Please summarize the economic concepts of the following article on Window\'s Vis
ID: 1254646 • Letter: P
Question
Please summarize the economic concepts of the following article on Window's Vista:Microsoft applauded shipping in excess of 60 million Windows Vista licenses in the operating system's first six months of general availability. However, the Redmond company is right on track to correct this little slip up. Windows Vista will not continue to sell this well, at least not if Microsoft can help it. Just take a look at the handicapped comparison graphic included towards the bottom of this article, courtesy of the U.S. Vista Business official webpage. Now, in the past it has been demonstrated that Microsoft did not know its own operating system. That was of coursein Canada, but still, it appears that ignorance is contagious and that state borders are no boundaries, or impediments.
It's beyond me why Microsoft is doing itself a disservice, but the company does excel in putting together some Wow-less comparisons between its main editions. Case in point: Windows Vista Home Basic vs. Home Premium vs. Business vs. Ultimate. Well... as far as the accuracy, the compelling argument made by the graphic, the marketing insight, the deep knowledge of its latest operating system, the exemplary resources, features and capabilities chosen to advertise the Vista editions, I have only one thing to say about the comparison... I really like the nuances of blue. I do think that they could have gone with turquoise instead, and that it would have proven a better choice, but hey, nobody's perfect and Microsoft excels in its flaw fiesta.
The comparison itself is obviously a complete strike out. Well... if the point was to underline that there is little to no difference between Vista Home Basic and Home Premium and between the Business and Ultimate editions, then Microsoft got it absolutely right. Otherwise, the Redmond company really, really drives nothing home... The main differences between Home Basic and Home Premium seem to be Windows Aero, Tablet PC capabilities, Windows Meeting Space, Windows SideShow and the ability to easily set up a network projector. Get your five Vista features for just $40! Because that's the gap that separates the $199 Home Basic and $239 Home Premium. And I have yet to see users convinced to upgrade to Vista because of Vista Aero and the SideShow.
But with Business and Ultimate, Microsoft is not even trying. The Business edition seems not to have Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption and the subsystem for Unix-based applications, and a price tag a whole $100 smaller than that of Ultimate. I understand that the webpage is focused on Vista Business, but why is Microsoft creating user confusion in order to bring just one edition of the platform into the limelight? The bottom line is that Microsoft should present customers with all the data available and catalyze an informed choice, not educate them with a poor excuse for a comparison.
Explanation / Answer
According to Microsoft there are now no less than 60 million Windows Vista Media Center PCs in use worldwide. This number comes just a week after the operating system's first seven months of consumer availability. Vista shipped to corporate users in November 2006 and to the general public in January 2007 and at the end of the first six months on the market, namely in August, Microsoft applauded in excess of 60 million shipped Vista licenses worldwide. Believe it or not but the figure of 60 million shipped (as opposite to sold) Vista copies has grown in a single month, from August until September, to over 60 million Windows Vista Media Center PCs. Reading between the lines, 60 million Vista Media Center PCs translates as just two editions of the operating system - Home Premium and Ultimate, the only that feature Windows Media Center. Obviously Microsoft has to feed the large volume of Windows Media Center in Vista users with new offerings and in this context, the company announced the availability of new extenders courtesy of Cisco Systems' Linksys division, D-Link and Niveus Media. "With more than 60 million Windows Vista Media Center PCs in use worldwide, there are many customers eager to bring the simple and elegant Media Center experience to the televisions in their homes," said Dave Alles, general manager for eHome at Microsoft. "The new Extenders for Windows Media Center make it easy to get a wide range of personal and Internet content not only on someone's main TV but on all the TVs in the house. Whether it's a high-def show recorded from digital cable, new Internet video, or your personal library of pictures, music and videos, it's all on your television - just a remote-click away." Microsoft failed to comment on details related to the new extenders, revealing only that the products will be unveiled by the end of September and will be designed to power a multitude of devices that will hit the market prior to the holiday season. "New extenders will be available in a wide range of form factors, including both stand-alone set-top boxes and integration with other devices such as DVD players and televisions, so now connecting to a PC running Windows Media Center is even more convenient and seamless than ever. New support for Wireless N high-speed technology means there is no need to run Ethernet cables throughout the home to watch HD video in up to six rooms at once.Extenders for Windows Media Center are also, for the first time, enhanced to allow support for popular video codecs such as DivX and Xvid, along with continued support for Windows Media Video HD files," Microsoft added.