Andrew's ramblings

Another rant on Windows Vista

Tags: Windows Vista

I am writing this because I read a blog titled "Vista's honeymoon is over" and I will say that it is well and truley over. Even though its not very long that Vista has been released, there is a seriously huge amount of negative comments on Windows Vista. And anyone who has followed my ramblings on this subject will know that I am seriously not happy with the product in a number of ways. Anyway here is the original link - Vista's honeymoon is over

One thing that has annoyed me is comments made in a Coldfusion mailing list by Scott Barnes, is that Micorsoft have to support more users than Apple. One thing that has concerned me about that comment is that the past is there for Microsoft, and we all recall Windows ME and how bad that edition was, not to mention how damn buggy it was.

Why is this the same here I here you ask, well its simple. In all these years Microsoft has worked with product manufacturers and built up a library of device drivers that would make all devices work, XP was fantastic it had so much support for all devices at the time of its release it was not funny, and when I purchased my LCD TV, and LCD monitor they had both been recognised for the Brand and model that they are.

Yet in Vista, these device drivers no longer exist nor was my printer and a few USB devices to name a few, even my Video card is no longer supported and yet it was there in Windows XP. So what gives here, the thing is that I can not think of a reason as to why this is the case. An argument as mentioned earlier about support, in my opinion if Microsoft brought across the device drivers that Windows XP supported there would be no support issues. However this is not the case because Windows Vista has many new enhancements that breaks so much it is not funny.

I had heard through the grapevine before its offical release that because Vista was late and delayed a few times that the final time, meant that it was rushed out the door before it was ready, this is a very common practice by marketing departments and there is nothing that can be done about it, after all they have the right to reclaim their ROI (Return on Investment for those who are reading this and don't know). But to deny it, is a bad case of putting the consumer offside.

I mean those of us who work in the industry know, that Windows Vienna (Codename) is scheduled for release in 2 years. Now that tells me that Vista was released in a hurry, and that in 2 years you will be better of waiting and getting a better more robust Operating System, can you now see why I made reference to Windows ME because the exact same thing happened there and in this case history is repeating itself. And considering that 1.5 million devices are no longer supported in Vista that means that many consumers have to check with the manufacturer of the device to see if they have a release driver for Vista, and I say release and not beta.

Another thing that has really annoyed me is the price of Windows Vista in Australia, and yes it is overpriced. And yet Scott Barnes a Microsoft evangelist has quoted that the price of Windows Vista in Australia has to take into consideration the import duties, taxes and support structure. Well my response is very simple, how does that differ to the support structure of the USA? It doesn't, because even if this is true the cost of the product, with all that should not be more than the retail price from the states.

Then the argument, and I quote you again Scott... Well Micorsoft has more market share than Apple, so we need to support more users. Well the Research and Development of the Mac OS, would still need to be recouped. And with that in mind you would expect that it would be dearer, but its not and even if it was it is still about the cost of buying it from overseas..

I challenge Microsoft to come to the party and come clean, and tell us it is overpriced. I spoke to the ACCC last week and they are very keen to know why as well, and with the help of the readers I am going to do what the British are doing, and begin a campaign and rally for Microsoft to answer why it is cheaper to buy from a retail shop in the states, pay the freight and get it cheaper than our own retail stores can buy the product for at cost.

So now it is upto my readers, in the next few days or so I will be putting up a partition for residents of Australia to comment and it will be sent to the ACCC, as suggested by them.

So lets tell M$ that we are not happy we as a consumer will not tolerate being ripped.
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