Boys don't make passes at female smart-asses - Letty Cottin Pogrebin
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Microsoft tries to talk its way out of Vista debacle
IN A KEYNOTE at a Microsoft conference this week, a Volish marketing executive said that the company will try to overcome the common view that Windows Vista is a failure.
Speaking at the software monopolist's annual Worldwide Partner Conference, Brad Brooks, Microsoft's VP of Vista consumer marketing, publicly confessed, " We broke a lot of things. We know that, and we know it caused you a lot of pain. It got customers thinking, hey, is Windows Vista a generation we want to get invested in?"
Implicit in that admission was a recognition that a lot of Microsoft's customers, businesses as well as individual consumers, have decided that their answer to that question is "No."
Apparently the Vole's response to such widespread rejection of Vista is to attempt to talk customers into holding their noses and swallowing it anyway. " We've faced these challenges before, and we're going to solve them again," Brooks said. "There's a conversation going on in the marketplace today and it's just plain awful. We've got to get back on the front foot."
Brooks compared industry-wide customer complaints about Vista with negative comments made about Windows XP during its first year, claiming that the launch of a new operating system can have its rough patches. He didn't acknowledge that the Vole's initial release of any new software product is usually tantamount to a massive public beta release, but then we wouldn't expect such candor from a Microsoft marketing executive either.
He indicated that Microsoft is ready to admit its mistakes with Windows Vista and wants to reposition itself to tell a better story, counter advertising attacks by competitor Apple, and convince customers that Vista is actually stable and fit to deploy.
As part of that message, the company claims that 77,000 devices work under Vista today, twice as many as at launch, and that 99 per cent of the major business applications are compatible with Vista. We have seen no proof of either of those assertions, nor Microsoft's definition of what constitute the "major business applications".
Microsoft has also put up two websites, Windows Vista Small Business Assurance and the Windows Vista Compatibility Center, to try to turn around customer perceptions that Vista doesn't support many devices and applications.
Brooks also whinged about the inroads on Windows marketshare Apple has made lately with its Mac versus PC advertising campaign. "We've got a pretty noisy competitor out there," he said. "You know it. I know it. It's caused some impact. We're going to start countering it."
Spinning faster, he continued, "They tell us it's the iWay or the highway. We think that's a sad message. Software out there is made to be compatible with your whole life."
Err... OK, Microsoft. Whatever it means, we're pretty sure the Vole's vision of compatibility still doesn't include interoperability with competing software products, conformance with open standards or freedom from draconian licence activation processes and obstructive media access controls. Vista, and the Vole's continuing pattern of behaviour establish that.
"Windows Vista is an investment in the long term," Brooks pleaded. "When you make the investment into Windows Vista, it's going to pay it forward into the operating system we call Windows 7." He suggested that's a good reason for customers to "upgrade" to Vista sooner rather than later.
Since he apparently failed to announce that Vista customers will receive free upgrades to Windows 7, we can't imagine what he meant by that. We think most customers likely view Vista as a good reason to wait for Windows 7 - or Windows ME II SP1.a as we call it - to see how that turns out before committing to it.
Microsoft plans to mount a major advertising campaign touting Vista over the new few months, for which it's reportedly splashing out hundreds of millions of dollars. It's already placed Vista adverts aimed at small businesses in The Wall Street Journal and USA Today within the last two weeks, and it plans a much larger propaganda push using the theme "Free the People."
Oh puh-leese, Microsoft. Stop that, you're killing us with laughter here.
But it seems the convicted monopolist doesn't appreciate either irony or its own hypocrisy. µ
See Also
Migrate
to Linux instead of Vista
INQ
hack goes Mac
Vista
replacing XP, not growing
Come
back XP... all is
forgiven
Reviewer happy with Vista shocker
Microsoft
extends support life of XP
Intel
won't touch Vista
L'Inq
Informationweek
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One makes "investments" in instruments that either pay dividends or you hope to sell later for more than you paid. Software is an expense.
"Pay it Forward" refers to repaying a favor by doing one for someone else in the future.
Vista is neither.
First, to the author of this article.. I'm incredibly disappointed that this is the sort of commentary we should expect from a journalist. From the moment of your title, I sensed an irrational bias against the subject.

