“Microsoft Corp. is considering discounts or other promotions during the holidays to entice consumers to upgrade their PCs with Windows Vista, even though the new operating system isn’t due to hit store shelves until January at the earliest,” The Associated Press reports.
AP reports, “Any end-of-the-year effort to spur PC purchases would likely please many retailers and computer manufacturers, who fear disappointing sales during the crucial holiday as consumers wait for the highly anticipated and long-delayed software.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “TripleHead” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft’s Windows Vista is “highly anticipated?” If so, only by those who have never used Mac OS X for the last 5+ years. Windows Vista = Windows XP SP3. It’s a stripped-down, over-promised, under-delivered, very late, poor copy of Mac OS X. In other words: par for the course for Microsoft. Vista is not “highly anticipated” by anyone who knows any better. Kudos, though, to Microsoft for working so diligently on developing a way to try to sell vapor. At least they’re working on something up there in Redmond.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Development approaches of Mac OS X Leopard vs. Windows Vista yield very different results – August 15, 2006
Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard is 64-bit done right, unlike Microsoft’s Windows Vista kludge – August 14, 2006
Microsoft Windows Vista: If you can’t innovate… try to impersonate Apple’s Mac OS X – August 10, 2006
InfoWorld: With Mac OS X Leopard, Apple aims to ruin Vista’s chance of gaining early traction – August 09, 2006
Big race? Which will ship first, Microsoft’s Windows Vista or Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard? – August 09, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s new Mac OS X Leopard sets new bar, leaves Microsoft’s Vista in the dust – August 08, 2006
Gartner analyst: It’s a ‘distinct possibility’ that Mac OS X Leopard will ship before Windows Vista – August 07, 2006
Apple WWDC banner: ‘Mac OS X Leopard. Introducing Vista 2.0’ – August 07, 2006
Ballmer analyzes Microsoft’s One Big Mistake, Vista… er, ‘One Big’ Vista Mistake – August 02, 2006
Leopard attack on Vista: Apple taunts Microsoft with much faster operating system launches – July 05, 2006
What Microsoft has chopped from Windows Vista, and when – June 27, 2006
Microsoft botches another copy job: Windows Vista Flip3D vs. Apple Mac OS X Exposé – June 26, 2006
Windows Vista rips-off Mac OS X at great hardware cost (and Apple gains in the end) – June 13, 2006
Computerworld: Microsoft Windows Vista a distant second-best to Apple Mac OS X – June 02, 2006
Thurrott: Microsoft collapsing under its own weight, Gates has driven Windows Vista into the ground – April 20, 2006
Thurrott: Microsoft going to get eaten alive over Windows Vista’s resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X – March 09, 2006
NY Times’ Pogue on Gates’ CES demo: Most of Vista features unadulterated ripoffs from Apple Mac OS X – January 05, 2006
Analyst: Windows Vista may still impress many consumers because they have not seen Apple’s Mac OS X – January 05, 2006
Gartner: Ignore Microsoft Windows Vista until 2008 (why not just get Apple Mac OS X Tiger today?) – November 12, 2005
Microsoft’s Windows Vista strives to deliver what Apple’s Mac OS X already offers – October 10, 2005
Thurrott: many of Windows Vista’s upcoming features appeared first in Apple’s Mac OS X – September 26, 2005
Microsoft’s Ballmer: It’s true, some of Windows Vista’s features are ‘kissing cousins’ to Mac OS X – September 18, 2005
Windows tech writer Thurrott: ‘In many ways, Mac OS X Tiger is simply better than Windows’ – May 07, 2005
Thurrott: Longhorn demos ‘unimpressive, fall short of graphical excellence found today in Mac OS X’ – April 26, 2005
eWEEK Editor Coursey: Longhorn so far ‘looks shockingly like a Macintosh’ – April 25, 2005
Due in late 2006, many of Windows Longhorn’s features have been in Mac OS X since 2001 – April 25, 2005
Microsoft’s new mantra: ‘It Just Works’ ripped straight from Apple’s ‘Switch’ campaign – April 22, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Microsoft’s Longhorn: ‘They are shamelessly copying us’ – April 21, 2005
Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn will bear more than just a passing resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X – April 15, 2005
Steve Jobs: Microsoft copied original Apple Mac with Windows 95, now they’re copying us again – February 08, 2005
The Age: ‘Apple’s Mac OS X at least a generation ahead of Windows XP, iMac G5 clearly the best’ – December 15, 2004
Silicon Valley: Apple CEO Steve Jobs previews ‘Longhorn’ – June 29, 2004
Apple CEO Steve Jobs: Mac OS X Tiger ‘is going to drive the copycats crazy – June 28, 2004
PC Magazine: Microsoft ‘Longhorn’ preview shows ‘an Apple look’ – May 06, 2004
Windows ‘Longhorn’ to add translucent windows that ripple and shrink by 2005 – May 19, 2003
Apple leads; Wintel follows as usual – November 11, 2002
A new low for the lowest of companies…
Actually I’m encouraged by this report. Microsoft wouldn’t be trying to pump Christmas computer sales, if they knew they were going to be good!
That Microsft is preparing some sort of incentive to buy a computer now, and upgrade to Vista later, can only mean that Microsoft and friends are anticipating a slow Christmas. This can only work to Apple’s benefit. Apple will have computers for sale that won’t need upgrading. Tiger is only about 18 months old, compared to 6 years for XP.
That, and Macs look good on your desk, or on the road, run MacOSX and XP, and cost less too.
This good just turn out to be a banner December quarter.
