Rumor Panic

[petek]

Microsoft and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) announced today that Microsoft will be the sole supplier of robotic control systems and software starting in the 2009 competition season. In addition to providing hardware and software solutions for the teams' robots, Microsoft will develop competition field control systems for all FIRST events. Teams and event staffs will have access to Microsoft's web-based and toll-free telephone customer support to address any questions or problems they may have throughout the competition season.

Help! Somebody wake me up from my nightmare!

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by petek

...and toll-free ....

This one statement is why I know this is not a rumor. This is a flat out LIE!!

[Engineer]

Originally Posted by petek

Microsoft and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) announced today that Microsoft will be the sole supplier of robotic control systems and software starting in the 2009 competition season. In addition to providing hardware and software solutions for the teams' robots, Microsoft will develop competition field control systems for all FIRST events. Teams and event staffs will have access to Microsoft's web-based and toll-free telephone customer support to address any questions or problems they may have throughout the competition season.

Help! Somebody wake me up from my nightmare!

Reboot! Reboot! Reboot! LOL

I wonder if they'll make us lease the software.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by petek

Microsoft and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) announced today that Microsoft will be the sole supplier of robotic control systems and software starting in the 2009 competition season. In addition to providing hardware and software solutions for the teams' robots, Microsoft will develop competition field control systems for all FIRST events. Teams and event staffs will have access to Microsoft's web-based and toll-free telephone customer support to address any questions or problems they may have throughout the competition season.

Help! Somebody wake me up from my nightmare!

Will they make us use Vista or can we "upgrade" to XP?

[Jack Murphy]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Will they make us use Vista or can we "upgrade" to XP?

Ohhhh! Ed, That's dangerously close to technical after all these years.

Have fun this weekend.

[RyanN]

Originally Posted by petek

Microsoft and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) announced today that Microsoft will be the sole supplier of robotic control systems and software starting in the 2009 competition season. In addition to providing hardware and software solutions for the teams' robots, Microsoft will develop competition field control systems for all FIRST events. Teams and event staffs will have access to Microsoft's web-based and toll-free telephone customer support to address any questions or problems they may have throughout the competition season.

Help! Somebody wake me up from my nightmare!

I think you may be onto something... I know for a fact that they are changing the control system next year, I would would venture to say that Microsoft may be a good bet. I've read that the new Windows 7 kernel is a lot leaner than the Windows 6 kernel (the one Vista is built on top of). Microsoft did just come out with its Robot Studio software. I don't believe IFI will be supplying the controllers next year (I believe this because they have not come up with anything new for 2 years now).

By the way, I'm just kidding...