To everyone else, I don't understand why you guys are so passionate about your hatred for Microsoft and Vista. What further amazes me is how much of this hatred is based purely on mainstream perception. 

In my experience as a software engineer, Vista has been the most reliable operating system in the shortest lifespan possible. I've tested many different kinds of operating systems such as Linux, BSD, and MacOS, but no other OS is as well-taken care of as Vista. Microsoft actively seeks out new bugs and fixes them as soon as possible. 

But as public opinion goes, I know a majority of those who voice the strongest contempt for Microsoft and Vista have only used Vista at most for probably a week in the worst possible case scenario (old drivers, OEM-installed bloat-ware). 

Have it your way.
Vista works fine for the vast majority of people who use it. The rest of you are probably too stupid to own a computer in the first place.
IF VISTA is soooo great then why does it not sell????? IT ONLY 
sells preloaded on new computers. 

Sales for Vista BOXED OS are down the crapper unlike XP after xp sp1.

That fact alone rest the Vista IS NOT Better case.
a failure? 'shurely' not, it's a disaster
If you go to the store and you buy a $3,000 to $7,000 HD LCD TV, stick it on your wall, and watch it day in and day out, do you expect that the manufacturer of that TV would grant itself permission to watch what you are doing all the while? To collect that information and report it back? To make decisions about whether your content is legal or not? To prohibit you from viewing that content if they so deem that you are not viewing legal content (whether you are or are not using non-legit content)?

I think not. Then why would you allow Microsoft for a $100 to $400 software package to monitor you in such a fashion?

That's Vista, period!
Being monopolistic is merely trying to be fashionable for then, competition is excluded. As such, a monopoly is at the extreme end of something fashionable and that’s the joke. Because they are one and the same, when fashion fails, so does the monopoly. The Emperor can demand that all apprecite his new clothes but only his jokers comply. 

The war on reality is fought over the masses of ignoramus for without these brainlessnesses, there is no reason for the battles. So, don’t blame the idiots and lunatics for trying. They are merely doing their duty/job whilst those who who are able to witness the debalce can have a good snigger when the jokers perform – for free. We just need the confidence to know who the idiots and the lunatics, i.e. the jokers, are. The biggest laugh is when you realised “how small it is” because of the Emperor’s new clothes. You can’t help the victim when he happens to be the thief too. That’s the failure of the flood of bloated software trying to “securitise”/mesmerise the screw & nut who happens to be the nut & screw too. When everything is grey, the white will have to suffer alongside the black.
who has 3 Vista pcs and 5 XP pcs. The Vista pcs have dual core Pentium 4s and 2GB RAM, but they are slow to respond to mouse clicks and other desktop activity. These machines are a couple of months old and came with Vista on them, imagine how slow they will be in 1-2 years time.

I've had to take the Vista plunge so I can support it, while I like the widget on the right side and the large icons, the hardware specs are so high that they push an extra £100+ on the price of a pc.

Another small business I support has bought some new Dells with XP preloaded which come with Vista on a DVD. These are running without problems and are fast. They are similar spec machines at approx £400 inc monitor and OS, and yes they had to pay the £50 for XP. But £50 now saves money on the long run and they know this.

Which is why any small business I am supporting gets my advice of "stick with XP unless you need Vista, XP will still be supported for at least the next 2-3 years by MS, and by that time we will look again."

MS, please don't do an AMD 939 on us customers, please support those of us who are using XP. Please stop charging an extra £50 for XP and allow us to keep buying it, or else you will force us to look at other OS's. Only yesterday we stopped using Outlook for an IMAP client when we found we could use Thunderbird2 for free from mozilla. Thunderbird2 is an email client that is only a 12MB download, free of bloat which makes it fast. It doesn't do calendar or other Outlook stuff, but it's ok for an email client for sending IMAP emails and saves my customers money.
OK, Vista overall for me has worked well aside from NVIDIA and Microsoft's game in its first days and weeks. There are several sticky point but nothing a little twist here and there can not fix for personal use. (Rule 1 disable the damn UAC)

With that in mind and working in the IT sector all i can say is the average customer is in no way ready to deal with Vista in the workplace even today. If a company had unlimited resources sure it can deploy Vista along with all the new printers, scanners, and applications necessary for a Vista environment. In most places there are still sadly 16 bit applications running around on the loose. That takes the x64 editions of Vista out of the picture which I feel is one of Vista's strongest selling points. It has additional scalability that was never offered to the desktop user.

