Is vista the problem?

[allinking17]

This is interesting, i just read this article about vista and microsofts downswing. I dont think there is a pure direct connection i just think its the economy

In Microsoft's public speeches and press releases, CEO Steve Ballmer has portrayed Windows Vista as nothing short of a wild success, an operating system that has sold millions of copies to adoring fans worldwide.

Alas, reality has finally come into sobering focus: Microsoft's recent earnings report show not just a $900 million revenue shortfall vs. earlier projections, but a serious weakness in one critical part of its business: "Software client revenue" (aka Windows Vista and remnant sales of XP), where sales are down 8 percent vs. last year. In comparison, the company showed growth in some of its other businesses, including the Xbox division (up 3%) and the server business (up a whopping 15%). Also to blame in the poor results: online services (such as Hotmail) and, of course, the Zune, which hemorrhaged $100 million in the last quarter as sales fell off a cliff.

But overall softness aside, all eyes are on Vista, traditionally the source of a massive portion of the company's revenues and profits. The main problem of course is that the sale of Windows is closely tied to the sale of PCs, and with PC sales on the decline due to general economic conditions, sales of Vista have fallen as well.

That begs the question, though, of what degree the poor reception of Vista has been a driver for said decline in PC sales. Gartner has compared Vista to the embarassment of New Coke, noting that many businesses and individuals -- and probably many of you out there -- are skipping Vista and sticking with Windows XP until Windows 7 comes out. With just a year to go until the new OS, there's really no reason to upgrade now, and that bodes poorly for sales in the year ahead.

Of course, none of this is likely to be comforting to the 5,000 Microsoft employees losing their jobs in what is the company's first major layoff in history.

What will Microsoft do? Soldier on, and finish up the glowingly-previewed Windows 7 as quickly as possible, I'd imagine. What should it do? How about offering free XP downgrades for all Vista users (both new buyers and existing ones) in order to salvage what's shaping up to be a grim 2009.

[sand]

wow how many chips for that post lol

[GloBug]

yeah from what i have heard vista has many problems still. because of it i am still using windows 95. LOL

[sand]

yeah from what i have heard vista has many problems still. because of it i am still using windows 95. LOL

windows 95 wow,are they still supporting updates for that os???????

[GloBug]

windows 95 wow,are they still supporting updates for that os???????

uh yeah its new patch is the lastest and greatest. makes vista look like ms-dos

[eejit101]

........... wow. 95! greatest.......wow


im very drunk, urgh

[USCTrojans]

LOLOL @ Win95 geez....ughhhh

[67christine]

I have windows xp and need a new computer soon. The major reason for me not going out and getting on is that I do not want windows vista. A couple of friends have it and so all I have heard are complaints about it. When I asked the guys at best buy they said sure I could get windows XP on a computer that I buy at their store, all I have to do is spend close to 300.00 for the program.

Why not do like what was suggested and offer the downgrade to windows XP? I would have bought my new computer over a month ago if they would offer that. I will probably keep using this computer until it finally crashes and I cannot get it to reboot. (note to self, maybe now is the time to get an exteral hardrive so I do not lose everything) My computer is 6 years old so now is the time for a new one.

[67christine]

........... wow. 95! greatest.......wow


im very drunk, urgh

Are you feeling better now eejit?

[sand]

can always get xp from a diff comp

[67christine]

can always get xp from a diff comp

yes but I am a total idiot when it comes to that stuff. I know how to turn it off and on anything more techy and I am lost. Blonde LOL