsoft exec resigns as Vista doubts persist

Operating system development can take years even in ideal circumstances, yet most releases only truly coalesce in the last several months leading to the final launch as features are integrated together and fixes are made in response to test feedback. This makes the sudden departure of Microsoft's Brian Valentine to Amazon.com a minor but significant blow to the company. The senior vice president of the Windows Core Operating System Division, Valentine was known for his ability to galvanize Windows-related software development in the critical final stages, says the Seattle Post Intelligencer. His resignation adds to further doubts about the viability of Microsoft's planned October release to manufacturing for Windows Vista that were recently expressed by respected magazine author Paul Thurrott recently. Although Release Candidate 1 is a major improvement over Beta 2, says Thurrott, serious issues remain in the current Vista beta with interface consistency, unnecessarily strict security controls, and other software inadequacies that threaten the success of the operating system's January 2007 launch.