My company has sold only 1 computer to date with Vista installed. It was returned by the user within a week because of numerous compatability issues, ranging from his photo printer (made by HP) and other network devices. We are now in the last 6 months of XP's install period. I dread Jan 2009, not because of Vista itself but how it will stagnate business because users cannot afford systemwide upgrades just because a new workstation will not work with old systems.

... And I love the comments about Windows 7. Vista is just the begining there are alot more things to hate about microsoft to come just you wait and see. Though i have my wishlist too, (1, windows 7 is x64 ONLY. 2, comes with a blu-ray decoder and write support. 3. has an extra 100 million lines of code for new DRM features. (Im kidding. even though i am probably close to the truth here) )
...When Microsoft talks about the next version this early in Vista's life cycle.

I'm not surprised there are people that say there's nothing wrong with Vista. (There are ALWAYS a few mindless sheep who blindly accept something without questioning it...Its a fact of life. I ask you all: Have you not learnt about the lies the US Govt made in order to invade Iraq? Then why are you blindly accepting corporate nonsense?).

If there isn't anything wrong with Vista, why does the general public not except it? Why does Microsoft bother spending money and PR time to "prop it up". Why did Mr Gates himself talk about how Vista was selling well? (when in reality, it really wasn't!)

When you invest in Vista, you have to invest in new hardware. (whether its an upgrade OR a whole new system). No one denies that Vista is a bloated cow, not even Microsoft...But do they, and hardware manufacturers expect everyone to keep spending money like this? I don't think so. People and businesses will recognise this "upgrade treadmill" and will simply stop bothering. (The more they're pressured for profit, the more they will resist).

The 2nd thing is UAC. 

The idea makes sense: escalate to admin privileges when you need it, thus you reduce the likelyhood of malware to run rampant. (Its a standard thing in Mac OSX, Linux, BSD, etc).

Sadly, most Windows users are NOT trained to think about what they click. If they did, would you think social engineering tricks would be a lucrative market for scammers?...Result? Most people rather disable UAC then understand the point of it.

To make matters worse, Microsoft intentionally implemented UAC to be annoying! (To change the behaviour of users and developers).

Thirdly, Microsoft promised a LOT for Vista.

...And they delivered very little in the end. The little trust MS has with the customer is pretty much broken. (or on very shakey ground).

Forth, Microsoft took too long to release Vista. 
(Everyone got comfortable with WinXP.)

All you need is Win XP Pro using:
* Limited User Account
* Software Restriction Policy
* SuRun (like UAC, but far less annoying)
* something like Comodo Firewall Pro (firewall and HIPS)
* You brain. (common sense, good practices).

...and you're all set against most malware out there.

Fifth, competition in the market has changed since the XP era. 

Apple and Linux are starting to achieve their first steps into the Windows market. While their marketshare is measly in comparison, it doesn't change the fact they are developing into potential candidates for alternatives. 

Had Microsoft achieved 100% domination, competitors would not stand much of a chance. But now, any serious geek with some persistence, can setup a Linux box as a replacement for a Windows desktop without spending money! (Hasn't achieved mainstream yet, but they'll eventually get there). How can you compete with that?

And what about Apple? Their effective marketing campaign has pretty much spread the word that Windows ain't so good. (Although, I disagree with their arrogance/ignorance promotion of security to people).

Now MS talks about Windows 7?! This is essentially Vista with changes/improvements. Its NOT some brand new thing. It'll still need the same hardware requirements.

All this proves something very important to Microsoft's competitors.

(1) Microsoft isn't the invincible Empire as perceived by most people. They can be hurt.

(2) Their customers don't use their products out of loyalty. Its really because there isn't an alternative that is 100% like Windows...ie: They're looking for a clone that is free from Microsoft's antics!

The situation is made worse when MS tries to "encourage" people to upgrade!

