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Microsoft had announced that they would be launching a multi-million dollar campaign in response Apple's "Get a Mac" ad . The above picture is the first glimpse of them fighting back....
It looks like Microsoft is trying to relay the message with the above picture that even though MANY people have said Vista sucked, Microsoft believed (just like Columbus) that the critics were wrong. Lets just hope the ship doesn't sink, like reviews of Vista...
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/22/2008 10:28:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Gizmodo is reporting that Dell's new Studio Laptops will ship with a new launcher called the "Dell Dock". It's meant to clean up the Vista desktop by moving the icons from your desktop to a dock at the top of your screen. I think Dell is on to something with this dock thing...
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/26/2008 05:52:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"The person, who has been briefed on the situation but requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of Intel’s relationship with Microsoft, said the company made its decision after a lengthy analysis by its internal technology staff of the costs and potential benefits of moving to Windows Vista, which has drawn fire from many customers as a buggy, bloated program that requires costly hardware upgrades to run smoothly.
“This isn’t a matter of dissing Microsoft, but Intel information technology staff just found no compelling case for adopting Vista,” the person said."
Ouch... That's got to hurt Microsoft.
Labels: vista
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 6/25/2008 06:46:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"It's a very important piece of work. We did a lot of things right and have a lot of things we need to learn from. You never want to let five years go between releases," he said.
While Microsoft recently extended the date when the XP software will be available for low-cost PCs, it doesn't plan to listen to some other complaints, including that Vista is too big. "Vista is bigger than XP and it's gonna stay bigger than XP," Ballmer said. "We have to make sure it doesn't get bigger still." Via PC World .
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/18/2008 10:18:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
If you're a Vista user this might make your experience with Vista a much better experience. Microsoft has been listening to customer's complaints with their latest operating system, and claim SP1 will bring ""improvements that address many key pieces of customer feedback, especially in the areas of performance and reliability." Gaming and networking are two particular areas of improvement". You can download Vista Service Pack 1 via Windoes Update or Microsoft Download Center. Sounds good to me...
Labels: vista
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 3/18/2008 02:50:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
The Boy Genius has posted a review of the HTC Shift . This UMPC runs both Windows Vista and Windows Mobile on one device. Why would you want to do that you ask?? Read the full review here to find out.
Labels: htc, umpc, vista, windows mobile
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 3/10/2008 07:51:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Microsoft announced its intention to slash the price of its latest OS, unveiled in January 2007," Max Brenn reports for eFluxMedia.
"Citing as a reason, its desire to urge the adoption of Windows Vista, Microsoft said that the price of its Windows Vista Ultimate, the fully-featured version of the OS, will be $319 instead of $399," Brenn reports. "Also, those who already own a copy of Windows XP or a version of Windows Vista will pay to upgrade to Ultimate only $219 and not $259."
"Microsoft will also cut prices for upgrade versions of Vista Home Premium, its mainstream product, to $129 from $159. The price cuts will apply in 73 countries, but they could vary from one country to another," Brenn reports. "Also, the software giant will stop selling 'upgrade' versions of Vista in emerging markets and it will instead sell Vista Home Premium and Home Basic, a stripped-down version, at the upgrade prices."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/29/2008 11:45:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
I just noticed that CDW is offering a Mac OS X Leopard, Parallels for Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows Vista Business Edition bundle for $279. For those folks running Intel Mac boxes, that is an amazing offer. Windows alone is worth the $279 price.
For more information, visit the CDW website.
Labels: mac, os x, parallels, vista
¶ posted by Alan Grassia, Staff Writer @ 2/22/2008 09:34:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Microsoft has decided to rebrand their "Playsforsure" DRM technology to "Certified for Windows Vista" in an attempt to make it easily understandable. The problem is that Microsoft keeps changing the branding of their DRM technology. "Playsforsure" and "Certified for Windows Vista" allows players Sandisk, Creative, etc. to use subscription services like Napster, Yahoo, and Rhapsody to play DRM protected content, while Microsoft's own Zune is incompatible with these services. Thanks once again Microsoft for making your products less confusing;)
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 12/12/2007 07:58:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"A Microsoft Corp. product manager couldn't correctly explain the "Vista Capable" marketing slogan, according to recent filings in a lawsuit that claims the company misled consumers with a prerelease Vista campaign last year.
The case, first filed in March by Washington state resident Diane Kelley, charged Microsoft with deceptive practices in letting PC makers slap a "Vista Capable" sticker on PCs, when "a large number" of the machines would be able to run only Vista Home Basic, the simplest version of the operating system.
About two weeks ago, lawyers for Kelley requested that the lawsuit be given class-action status, which would open the plaintiff list to all U.S. residents. Last week, Microsoft opposed that move in its own filing with the federal court in Seattle.
Microsoft argued that it spent considerable time and effort educating the public and providing information to its OEM hardware partners about the Vista Capable program, as well as a separate-but-related logo that labeled some PCs in late 2006 as "Premium Ready." Both programs and their associated stickers were used by Microsoft and computer makers to sell Windows XP systems in the last quarter of the year because Vista's retail release had been delayed until January, after the holiday sales season.
"From the inception of the WVC [Windows Vista Capable] program, Microsoft emphasized that not all Windows Vista Capable PCs were equal," Microsoft said in its Nov. 19 filing. "As Microsoft repeatedly told the public, 'premium features and advanced experiences' such as Windows Aero would require a PC labeled 'Premium Ready.' "
But in a deposition taken by Kelley's lawyers that was included in their Nov. 9 brief, a Microsoft manager couldn't correctly explain what "capable" meant in the Vista marketing blitz." Read more @ PC World .
