Vista goes gold and Wintel rides again

Stan Beer
Thursday, 09 November 2006 14:42

Opinion and Analysis

For all intents and purposes, the PC sitting on my desk is fine. It runs Windows XP SP2 and Office 2003, and browses the web beautifully. However, it has just failed virtually every single test devised to ascertain whether it can run Vista Business. After a five year hiatus, we wish to bid a hearty welcome back to the Wintel alliance.

After doing a thorough test on our systems, our IT suppliers verified that my PC will need a new dual-core CPU, a new motherboard, a new 256MB graphics card and 2GB of RAM. Oh, and while I'm at it, I might as well get a new DVD burner. In short, I might as well get a new PC.

Naturally all new PCs will be pre-configured to run Vista with its snazzy Aero interface which will make us holdouts with old gear grumpy but resigned to the fact that sooner or later we'll have to upgrade.

As a result, business should be brisk for the chip makers and system builders for the next couple of years. Microsoft should also see a spike in Windows sales for a year or so as users who wouldn't normally upgrade feel compelled to do so sooner rather than later.

Five years is a long time between drinks and, in that time, Moore's Law has been marching on in the labs of Intel and AMD. For the hardware manufacturers and chipmakers, hope abounds that Wintel is well and truly back.

As for all of our old XP boxes, one would hope that there is a good recycling program in a neighbourhood not too far from you.