So what happens when an alternative DOES come? Then what, Microsoft? I'll tell you what...You're f**ked! (No, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out!)

(3) Application compatibility or direct replacements for other platforms is all that is needed to get people to jump ship. (Photoshop, games, AutoCAD, etc).

(4) Microsoft refuses to change.

Just like the Movie and Recording industry, they have used a business model for a very long time. With the globalisation of markets and new competitors, as well as technologies, these models are obsolete.

To resist in anyway, is like going against nature. Sooner or later, you'll find yourself, face down in the pavement and bleeding.

One must adapt and change, as well as to see new markets and opportunities.

(5) Microsoft is NOT able to compete on even ground. 

They must resort to "leverage" tactics to remain dominate. Whether it be to control a standard, create a de-facto one, or manipulate Govt/International processes to get their way. (Or even offer super discounts to get people to use their stuff).

The problem with this, is that "underhanded" tactics always leak out or become known. People don't like dishonesty, (our inner voice will say something isn't right), and they will hit back in various ways. (protests, boycotts, etc).

(6) Marketing spinning and tricks are getting old. Essentially, its the same thing over and over again! People are becoming wise to such nonsense. This is exacerbated by the Internet (blogging, forums, chat, etc).

This whole post doesn't just yak on about Vista, but talks about MS as a whole. Its a problematic company that produces below average products. It doesn't matter how much they spend on marketing, it still won't address the root causes.

I highly suspect "Windows 7" will face similar feedback from the public as Vista did. For Windows to become better, Microsoft needs to dramatically change. This won't happen as long as Steve Ballmer is the CEO.

We all need competition. Competition drives innovation and technology. It pulls everyone to do better. Most of all, users benefit.
I have had the chance to work on a number of folks new Vista PCs (all of which came into the shop for a XP upgrade) and I have to say that MS is delusional.

Vista is not a good operating system, for anything. I have had this whole "you don't understand why its so great argument" with many folks at MS. Here are the points that they can't spin out of.

PMP- protected media path. The DRM checks the system bus for changes multiple times every cycle. This is why Vista is so slow.

EULA- Draconian license I would not sign under threat of Gitmo.

Bloat- "Features" like PMP that reduce the functionality of my machine.

I will not support or use any OS or product that supports or includes DRM. period. The negative press Vista gets is well deserverd, but some times for the wrong reasons. The basic message of "Vista Bad" is the correct one, and even the less the savvy computer users are getting the message.

And no amount of spinning sock-puppetry is going to change that.
I think I would switch to Linux in a heartbeat if there were any games available. Fact is with all these cheap good video cards MS is the only one to take advantage of them and there really are no newer play worthy games for Linux.
Yet What Choice Is There? It Was With Intrest That 64 Bit Crowd Broke Thru Ultie Barrier this Spring & dozen VISTA ULTIMATE 64 mainboards came Up as Strong As Any xp.

Todays microsoft:Download the Beta Release of Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 - Microsoft US OEM System Builder Newsletter 
Oldies Fit here:

Get Ready for Windows XP End-of-Sales
Windows XP End-of-Sales for royalty OEM's & retail is June 30th, 2008! To help prepare you and your business for this transition, attend this live webcast between July 24th & August 25th! Take and pass the assessment & be entered for your chance to win a FREE* 40" Sony HDTV! Click here. 

And for Ultimate Crowd $50 Rebate Offer for Customers to Spend in Shoope has been extended (thru Summer+). Plus bunch of other stuff for all supported O/S of Microsoft.

its Too Complex to Just BAD Mouth 7, It is True ultimate 64 has bit of Ways to Go To hold reviewers Attention. Maybe if its G92 Chipset they'd Want, its Next year performance year, yet Still not Start off on Ultimate experience we've all been anticapating. yet 

IT IS LACK OF HARDWARE. As From Day One of RETAIL. Ultimate is coming in Good As hardware Clears Channel from older, Gravel Road Era.

