Microsoft's big blunder is that they assume that "developer" is synonymous with "Windows developer."

They have excellent tools available for Windows developers. But step out of that silo and man, just forget it. You have to fight your own system every step of the way.

This is an example of a strategy tax (http://scripting.com/davenet/2001/04/30/strategyTax.html): Microsoft's strategy for a loooong time was to pretend like Windows was the only thing that existed. When Windows was a majority monoculture, this worked pretty well for them. But now that it's just one ecosystem among many, it forces their developer-tools people to pull their punches so as to avoid undercutting their Windows people.

Glad someone made this point.

What I don't understand is why Microsoft don't just include an ssh client in their software with some half decent key 'gui' key managing nik-naks. In that way your starting out web developer would not have any need to consider installing a linux distro.

Just by not having any linux friendly terminal they are inviting people to go dual boot which can end with them finding they don't need Windows or even Adobe as much as they thought they did. It makes as much sense as building the Berlin Wall.

Last time Microsoft started packaging tools you would think would be built in they got sued, can't blame them if they're once bitten and twice shy.