Vista Compared to “New Coke”
Apparently, few businesses are willing to make a leap of faith from Windows XP to Windows Vista because of bug reports and hardware compatibility issues. One tech journalist, Chris Null, has even compared Vista’s launch to the “New Coke” debacle. That’s a bit harsh. Windows needed an upgrade. Coke didn’t.
Still, Vista is a difficult sell because it’s a resource hog. But what if Microsoft offered a nice, solid stepping stone from XP to Vista? Something like Windows XP with Vista’s slick 3-D user interface? That’s Null’s recommendation to Microsoft. The VAR Guy would endorse the plan if this so-called “Windows XP Reloaded” also came bundled with the appropriate security tools.
Null’s idea is compelling but it’s also important to keep the bigger picture in mind: Although Vista isn’t setting the world on fire, it also isn’t bombing. Microsoft is dealing with a different world compared to 1995’s hugely successful launch of Windows 95. Here are 10 reasons why Vista isn’t generating the hype or the immediate interest that Windows 95 enjoyed.
Comparing vista to new coke is an insult to new coke
Vista is to Microsoft as OS/2 4.0 was to Microsoft and IBM.
We all rushed out and bought shiny new MicroChannel Architecture PCs to run our shiny new OS, yes? And they’ve both aged so well….
Maybe a better analogy is WordPerfect 2000 – the version that told the last, diehard fanbois that it was time to go get Something Else.
At least we have more alternatives for that “Something Else” now. It will be interesting to see how many companies take the plunge and actually assume active control over their IT spending and business processes.