Reminds Me: New Dates On SEVEN. Not 07DECEMBER, 20011 attack on Ultie its: 11Nov20011. That way by decoding numbers 2009 could switch to 2090 or 2010 to 2001 while 2012 could be reEncrypted as 2021 its ONLY: 11/11/'11 that will recoded properly each time.(Pat Pend). See? Take first & last & Switch then take Third & make it Fifth while Second goes into any space still:11/11/11.ULTIEPOWER!!!
Thomas Drashek





Please stop trying to tell people that vista doesn't suck. Even if it works with all of devices...it still sucks.

The DRM infections alone should be enough for you to stop.

Then factor in a $300 dollar computer that runs everything the average user needs (internet, word processing software, casual games, email) runs great with XP but the same machine can't even run solitaire with Vista...so tell me again how much better Vista is?

To the guy that installs windows xp every 6 months....you know you can create non-admin users for XP and use them so you don't screw up your computer. I have windows XP running on a 5 year old box that I installed 5 years ago and it is just as fast today as it was then...I don't log into the machine with admin rights and I don't even run anti-virus. So please tell me again how much more secure Vista is than XP...and I'll remind you it has a lot more to do with the moron behind the keyboard.
"When you make the investment into Windows Vista, it's going to pay it forward into the operating system we call Windows 7." 

What on earth does this mean ? I'm sure it doesn't mean they'll be giving free copies of Win7 to Vista victims. 

I suspect it's evidence of a newspeak culture that has produced statements like "Microsoft defends the right to innovate on behalf of its customers" when accused of monopolist conduct intended to zap any innovations by its competitors.
It doesn't matter how good Vista is, the overwhelming perception is it's a dog. And in today's world where looks are everything, Vista just looks bad. It may have gotten a bum wrap, but that's all water under the bridge. The damage is done and M$ is beating a dead horse.

All of you who have had successful experiences with Vista I applaud you. Good show and I mean that sincerely. If it works for you, you have pulled off what many believe to be a major thing.

But if Vista were a product of pretty much any other corporation, its dismal sales performance would have gotten it pulled long ago. M$'s deep pockets and industry "pull" allow them to keep pushing it.

So use what you like, believe in what you feel is true and have a nice day.
Kind of reminds me of the propaganda policy used by Adolf Hitler. If you repeat a line of BS long enough, people may start to believe it. In this case, this is compounded by the manipulated people passively handing over cash for a worthless OS. Part of this cash is then used by Microsoft to finance more Big Lie-style advertising to try and convince more people that the sow's ear is a silk purse, and that they should also mindlessly add to Microsoft's coffers by yielding up their hard-earned dollars during a recession.

Luckily, the Big Lie didn't work for long for Hitler, and neither will it work for long for Aldolf Balmer.
The Microsoft Edsel
It looks like Microsoft's latest products are BS 5.0 and The Hammer 12.0. 
I wish MS would take that few hundred million dollars they're flushing into the advertising campaign and do something useful. Maybe, I don't know, fix their operating system?
Vista is the most stable most well driver supported OS I've ever used. OH NO they changed how "My Documents" are organized waaaah waaah waaah I can't handle it.
Y'all Jobs' bitches...
I find it very funny the way they keep deluding themselves. They really think the only reason we don't want to use Vista is because it is so bad (which it IS)? 
There are more reasons: the high price, the annoying instability, WINDOWS ACTIVATION, problematic security, plus the plain and simple fact we do not want to use their products any longer.
Just to put in perspective... I'm a professional developer using Visual Studio and I got a free copy of Ultimate from Microsoft, which I don't use. Yes, even free, I don't want to use it. What's more, I refuse to help anyone that asks me for help with Vista. If they use Linux or Mac OS X, fine, if they need some help, I'll provide it. That's the reality of today that Microsoft doesn't get. The amount of people I alone managed to put off of buying a new pc with Vista should scare them.
In fairness, I should also tell them what they could do to win my support back. Simple really: stop acting like the convicted monopolist they are, adopt open and fair standards, charge a fair price for their products, get rid of the oodles of DRM in Windows, and remember 'Developers, developers, developers!'. Make Windows 7 all that Vista is not and remember the points I just told you, and I might just consider your products again. If not, just forget it. I'm perfectly happy using other OS's, thank you! And they are getting and better all the time.
Common people, MS knows your needs better than you. Please buy our crap OS and we might give you the next OS for free for being beta testers. lol
I find it hard to believe that publications like The Inquirer would seriously be advocating a change in Microsoft's tactics, as it has been providing fodder for articles and attracting visitors to its website for a long time.