I wouldn’t purchase a PeeCee in anticipation of Vista right now. Knowing Microsoft, the hardware requirements of computers sold today won’t be able to handle the bloatware known as Vista when it does finally get released.
The best and most telling line is the last paragraph…
“The issue isn’t that people don’t want to buy a new PC ahead of a new operating system,” Baker said. “People don’t want to install a new operating system on a new PC.”
They don’t want the headaches of a new operating system?
I thought Vista was an “advanced” operating system. It should be EASIER to install and use. Right?
Fiskin ha bloody ha, some poor souls in the real world will fall for this crap. Apple needs to up the ads, blow a couple of billion to show Joe Shmoe the real world of beaut. computing.
According to http://www.macobserver.com/article/2006/08/22.5.shtml …
“Apple has sent out press invitations for a special presentation at the Photokina photography expo in Cologne. According to Macworld UK, the media event will take place on September 25, which is the day before the expo officially opens. The invitation doesn’t say what Apple plans to discuss, but considering the venue, it will likely be Aperture related.”
Imagine releasing Tiger as the “One More Thing…” after an Aperture upgrade!
Just in time for the holidays, it would crush any hype or promo that Microsoft could muster for its vaporware. This would also make sense to have the 20+ Mac ads ready to go for a holiday blitz.
Scene: Ballmer family living room Christmas Day as Ballmer Junior opens his present.
Ballmer Jr: Dad, it’s just an empty box!
Ballmer Sr: No, junior, it’s Vista.
Family looks aghast as Ballmer Senior chortles maniacally as he removes the invisible object from the box and holds it to his chest.
The End.
It is assumed that the Ballmer family is not Russian Orthodox.
Windows users should just e-mail their credit card numbers to Microsoft twice a year. In return, Ballmer will send a blanket e-mail with the short list of his innovations. What good is having the world’s biggest software monopoly if you can’t buy your way out of the next big lawsuit?
maczealot & Ampar . . . you guys rule
Does this mean Emperor Gates will be getting new clothes as well?
M di L B Simoni,
You mean Leopard, right? Although it’s unlikely that there’s anything other than Aperture 2.0 that would be released during Photokina. I would hate to have an incomplete product rushed to market just to “crush” Vista. Let both be released at the same time and judged side-by-side.
Thanks, Occam’s Razor. Usually, the most obvious sarcastic remark is the right one.
MW: certain – nice!
Does it come with a free sweaty towel from Steve Ballmer?
Here’s another money maker for MS (because they need all the help they can get). They could charge a nominal fee for each security patch that they don’t release. Everyone wins.
People will probably be happy to pay for Vista before it ships…
…it’s just the two Vista Service Packs that they’d have to buy before they get the first Vista install disc that will pi$$ them off.
MDN word: ‘taken’. As in ‘…for a ride’
I agree with Occam’s Razor, Apple should do more adds. But I think the adds should be like that Nike + add. It’s real slick. I like the way it shows how easy it is to use, not only the iPod, but the MacBook Pro he connects it too. This is what Apple should focus on. How easy it is to use your Mac and what you can produce with it. Beautiful Photo Albums, DVDs with slick interfaces, your own music, home movies, your own web pages to share with your family, ect. Sure they can demo that in the stores, but they need slick TV adds that show these kinds of things. People comment on the beauty of my iMac, but it’s when I show them things I have made with it that they are really blown away. And when I demonstrate how easy it is and that they could do it too, they start saying things like I want one, I should get one, or I should really condsider getting one. Most folks need to see the reason or motivation for getting one.
MS could start charging now for Vista security patches that they’ll never make. It’s all so simple. Capitalism at its best.
MAC FOOLS!!!
Don’t you know that when Vista finally ships your silly Mac OS X will have no advantage anymore!
That’s right, Vista is going to be cool looking, safe and SECURE.
Yea right, hehehehe, we couldn’t even secure a hot meal during the last company potluck.
But one day it will be secure, not in my lifetime anyway.
MadMac . . .On the nail!
Muchas gracias, amigo. My idiosyncrasies are the product of attempting to navigate between the shoal of bitter cynicism and the reef of unrestrained idealism to the open water of truth and authenticity. Steady as she goes, mates, it’s the wind, sea, and sky ahead.
I hope those “free upgrade to Vista” coupons don’t have an expiration date…
I must say, that’s a pretty smart strategy by Microsoft. Sell users the “highly anticipated” Vista BEFORE it possible for them to use it. That’s like Totoya selling a Camry with the promise it will be upgraded to a Lexus “early next year,” but then giving them a Wagonqueen Family Truckster instead
[No offense intended by equating Toyota and Lexus cars to versions of Windows.]
My old professor used to say, “Never equate change with progress or activity with action.” It is certain that Vista that won’t be revolutionary or even evolutionary. It will be universally disappointing in what it lacks more than what it offers. I doubt that five years of chanting, genuflecting, groveling, and self-flagellating before their PCs has eliminated all sense and reason from every Windows apologists.
Let’s see. I’ll take one dozen nonexistents, a pound of illusion, a couple kilograms of myth, a smidgen of shadow, and a fifth of fantasy. Oh, yeah, give me one Vista, too.
Hey, you never know. It worked for George Lucas circa Christmas 1977. Maybe they can give out Vista coupons that include a Ballmer action figure with “real sweating action” and a “throwing chair” accessory! That way, when spring comes around and Vista still isn’t ready, at least you can play with your Ballmer!
“He suggested some PC makers might be hoping for another delay, because marketing an operating system that doesn’t exist yet is a formidable challenge they’d rather skip.”
– using Vista, should it ever come out, is a formidable challenge that I believe I’ll skip…