“The looming choice for Windows users is either to stick with Windows XP (and older hardware) or take Windows Vista cold turkey. But Microsoft doesn’t have to be so tough—Apple did it differently with the Mac OS X rollout,” David Morgenstern writes for eWeek.
“While Microsoft’s approach to the 2007 launch of Windows Vista is only now coming into focus, it looks as if the Vista experience will stand in sharp contrast to the way Apple pitched the Mac community on its OS X transition,” Morgenstern writes. “Based on the response to a recent column on Vista’s hardware requirements and performance, it looks as if many readers will be taking a wait-and-see attitude to the upgrade. Most didn’t see much value in moving from Windows XP.”
Morgenstern writes, “Unlike the situation with Vista, Mac users had plenty of time—more than a year and a half—to ignore the new OS if they chose to do so. Customers could make up their minds about OS X in their own time frame and still have the security of knowing their existing workflows would be maintained while upgrading hardware. In fact, support for the Classic environment was only stopped with the release of Intel-based Macs.”
Morgenstern writes, “By my reckoning, Microsoft is sending the opposite message with its Vista rollout: You will be grateful for the ‘Windows Vista Experience’—Period!”
“Oh, and here’s an item for those who harp on the price of Macs. Take a look at the reported savings on ‘additional’ licenses for Vista owners. You will save between $10 and $40 off the price of each additional license when you upgrade or buy Vista new. Apple offers a ‘family’ 5-pack license, with each seat costing $40 each. That’s real savings,” Morgenstern writes.
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews article:
$399 for Windows Vista Ultimate?! (Hint: Get a Mac) – August 29, 2006
