Vista SP1: the amazing story of the software that changed Microsoft forever

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by Alex Zaharov-Reutt

Saturday, 22 March 2008

Page 1 of 4 ! Vista SP1 has been released at last – and something amazing has happened after a year of Vista problems: Microsoft has released Vista SP1 on time, delivering incredible benefits that have turned the tide on Vista’s bad PR, as imagined in a parallel universe by Alex Zaharov-Reutt. Related stories Broadcom backs 60GHz ultra broadband networking group Telstra's UK 'expert' all "false assumptions and bias" says T4 Fixed wireless focus boosts BigAir Optus: Telstra “threatened” by our rapid network expansion Telstra challenges “ludicrous” Optus to get “independent audit” [Warning: Satire] After years of delays between Windows XP, and its true successor, Windows Vista, the Windows using world had hoped Vista would vanquish the problems Microsoft has experienced after each new version was launched. But it was not to be. When Vista was launched, it was slow, incompatible with hardware and software, expensive and different enough from previous versions of Windows, causing many to throw up their hands in frustration and go back to Windows XP, an operating system released in 2001. Microsoft, realising the incredible distress this caused to its semi-loyal user base, many only using Windows because of its market dominant position, decided to do something different: really work on making Vista’s first service pack, known as SP1, a shining beacon of Microsoft’s programming capabilities, fixing all the problems within Vista, and restoring hope to a world used to looking at computing and the web through Windows. Actually, not everyone on Planet Earth was a Windows user. Some chose to use Apple’s Mac OS X, others went down the Linux path. But with Windows being the world’s dominant operating system, Microsoft knew that it could win the hearts and minds of many by simply fixing Vista many deficiencies by doing what its EULA said it wouldn’t do: actually take responsibility for Windows, delivering an operating system people could rely upon, instead of delivering software ‘AS IS’ with practically no guarantees other than your wallet would be lighter. Why? Because Microsoft was sick and tired of being lumped in the same basket as second-hand car salesmen and lawyers when it came to truthfulness, honesty and integrity. Microsoft made software, dammit – good software. Or at least, it wanted to. SP1 was the milestone that proved Microsoft not only could – but absolutely would - deliver. Indeed, in SP1, Microsoft actually decided to scrap its EULA. Some argued this could see Microsoft opened up to lawsuits and class-actions galore, but now was the time to draw a line in the sand. Taking responsibility for software, standing behind the claims on the box and on Microsoft’s website, actually helping consumers and businesses actually fix problems that Windows had caused, so the problems were no more, delivering software that was truly secure... it was a revolution that saw the software world changed forever, even more than the ‘free and open source software’ movement had strived to for years. How did Microsoft achieve such a feat when millions spent previously on Vista RTM didn’t help? Please read onto page 2 for some incredible revelations. << First page <   1 2 3 4 Next page > Last page - Post your comment >>

 

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