The next generation Windows and Office: an open letter to Microsoft

Dear Microsoft,

You don't seem to be listening much to the average consumer anymore, but I'm giving this a go anyway. Your policy on having openness, transparency, blogs and feedback are all good and well, because you've clearly put effort into collecting information to make both Windows and Office better.

As a student, you won't be too surprised to hear that Vista Home Premium and Office Home and Student 2007 are the most common combination that I have seen over the last year. With new releases of Windows and Office to be sent out in conjunction with each other, isn't it about time we saw some Windows/Office product placement integration?

It would be pretty sweet to have a Windows 7 edition, which was designed specifically for the people who use it. Sure, this would mean a lot of editions, but perhaps something along the lines of a student edition of both Windows and Office. You already have an Office version for students and the home, but this doesn't reflect so well for the student using it. Students need email, therefore Outlook would be a good addition, whereas students may need Groove to synchronise home and university machines.

Windows cannot be an exception either, especially when it comes to security. BitLocker is an important technology, which when it works, can prevent access to data. But why is this only part of Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Vista? Can this change?

Windows Media Center is already on most students' computers, part of Home Premium, and it needs to stay that way. Considering most students will be watching telly in their rooms at university, it makes sense to have an application which fully supports TV cards and tuners.

These are just a couple of wild examples that I could think of, just off the top of my head, but you get the idea. Students have needs in features they can't always get, without forking out much needed dollars which could go on more essential items... food for example. The economy isn't so hot on this side of the great pond either.

I ask, on behalf of students, that you throw together some Windows and Office continuity, to make sure students get a half decent deal at very least. Nobody wants to fork our a whole shed load of money for features they don't need or want; start appealing to the individuals and consumers needs.

Lots of love,

Zack x