Why Vista will sell

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 10 October 2006 06:41

Opinion and Analysis

The whole world of PC users is fuming at the thought of lining Microsoft's pockets by paying the outrageously high prices for Windows Vista. But they will pay it.

The user community is justifiably moaning and bitching about the intrusive anti-piracy measures of the WGA and SPP programs which amount to Microsoft putting spyware on their computers. But those users will still buy Vista.

Security vendors and other former software partners will continue to cry foul and complain to regulators when Microsoft leverages its desktop monopoly to put them out of business. But as far as users are concerned, their cries will fall on deaf ears.

Users will scream blue murder about being forced to upgrade their hardware or buy new computers just so they can run Vista. But they will bite the bullet and dip into their pockets.

Windows Vista will sell, just like XP, 2000, 98 and 95 did before it, for one simple reason. There is nothing else.

Going the Apple Mac OS X route will work for many users but not for the majority. Most computer users don't want to be tied to one vendor for both their hardware and software. The Mac system is even more closed than Windows.

Personally, I'm at the stage where I don't care about being limited to the range of devices and software on Apple's list. All I care about is that everything works with a minimum of fuss and is reasonably priced. For me right now, Mac fits the bill so I won't upgrade to Vista.