“A Microsoft Corp. executive who led Windows Vista’s development is leaving for Amazon.com, with the clock ticking down to the scheduled release of the delayed operating system,” Todd Bishop reports for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “Brian Valentine, a Microsoft veteran known for rallying the troops to finish big projects, is due to start work at Amazon as a senior vice president in mid-September.”
“Valentine’s departure comes four months before Windows Vista’s scheduled January retail debut, and Microsoft still needs to work out bugs to complete the massive project in time. In previous Windows versions, Valentine has played a key leadership role in those final stages before release,” Bishop reports.
“In a statement praising Valentine for his 19 years at the company, Microsoft said the Windows Vista project ‘remains on track.’ Valentine’s team is now reporting to Jim Allchin, the co-president of the company’s Platforms & Services Division,” Bishop reports. “Valentine’s last day at Microsoft was Friday.”
“A series of executives have left Microsoft over the past year, but Valentine’s position and long tenure make him particularly noteworthy. Among other things, he was publicly praised by the company as an effective leader in the final stages of Windows 2000 development,” Bishop reports. “He was most recently senior vice president of Microsoft’s Windows Core Operating System Division, a central group responsible for Windows engineering.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Leveldown” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Over the sides and out the nearest porthole they stream.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
With Vista transition, Microsoft should take a lesson from Apple – September 01, 2006
$399 for Windows Vista Ultimate?! (Hint: Get a Mac) – August 29, 2006
Gartner: Microsoft’s Vista will be the last of its kind – August 26, 2006
Microsoft develops new consumer product: selling vaporware for the holidays – August 22, 2006
The Age: Switch to Apple Mac; just say no to Microsoft Windows – August 15, 2006
Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard is 64-bit done right, unlike Microsoft’s Windows Vista kludge – August 14, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s new Mac OS X Leopard sets new bar, leaves Microsoft’s Vista in the dust – August 08, 2006
PC World writer’s advice for Microsoft: ‘Stop making crap’ – July 27, 2006
Microsoft about to lose the software business just as IBM lost the PC business in ‘80s – July 26, 2006
Microsoft in decline – July 13, 2006
When chairs fly: Another Microsoft exec jumps ship for Google – June 29, 2006
What Microsoft has chopped from Windows Vista, and when – June 27, 2006
Windows Live head leaves Microsoft less than 24 hours after launch – June 21, 2006
Bill Gates to transition out of a day-to-day role in Microsoft – June 15, 2006
Computerworld: Microsoft Windows Vista a distant second-best to Apple Mac OS X – June 02, 2006
What’s the difference between Mac OS X and Vista? Microsoft employees are excited about Mac OS X – March 22, 2006
Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ ultimate goal: ‘to take back the computer business from Microsoft’ – June 16, 2005
Amazon, be carefull and watch too close what this guy will do or will not, besause did bad things at mafiasoft
rats jumping the ship
This does seem to be a bad sign for Vista. After all, you’d think if it was something Valentine was proud to be a part of, he’d stick around.
getting out while the getting is good
very telling
Any relation to Billy Ray? “Looking good, Brian!” “Feeling good, Jeff!”
“Amazon, be carefull and watch too close what this guy will do or will not, besause did bad things at mafiasoft”-
but maybe not entirely his doing.
“rats jumping the ship”
Maybe. And maybe good employees who can’t stomach keeping the front up, that Vista isn’t getting worse and worse.
So, maybe better taken as a sign to decide exactly when to start shorting MS.
don’t let the chair hit you on the way out
Funny ass graphic, MDN!!!
Microsloth remains on track to release something
[url=”
“]A picture taken at Brian’s going away party.[/url]
“Microsloth remains on track to release something”
Two hundred million cubic metric tons of sewer gas? Or Ballmer could just light a match when he’s done.
Good one, Ampar!
Ampar said:
“Two hundred million cubic metric tons of sewer gas? Or Ballmer could just light a match when he’s done.”
If Ballmer did that , the resulting expplosion would be the end of Microsoft and most of the surrounding land mass. Talk about a new Vista to the landscape…
You’ve done a heckuva job, Valentine.
“If Ballmer did that, the resulting explosion would be the end of Microsoft and most of the surrounding land mass. Talk about a new Vista to the landscape…”
Ballmer scratches his head. Then, with Crayon in fist slowly strikes through the “light a match afterwards” idea from his innovations list. Four hours of low grunting follows.
MDN… your take is very very funny
This needs to go in the “Best of MDN Takes Ever” anthology.
There goes Amazon, forget it now trying to find a book
I think all of you have it all wrong. I think Mr. Valentine wants to start using one of the new Macs, and he’s gotta get out to avoid persecution for do so.
I wonder how Valentine’s CV reads:
“Personally responsible for delaying the release of a major operating system upgrade for over 5 years while simultaneously scrapping over fifty-percent of system functionality and reducing overall security.”
Amazon hired this guy? Somebody’s gotta be nuts.
Hey, MDN, no throwing expensive Aeron chairs, OK? Makes me cringe to see something as elegant as a Mac (albeit for your butt) chucked around like that
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Rats? The captain himself just jumped!
Microsoft said the Windows Vista project ‘remains on track.’
Vista has been OFF its track since the day Longhorn plopped into existence.
So, going by MS, if Vista remains what it has been, YIKES. Or more aptly, moo.
Apple should release a Mac OS X test-drive for all those “Vista Ready” PCs.
A defector or a refugee, perhaps? Will more personnel make the gallant dash through the fields and across the border to escape the tyranny of Microsoft, the suffocatingly boorish presence of Ballmer, and the maniacal gaze of Gates?
Great – there goes my Amazon wish list, down the terlet like Vista. Why would a company hire anyone who has “worked on Vista development” on his/her resume? Quick and easy corporate or stock death comes to mind.
MDN magic word is “quality.” There is too much that I could do with that one, especially when talking about Vista. But, I shan’t go there.