Vox Populi -- Windows Vista
Rahul Srinivas, Sep 08, 2008 1912 hrs IST
32% -- I love the OS
45% -- Windows XP forever!
6% -- Linux all the way!
4% -- I use Mac OS X
13% -- I hate Windows Vista
Last week, hot on the trails of our browser wars poll, we asked you if you use Windows Vista -- arguably, one of the most loathed OS this side of Windows ME.
As our poll draws to a close later this evening, we have had some interesting opinions coming in from our readers. The results point towards a 'Vista is not that bad, but XP still rules' kind of a group-opinion. So far, only 13 percent of our readers think that Vista 'really sucks'. Which we suppose is kinda good news for Microsoft. An overwhelming 41% though are still hooked on to Windows XP. Another chunk of our readers (32%) thinks that Vista isn't that bad after all: they actually voted for "I love the OS"!
Too complex, too resource-hungry
Here are some interesting opinions from our readers:
Deepak from Jodhpur says "The main thing about XPs popularity till today is that it was present when more and more people were starting using computers. XP is the most user-friendly operating system till date... or its just that people are used to it. The maximum number of applications, games, softwares and other things support XP. XP is lite, it's easy on system resources and it's simple and untangled. Vista on other hand is so vibrant and the screen looks so filled up that it's a confusion and discomfort [sic]. But for a person who starts using an OS today, Vista would be his best shot coz it has everything that a n00b would want."
What Deepak is saying is that the period when XP was launched has contributed a lot to its growth. This fortuitous timing is what propelled Windows XP to become the most popular OS from the Windows stable.
Prasath, from Sivakasi seems to be a hardliner when it comes to Vista "Vista asks too resources much to run @ decent speeds... For installation, XP takes some 650MBs, while Vista takes GBs of disk space for no good reason... I dont think cost is an issue here... Because I am not willing to buy Vista, even if they offer it for FREE", he says.
Chintan from Mumbai seems to believe that a Service Pack 2 for the Vista would iron out all its current issues. "I like windows vista.. its not that bad... it is not optimized (takes too much of resources)... guess sp2 should solve the problems". Nothing wrong with this line of thinking, considering what SP2 did for Windows XP.
BoloMKXXVIII (awesome nick, btw) from Tampa, Florida seems to be an exasperated Vista user. He seems to be particularly upset at Vista's size and incompatibility with older software. He says "Vista still does not recognize some of my hardware, some of my older software does not work. Bloated. Why can you get a complete OS and software on a CD with Linux, but Vista alone takes Gigabytes? Does not play all media formats. If I have to move to a newer version of Windows, it will be server 2008".
A victim of poor marketing?
So we ask again, is the Vista bashing that we see all over the internet just a marketing campaign that went wrong. Recall 'The Wow starts now' set of ads that hit retail stores everywhere. Apparently, the Flip 3D feature was the most revolutionary feature in Vista -- even for Microsoft -- it seemed to be the only visible reason for the "Wow". If Microsoft thinks that an eye-catching manner in which to Alt+Tab is the best feature to have been incorporated in its OS, you can't really blame everyone else to not take Vista seriously.
Additionally, could Windows XP be Vista's nemesis? Maybe the previous OS from the Big M was too good, and people see little reason to switch. Add to it, the super-computer like hardware and disk space requirements of Windows Vista combined with poor marketing, and we have one of the worst launches that an OS could possibly have.
The Vista launch was a huge mess. Microsoft knows this and is finally taking steps to clean up the image of its latest OS. The latest attempt is the $300 million marketing campaign where "Microsoft Gurus" will be posted at popular retail chains to answer people's queries and to clear any doubts and apprehensions they have regarding Windows Vista. This is similar to the Mac Geniuses concept pioneered by Apple not long ago. This comes barely a month after the Mojave experiment where hard-core (and unsuspecting) Vista haters were invited to take a look at Microsoft's 'Mojave' OS which was purported as the Vista successor. Needless to say, the users came out praising the eye-candy and user friendliness. Mojave was of course, Vista itself.
Microsoft still drawing blanks
Last week also saw a new advertisement campaign featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld. This is also a part of the aforementioned $300 million campaign to change people's perception of Windows Vista. However, the ad which shows Seinfeld and Mr. Gates trying out shoes at a mall has had mixed reactions from everyone -- media and consumers alike.
The ad featuring Seinfeld and Bill Gates
A tech blogger, according to the Wall Steet Journal went on to say, "It's one of the worst, most pointless ads in history", while the Sydney Morning Herald rubbished it off labelling it to be a "bizarre" ad that misses its mark. At the other end of the spectrum, Allen Adamson, managing director, Landor Associates -- a corporate branding firm based in New York quips, "The fact that they have the blogs, the business community and mass media talking about it means they hit a nerve".
What do you think about the latest campaign from Microsoft? Is it enough to save Vista from the mess that it finds itself in? Will a future service packs help Vista regain some pride or is it too late now? Let us know what you think by posting your comments below!
Some quotes from: The Washington Post
USER COMMENTS
by kfjjd, fjksadjkl, on Sep 18, 2008 09:43 PM, Report abuse
Pleasantly surprised to see that 6 % of the readers prefer linux though I personally believe that it deserves a lot bigger share. I prefer Kubuntu all the way...
by linux fan, Mumbai, on Sep 08, 2008 09:58 PM, Report abuse Reply
I am a marketing major in my graduate studies and i must say that this ad has been discussed in my class. And the conclusion we have reached is that it doesnt just miss the point, it misses it by a mile ! One sees Gates and Jerry but there is no pitch for Vista or any of the MS products by either. There is no talking point that the viewer can take back from this ad. The viewer will in fact be even more confused after seeing this ad ! Compared to the simple, straight, funny and direct ads of Apple, this ad crashes horribly. Amen to Microsoft
by Vikram, Toronto, on Sep 08, 2008 09:34 PM, Report abuse Reply
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I think that your poll results are slightly wrong. You claim that only 13% people think that Vista really sucks. I voted in that particular poll and I came really close to taking up that option. I only then voted for XP because I felt it deserved to be picked. It's not exactly good news for Vista because if multiple options could be picked I think you would find that more people actually think that Vista sucks
by Prasad, Mumbai, on Sep 08, 2008 07:52 PM, Report abuse Reply