“Microsoft’s next-generation operating system, Windows Vista, could get a cool reception when it’s released late this year or early next. Corporate customers testing an unfinished version of the PC operating system complain that it’s too large, slow and memory hungry, according to surveys by ChangeWave Research. Testers say the software is super buggy, which raises questions about whether Microsoft can meet its current schedule,” Patrick Seitz writes for Investor’s Business Daily. “Also, many customers don’t see a need to upgrade to the new operating system right away. That means they’re likely to stick with PCs running older versions of Windows for some time.”
MacDailyNews Take: Don’t bet on it. They might finally decide not stick with Windows at all:
Seitz continues, “A further delay in Vista and then slack demand for it would be bad news for Microsoft, because so many of its business thrusts are tied to the new operating system, analysts say. Those efforts include getting corporate clients to sign long-term subscription licenses and buy Office 2007 productivity software. Also at stake are new business initiatives like Windows Live services, which include security and Web search, and graphics and electronic document software… Windows Vista is Microsoft’s first major overhaul to its flagship operating system since Windows XP came out in October 2001… Three-quarters of respondents say they’re not deferring PC and server purchases to wait for Vista. Only 9% say they are waiting for Vista before buying new hardware.”
MacDailyNews Take: The hunger for Vista is only a little bit less than the anticipation for Wal-Mart’s annual snow tire display.
Seitz continues, “Among features that testers dislike, 44% cite Vista’s large size and memory requirements. One respondent said Vista is ‘memory hungry’ and requires ‘upgrading almost every PC.’ Another said it ‘consumes too many system resources.’ For its latest of several Vista surveys, ChangeWave polled 1,161 executives May 16-22. The respondents included 54 people who work for companies that are beta testing Windows Vista, along with 146 who plan to test it. In addition, ChangeWave queried 961 people involved in tech spending for their outfits. Seventeen percent of testers reported problems, with the beta version of Windows Vista freezing up or crashing. One respondent said Vista ‘locks up every hour.'”
Seitz reports, “On June 7, Microsoft released to the public the latest test version of the product, called Windows Vista Beta 2. Some other early reviews also have been unkind. ‘I’ve run every Windows version in beta since Windows 95, and this is probably the shakiest that I’ve seen at this stage in the development process,’ said Joe Wilcox, an analyst with JupiterResearch. ‘I don’t see a lot of companies rushing to roll out Windows Vista,’ said Paul Thurrott, news editor of Windows IT Pro magazine. Many firms might wait for the first major revision to Windows Vista, which is due out a year after the initial release, he says.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: What are Windows users waiting for? Nothing much, obviously; if they’re even waiting for anything at all.
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MS should market Vista with the tagline:
“1% fewer viruses and spyware than XP – Guaranteed!*”
(disclaimer in 2 pt. type)
*with purchase of a lifetime subscription to the Microsoft Virus Removal Service.
“This is a VERY small sampling of other negative posts I found about OSX using google.”
No koolaid here:
The comparison is hardly valid. In 2002, OS X was a very early version of a brand new Mac OS rerbuilt from the ground up. Vista, on the other hand, is basically Windows with a facelift, to judge by the beta snapshots I’ve seen. Don’t be too surprised if Vista turns out to be an also-ran before it is even released.
Which, of course, doesn’t mean that millions of drones around the world won’t slavishly adopt Vista when it finally sees the light of day. But it’s probably a safe bet that, going forward, a smaller and smaller percentage of today’s better-educated buyers will choose to stick with the clearly inferior option.
One can hope.
Apple, read the writing on the wall.
1. Visualize your OS to the public.
2. Pump up iWork with a spreadsheet and integrate it as part of iLife, despite the loss in profits and development costs, but reap huge gain in incentive hardware sales by chopping the cost of Office off at the knees.
3. Push the envelope further and ship your hardware with at least 768 megs of RAM and an extra 20 gigs of hard drive space so your upcoming virtualization software will actually work. Virtualization will arm-twist PC users to actually set eyes on OS X, where rebooting will only keep them in their comfort zone.
4. Offer a 1gig Nano free with the purchase of any Macbook Pro. If Amazon can offer a $100 rebate, then you can absorb this.
5. Keep the consumer aspect of the Macbook(even though it is high performance) by offering some basic colors at no extra charge. I would drool over a solid red one.
As said before, M$ lost millions on the XBox, yet gained a ton of market share and is currently competing well by getting it out the door quicker than Sony.
If Apple is truly a hardware company, then absorb some small losses in certain areas and reap the hardware sales benefits. Apple, make it be stupid to buy a Dell or an HP!!
From this report I just don’t see Vista being released in early 2007 at all. And definately not late 2006 period! I’ve heard maybe June of 2007 if there lucky and now after reading this story it looks like maybe 2008 might be the earliest they could release it without having people scream bloody murder about how buggy it is.
OSX is just so much easier and you can run XP if you want. Get a Mac and finally have fun computing instead of fighting the operating system.
Bill’s Law
means
Intel gives, Windows takes!
Intel gave a windows users a power but windows used all of it! Result: No power!
I mean Andy and Bill Law.
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http://www.forbes.com/columnists/2005/04/19/cz_rk_0419karlgaard.html
I say Vista (aka Longhorn) suffers from MadCow disease and needs to be put down.
