It’s the same old story - Microsoft, in an attempt to ram the newest versions of its software down the throats of, well, everybody, spreads a FUD campaign against any and all competing products in the hopes that the fabled Big Lie Theory will take hold in the eyes of John and Janet Q. Public. Since Windows Vista has not performed nearly as well as expectations, this is now the approach Microsoft has taken in marketing this latest and most controversial of all Windows releases.

The funny thing is, the competing product in this case… is Windows XP.

Citing the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) factor, MS has released a statement “proving” that Vista will cost, on average, approximately $600 less per year than an equivalent XP installation for mobile PC users. Cited factors include security updates, tech support costs, hardware upgrades, and so on.

It all sounds very reasonable to read it… but it’s absolutely hilarious when you consider how MS is now using its infamous massaging of statistics against itself. Then again, with Vista continuing to produce less than satisfactory sales numbers, I guess they feel they have to do anything to get people to upgrade — and seeing as it’s against the law (for now) to force XP users to upgrade to Vista, the snake will just start swallowing its own tail instead in an effort to trick the public into plunking down their cash for the latest and (supposedly) greatest.

What I want to know is, in what other industry would a company actually discourage someone from buying a product that they themselves would make money from?

If you liked that, try...

1. Microsoft: Vista will be deployed quickly!
2. Microsoft Vista Launches Today, Just Don’t Try to Upgrade
3. MS Allowing Vista-to-XP Downgrade (Home Users Need Not Apply)
4. Install Vista Upgrade as Full Version?
5. MS releases new XP service pack… sort of

2 Comments »

1. 
   Migo
   September 11, 2007 at 11:58 pm

   I’m curious to see if this will lead more people down the Mac and Linux roads or if they will bite and drop the cash for Vista.

   [Reply]
2. 
   Firlefanz
   September 16, 2007 at 2:39 am

   Well, if I remember correctly, Dell has stopped to put Vista onto their PCs by default, reverting to XP. If MS can’t take that as a warning sign — that’s their problem.

   If they start degrading XP, they will only drive me to Linux sooner than later. I’m never going to use Vista. Their certification system is simple too annoying, after all, I don’t want to be told by MS what I’m able to put into my machine.

   [Reply]

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