The Winter release needs to have some major new features to overcome the underwhelming Summer release. They need to be generally available features as well. Last year they announced two major features that are both not available without permission being granted (Agent Console and Territory Management).

As far as the lack of features in this release, I completely agree as to the reasons why. SFDC stated on multiple occasions that fixing their performance issues was their top priority, unfortunately this release shows it. My, admittedly unrealistic view, is that customers expect performance, period. That’s what they pay $xx/mo for. They also expect SFDC to deliver features and releases as they historically have. (3 BIG releases/yr - more or less) In combination with the events of late last year thru the early part of this, holding both views may have been unrealistic, but I’m sure some customers still did.

And as far as being optimisitc. I like to be optimistic. However I’m also a realist - i.e. history has shown that SFDC tends to release ‘major’ features with, in some cases, a significant set of limitations. Do I therefore expect this to continue? Yes, because historically it’s been true. Do I challenge and encourage SFDC to show me wrong, and outdo my lowered expectations? Bet your ass I do. I _want_ to be proven wrong in my predictions and assessments. I _want_ SFDC to step up and say, “No, you’re wrong. We’ve got a long series of features that are in development. We’re ready to innovate again. We’re now providing feedback and information on bug fixes and telling you when they’re fixed. etc etc etc.”

Sure as hell, I don’t spend my time writing, talking, calling, emailing, and pestering SFDC, the community, and readers of my blog for my own kicks. I do it because SFDC, in my view, is at times a group of people all wearing those 80’s mirrored sunglasses — with the mirrors on the inside. I do it to show the opposing, unconventional, or unspoken viewpoint. I do it to enlighten those at SFDC who can, and do listen, and who are empowered to react. I do it to make the software better, to make our experience with it better, and make our jobs easier.

I just do it differently then most.

I hope to be giving more of an optimistic point of view of this so called release, than you are, that’s all.

Yes, uptime is important. working to better uptime is important. However, is it really realistic to expect the customer base to jump up and shout, “Yes! My CRM service is still working!” It’s kinda expected that the platform be available.

If anyone @ SFDC wishes to comment publically I will be happy to give them the opporunity to do it here in a comment, or even a full post.

I’ve never moderated* any posts here, and don’t plan to start.

(* Except SPAM, and the 1 SFDC employee post that got auto-marked as SPAM because of too many links in the comment — I approved it within a few hours w/o edit)

Just a thought.