As you've almost certainly heard by now, we've finished. Windows Vista has shipped , and our mantle has passed on to the manufacturers, who now have a little over two months to stuff a hundred million DVDs into boxes and put them onto store shelves everywhere...

Of all of the programmers I've worked with over the years, I can name three who really stick out as the best. These people have earned my respect, and I will always listen to their opinions, even when I think they're completely off their rockers. I currently...