I just finished reading an article about how many computer users
hate Vista. It's not the first such article - in fact, I've lost count
of how many "everyone hates Vista" articles I've run lately. If I had
all those articles clipped out, I might be able to fill a filing
cabinet. Or two.
Anyway, I have to feel sorry for Microsoft. No one loves them
anymore. They spent years to develop Vista. And for what? A bunch of
ungrateful users who hate it. Don't those users realize that this is
State of the Art? Don't these users realize that Microsoft would
never, ever release any software unless it was Top Quality? Just
like Paul Masson would never release a wine before its time!
Why, all you have to do is look at Microsoft history to see this.
Word
6 for the Macintosh comes to mind - why wasn't that the best Word
ever, far better than Word 5.1? And how about Windows ME? Wasn't that
the best Windows ever? Of course! And so it logically follows that
Vista will be much better than XP!
But, sad to say, many don't see it that way. Thus all the articles
along the lines of, "I'd rather have a root canal than use Vista!" Then
there are other articles from so-called "experts" who proclaim that
Vista is a big failure.
That's crazy. Vista is not a failure, although it can't be denied
that users don't like it. Of course, they also didn't like Van Gogh's
art when he was alive.
Still, I'm concerned that Microsoft is losing sight of the important
picture here. There are all those press releases talking about how
Vista is doing well that often have a slight tinge of worry (to my
eyes, at least). There are various actions that send the same sort of
message of worry. The discontinuation of XP has been postponed.
And then there are various "downgrade" programs that allow users to
switch from Vista to XP.
Microsoft shouldn't worry. It's not good for them. Instead, they
should look on this as a Golden Opportunity. Get creative! Users
don't like Vista? Fine. I have a plan for Microsoft that will turn
Vista lemons into lemonade.
My plan hinges on one point: Most people get Windows by buying a new
computer that has Windows already installed. It's possible to buy a
copy of Windows at all fine stores that sell software.
Walmart, for
example. But the only time "normal" people buy Windows separately is
when buying a copy to upgrade an existing computer.
So here's my plan. Effective immediately, the only copy of Windows
that can be preinstalled will be Vista. There will be no downgrade
option. Vista is the newest and best. There is no reason to have XP
shipped on a brand new computer. None.
If computer companies don't like it, tough. If they want Windows,
which is The Standard, they'll have to take what they can get.
Microsoft knows what's best.
As for those troublesome customers who aren't willing to embrace the
new standard of Vista, well, they can go out and buy a boxed copy of
XP. Of course, under my plan, they won't be able to buy an "upgrade".
Upgrades are for people moving up, not down.
Instead, maybe Microsoft can make a special "downgrade" edition - at
twice the price. People who don't notice how wonderful Vista is
probably wouldn't notice a dramatic price increase in XP, either.
With my plan, Microsoft will turn the Vista problem into a golden
opportunity simply by selling Windows twice. It should bring in a few
million much-needed dollars. After all, Microsoft needs to get to work
developing the next exciting version of Windows!