On the other hand, I'm sure they'd continue to find stuff for which to criticize Microsoft, even if the current and past lists of grievances were addressed to their complete satisfaction.

What a nice racket that must be; to be a critic: about as safe of a line of work to be in as you can find.
IIRC, XP was perhaps the best well received version of Windows. The customers and the administrators quickly noticed its improved stability over 2000 and 98 with minimal breakage.

Honestly, the last time I've seen a version of Windows be so yawned at was Me, even though it was more of a dud, unlike Vista, which derails perfectly working computers.
Nixon showed the way: kill satire by preempting it.
Well...I'm not a rocket scientist, not an industry leader. I'm just a techie...
From the DCs I visted/worked in to people/friends that buy computers. Techies and none techies alike. People are not happy with vista.

In fact vista is such a fiasco that server 2008 is getting some frowns from some people as well. Fearing that the relation between the two makes 2008 worse.

Some people are sticking to XP, some are moving to Fedora & the others are going to OSX. 
Microsoft is not only losing market share they are losing people's confidence.

Is that not a failure Mr. vole bigshot?

Please, spin us an explanation, we are too stupid to know a fat lady is fat.

When big games start coming out for MAC & eventually following that Linux... Mircrosoft will be no more.

You know...throughout history there hasn't been a single people that remained oppressed. Perhaps IT IS time to remove our microsoft bonds.
Egan,

Your un-researched, anti-Microsoft tirades two days in a row almost made me vomit on my keyboard. We get it, you hate Microsoft. Move on.

Even the wording you use is loaded, saying that the MS rep "pleaded" and that he is "spinning" everything. It could be spin, or it could be the truth, and I don't think you are objective enough to judge that.

I am sure, based on your last two articles alone (not to mention others in the past), that if Microsoft were to find a way to feed starving children and fix global warming, you could find a way to colour it in a bad light.

Here's a task for you: try being a journalist. Deal in facts, don't just spit venom at everything you don't agree with. 

Have you read any of the feedback to your last article about migrating to Linux? There are so many comments from us readers pointing out the variety of holes in your argument, and just how wrong you are in your statements. Try doing some research before trying to pass off an educated opinion.

Oh, as for the "proof" you say Microsoft does not provide, you're wrong yet again. Not only do they say that Vista works with 98 out of the top 100 applications (not 99%), but you also say there is no proof of this support. Try going to their website.

http://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/default.aspx

and

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/smallbusiness/proceed.mspx

Again, I reiterate: Try being a journalist, or at least pull your head out of your ass.
After using vista on 3 machines for the last 18 months... I have not reinstalled vista once... not even once. I have never been able to go that long with XP before it was laden with spyware or had corrupted its dlls. My typical cycle with windows xp was about 6 months till fatal corruption in one way or another. For that reason I like vista. The only thing about vista thats not to like is the bloat. Boot times are slow. Everything else "just works" I wished I could say the same for my macs.
eventually around the time SP1 was launched. And you know what? I've hardly had any issues at all! I'm using the 64bit version on my PC (MB is over 3 yrs old) and laptop and everything works except my ancient webcam, so I spent a tenner on a new one. I've not encountered one peice of software that won't work yet.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. Yeah its got its annoying features, but people used to slate XP for various things for long enough and now they talk about XP like its the best thing since sliced bread.

Give it a chance, you might find yourself suprised, I resisted for ages due to all the negative press it got, and now I actually kind of regret waiting so long!!

/dons flame retardant suit
"attempt to talk customers into holding their noses and swallowing it anyway."

I think they are now telling customers to bend over if they will not swallow it. 

All the talk of "install Vista now because Windows 7 is going to be just like it..." So Windows 7 is just going to be the same crap with a new name?
Do they?

I am sure individually many of them do, in private, but it strikes me the byzantine MS corporate culture is such that it prohibits honesty and clarity about the product due to departmental infighting.

So it seems the crazy upshot is that MS are, like Davros and his Dalek chums, trying to eliminate the threat of reality, rather than face it.

Interesting article.