Twisted Vista: Microsoft, Intel ‘capable’ of selling-out consumers?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Saturday, 01 March 2008 09:10

Opinion and Analysis

Microsoft’s take on the matter is to follow the company line.

In a statement set to CNET following the publication of their article Microsoft said: "We included the 915 chipset as part of the Windows Vista Capable program based on successful testing of beta versions of Windows Vista on the chipset and the broad availability of the chipset in the market. Computers equipped with this chipset were and are capable of being upgraded to Windows Vista Home Basic. Microsoft authorized the use of the Premium Ready designation on PCs that could support premium features of Windows Vista."

Well, of course Microsoft would say that. That will surely be their defence in court.

What is lacking in this entire situation is respect for consumers, the customers that keep Microsoft, Intel and all their hardware partners in business.

I’m no socialist wanting companies to give things away for free, or run their companies into the ground because they shouldn’t be making large profits. No, I’m a capitalist – companies should be free to innovate and to be subject to the hard realities of free and open competition – and to be free to make as much money as they can.

But it shouldn’t be at the expense of their customers. Companies should respect their customers and should treat them like gold. Customers shouldn’t be taken for fools, or sold old technology as new, or old technology touted as being able to run the latest software, with some hard to fathom caveats.

Of course Microsoft will say ‘but we only said it was capable of being upgraded to Windows Vista Home Basic’. But what good does that do a non-tech savvy consumer who is hearing about, reading about and seeing Windows Aero?

Let’s face it: even one of Microsoft’s own at the highest levels was fooled. That really says everything right there, doesn’t it?

Companies of the world: just as ‘the people’ have overthrown corrupt governments, ‘the people’ can put dishonest and tricky companies out of business, or at the very least subject you to horrific class action lawsuits and humble you in front of a worldwide audience.

The answer is simple: stop taking your customers for granted. Put them No.1 for once, and you’ll find that customer loyalty and satisfaction will go through the roof, and rather than losing money because it’s costing you more to deliver a better product, you’ll make MORE money through greater sales.

The thing is, wishing for this is like wishing for utopia. Companies will just have to learn the hard way – mistreated consumers will not let you get away with it forever. What a shame there will undoubtedly be plenty more class-action lawsuits to come in the future.