Labels: vista
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/28/2007 04:59:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Gottabemobile has posted a video review of the HTC Shift, and they couldn't be more impressed. This UMPC runs both Windows Vista and Windows Mobile 6, allowing you to toggle which OS you want to work with. Windows Vista and Windows Mobile 6 can both be running at the same time, just press the toggle button to switch. Here's a run down of the specs:
*Windows Vista Business (3 hrs battery)
*Intel Santa Rosa A110 Processor
*1GB DDR2 RAM
*40GB HDD
*HSDPA (Data only) ready
*Web Cam
*Biometrics
*HTC_Shift_Hugo_Ortega_GBM_slide3Windows Pocket PC (over 5 days battery life when used exclusively)
*Qualcomm 400MHz Processor
*64MB RAM
Check out Gottabemobile for a video review of the HTC Shift.
Labels: htc, review, umpc, vista, windows mobile
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/13/2007 12:10:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
PalmInfocenter is reporting that Palm has released a beta version of Palm Desktop for Windows Vista.
"Bearing Microsoft's "Works With Windows Vista" certification branding, Palm Desktop v6.2 is essentially just a Vista-compliant version of the previous version of Palm Desktop for Windows."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 7/25/2007 12:00:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
"Bill Gates has a real knack for delivering big news in a small way. The Microsoft chairman could have been ordering hamburgers when telling the WinHEC audience the company had sold close to 40 million copies of Vista.
Gates revealed the news during the opening keynote of Microsoft's annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, which started today.
"As of last week, we've had nearly 40 million copies sold, and so that's twice as fast as the adoption of Windows XP, the last major release that we've had," Gates said.
The sales number, for the operating system's first 100 days of broad availability, represents license sales into the channel. However, the number of Vista PCs sold is probably much less." Via Microsoft-Watch.com .
Labels: vista
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/16/2007 04:06:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
According to previously released information, Palm Desktop versions 4.1.4e and 4.2 will install and run under Windows Vista, however there are some compatibility issues. Hopefully this new version of Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager that is currently in beta testing will resolve those issues.
¶ posted by Alan Grassia, Staff Writer @ 5/07/2007 03:15:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Fried reports, "Like most computer makers, Dell switched nearly entirely to Vista-based systems following Microsoft's mainstream launch of the operating system in January. However, the company said its customers have been asking for XP as part of its IdeaStorm project, which asks customers to help the company come up with product ideas."
"'We heard you loud and clear on bringing the Windows XP option back to our Dell consumer PC offerings,' Dell said on its Ideas in Action page. Users get to vote on various suggestions, and the notion of bringing back XP got 10,000 'points,' making it among the most popular requests but well below top picks such as adding Linux or OpenOffice.org to its PCs," Fried reports.
Fried reports, "Analysts say Dell's move is not a good sign for Windows Vista. 'That there is remaining demand from some segment of (the) consumer market points to the inability of Vista to resonate with consumers,' IDC analyst Richard Shim said."
"Microsoft product manager Michael Burk said in a statement: 'Dell is responding appropriately to a small minority of customers that had this specific request. But, as they have said before, the vast majority of consumers want the latest and greatest technology, and that includes Windows Vista.' The software maker has said it will stop selling Windows XP to large PC makers by January. Smaller computer sellers, known as system builders, will be able to sell XP machines for an additional year."
Seems like most people are still loving XP compared to Vista. I've used both and can tell you XP is much more stable, and is the best operating system to ever come out of Redmond. Long live XP!
Labels: vista
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/20/2007 12:20:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
TUAW has a very nice write up on how to install Vista in Boot Camp. If you feel the need to get your Windows Vista on while using a Mac this is a great place to start.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 3/14/2007 04:37:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Palm has updated their site in regards to their support for Windows Vista. Palm has posted important information when using Windows Vista with Palm Smartphones and Handhelds. Customers are advised to check back regularly as they will be updating the site regularly.
Palm Desktop versions 4.1.4e and 4.2 will install on Windows Vista and will synchronize Personal Information Manager (PIM) items including Calendar, Contacts, Tasks and Memos. More information can be found here .
Labels: palm, software, treo, vista
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/21/2007 08:15:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
I don't think it's pirated copies of Vista causing poor sales, in most cases you need to buy a brand new pc in order to run Vista. Who wants to buy a whole new machine to run a slightly prettier XP?
Labels: vista
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/19/2007 03:02:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
PC unit sales soared 173 percent at U.S. retail stores during the week ended February 3, compared with PC sales in the previous week, according to the report. Current Analysis also noted that during Vista's debut week PC unit sales rose 67 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Computers loaded with Microsoft's new operating system, Vista, made their debut during a midnight celebration January 29, but initial reports found interest paled in comparison with launches of previous versions of Windows.
The report also found that demand was higher for PCs with the more expensive version of the new operating system.
Notebooks loaded with Vista Home Premium accounted for 76 percent of all notebook PC sales, while Vista Home Basic represented only 16 percent, according to the report. It also noted that Vista Home Premium notebooks carried an average sales price of $863, while the Home Basic notebook version had an average sales price of $616.
"Microsoft is pleased with the initial response to Windows Vista," a company representative said in an e-mail." Via CNET.
Labels: vista
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/09/2007 12:25:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Contact Jimmie Geddes here: gadgetsonthego at gmail dot com.