I am testing the beta Windows Vista, and for some reason, the CPU is at 100% use all the time, as soon as you log into the OS, without anything yet installed on it. I’m running it on a 3.4GHz P4HT, 1GB of RAM. Why that is, I dunno, but I stopped running it because I don’t want my new system to melt or get damaged for no real reason.
Drunk Cheney………
LOL Ha Ha Ha Ha…
Yes indeed how many completely new super re written OS systems are MS launching these days. I thought XP and NT were supposed to be the brand new OS systems already. Apple 2 in 25 years MS 3 plus in in half that time. Yet to some there is no difference apparently. Poor deluded fools
Its not like 10.4.0 was the best either guys.
LOL @ Bill.
Windows is so confusing, what version should I get? I want to do audio, video and graphics as well as email and internet, but what will be compatible with my hardware and existing software? And where will I get the support for Vista Home or Pro or Mobile or CE or the Mr Paperclip Bozo version? I’d like to get a bunch of cheap PC parts and bang together my own cheap rig but which parts will work?
So many questions and only one logical simple answer, get an Apple computer… only one OS and everything else is included. Life can be simple.
I’m okay with koolaid’s comparison…
OS X came out and it wasn’t perfect.
Half a decade later, MS delivers a horribly mangled copy, with a 100,000 bugs.
SSDD
Being number 2 sucks. I worked for Eagle Snacks for years. They were number 2 in the market with 39% share, ultra-high brand awareness and an awesome product. In its best year Eagle lost only $13 million.
Fortunately, Apple is making a profit.
And Microsoft isn’t Frito Lay!
MCCFR,
Why does it depend on whether you’re a girl or boy (2 girls for every boy)?…
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” /> Could be equally appealing for both….
But you know WHAT?
The business world will eventually use Vista regardless because:
1: There is no other alternative OS.
2: Mac’s require a hardware change and being locked into a OS and hardware monopoly instead of just a OS monopoly with Windows.
3: IT will recommend it because they will secure future employment upgrading hardware, software and fixing the bugs.
4: Microsoft will sell Vista on the “more secure” issue and businesses will fall for it.
5: Businesses will just wait a few years until all the bugs are worked out of Vista and include a upgrade with new hardware purchases.
So how much we Macheads think that this will anyway improve Apple’s market share, it’s not going to happen unless the basic fundamental issues are addressed.
Have you seen the hardware specs for Vista, particularly for “aero”? For all practical purposes, it’s gonna require hardware that most PC users don’t have, and most don’t “need”. If you’ve got to spring for a new box, it might as well be at least an iMac.
Maybe the advantage of not having to buy new hardware might have applied in the past, but for this Doze upgrade, there are going to be alot of upset/surprised/angry buyers when they realize anything older than 2, or at most 3 years old won’t give you all Vista is supposed to offer.
I can’t use Mac at work so I m ay as well have the best Windows system available.
That’d be Windows 3.1.
there are going to be alot of upset/surprised/angry buyers when they realize anything older than 2, or at most 3 years old won’t give you all Vista is supposed to offer.
That’s a thought. What does Vista have over XP when you take away Aero? Windows Defender??
When Vista is fully usable (not just barely bootable) on $299 Dells, THEN you’ll convince me it has potential.
Redboy:
“Which means Windows marketshare will increase dramatically since companies buying new computers with Vista pre-installed will reformat and then install Windows XP. Microsoft can then claim 2 “Windows sold” for every computer sold.”
Not true. Companies can use their existing XP licenses, if they are replacing older PCs. Most likely, they will simply not buy new unless necessary.
Static Mesh:
The business world will eventually use Vista regardless because:
1: There is no other alternative OS.
Wrong – Mac OS X is an alternative, so is Linux (not that I want to use it)
2: Mac’s require a hardware change and being locked into a OS and hardware monopoly instead of just a OS monopoly with Windows.
So do buying new PCs. Now that Macs are Intel-based, this is not so much of an issue for companies. A Mac is not a different animal now.
3: IT will recommend it because they will secure future employment upgrading hardware, software and fixing the bugs.
May well be true, unless they are afraid that Vista will cause them to be worked to death.
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4: Microsoft will sell Vista on the “more secure” issue and businesses will fall for it.
And probably pay for Microsoft’s “security” features.
5: Businesses will just wait a few years until all the bugs are worked out of Vista and include a upgrade with new hardware purchases.
And in that time, someone will come up with a way for Windows apps to operate in OS X without Windows. The sooner, the better.
I can’t use Mac at work so I m ay as well have the best Windows system available.
er.. that’d still be a Mac.
Bill – Fraking hilarious…lol
Window may well fix all of the bugs and poor “features” – someday.
But to all the Windows users of the world, I have two words.
WHY WAIT?
The superior OS is already here. By Apple.
I’ve installed Vista on 8 machines. From a P.O.S. Dell-G150 (1ghz/256mem/40gbhdd) some low-mid systems, some medium rated systems, and my super high end system at home. Along with my macbook pro that I am typing this on now. For a beta, it does alot of things better than XP or OSX, It does other things badly. Thats what a beta is. OS X.0 /X.1 and X.2 were all paid beta’s in my mind…OSX has had its shit releases aswell. Nothing perfect..Oh – except for you people..