Read: http://www.drizzle.com/~lettvin/2006/11/windows-shutdown-crapfest.html
I'm simply speechless 
. Today I read Sam Gentile's remark that Vista itself is its own killer app. Reading the article linked above I can't believe Vista can even be considered a forward, as it's definitely a BIG step back for software engineering.
I'm also sad 
. Sad because for large droves of managers, software engineering isn't something of any value it seems. If a manager puts that much people on a stupid feature like a shutdown menu, you definitely don't know what you're doing.
Microsoft, you really want to know why you'll never catch up on Google? Read the article linked above. Then walk to the nearest mirror and explain to yourself why this was the best way to deal with a simple feature as a shutdown menu. While explaining, listen to the words that come out of your mouth. I'm pretty sure you'll walk away in shame for the disgrace you put on what could have been a wonderful OS and an example of good software engineering.
Dennis van der Stelt posted some fine articles about Microsoft's new way of doing communication between applications and services: WCF, how to get started and some background info behind the various elements of WCF. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know more about WCF, which is now part of .NET 3.0 which has been released last week.
As it is a series of articles, which is still in progress, you should start with part 0 and move on to part 1 etc. using the following links:
After nagging about it for a long time, it seems Microsoft finally understood that getting a hotfix for VS.NET 2005 was too cumbersome for a lot of people (outside the US, calling PSS isn't a picknick). So they decided to start a pilot program to see if downloadable hotfixes will make a difference! 
It's on MS Connect, so you've to have a MS Passport and I'm not sure if everyone can see the hotfixes. Not all Hotfixes for VS.NET are downloadable, but at least a couple of them, and it's a start. Let's hope this turns out to be a great service and therefore will make it into a solid program for all the hotfixes they release!