Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 25th Nov 2008 21:57 UTC, submitted by Moulinneuf
As most of you will know, Microsoft is currently involved in a class-action lawsuit about the company possibly misleading its customers about which computers could run Windows Vista. The story goes that when Microsoft delayed Windows Vista they allowed computers makers to label existing stock as "Vista Capable", even though these computers could only run the basic, Aero Glass-less version of Vista. The most recent development is that Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer will be questioned under oath.
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Member since:2005-12-02
"I worked at an OEM while Vista was in it's prime and it's true that a lot of the Vista Capable stickers went on incapable machines."
Was there a memo from Microsoft saying to put those on the machines? Does the OEM work for Microsoft? Did Microsoft actually put the stickers on the machines or did the OEM you worked for? It will be interesting to find out if your employer took kickbacks to put the stickers on, or if they did it themselves. Or, if the specs that Microsoft published for the stickers were followed, in which case Microsoft is to blame.
Personally, if the machines run any version of Vista, they are Vista capable. Whether they can run all the bells or whistles or not is an entirely different matter.
Member since:2006-03-12
"I worked at an OEM while Vista was in it's prime and it's true that a lot of the Vista Capable stickers went on incapable machines."
Was there a memo from Microsoft saying to put those on the machines? Does the OEM work for Microsoft? Did Microsoft actually put the stickers on the machines or did the OEM you worked for? It will be interesting to find out if your employer took kickbacks to put the stickers on, or if they did it themselves. Or, if the specs that Microsoft published for the stickers were followed, in which case Microsoft is to blame.
Personally, if the machines run any version of Vista, they are Vista capable. Whether they can run all the bells or whistles or not is an entirely different matter.
Was there a memo from Microsoft saying to put those on the machines? Does the OEM work for Microsoft? Did Microsoft actually put the stickers on the machines or did the OEM you worked for? It will be interesting to find out if your employer took kickbacks to put the stickers on, or if they did it themselves. Or, if the specs that Microsoft published for the stickers were followed, in which case Microsoft is to blame.
Personally, if the machines run any version of Vista, they are Vista capable. Whether they can run all the bells or whistles or not is an entirely different matter.
I absolutely agree the machines themselves are quite capable and usable using a modern Linux based distribution with *ALL* the bells and whistles its Windows that is not capable.
They should all get there money back + time wasted. you know what they say "Windows is inbuilt into the cost but you pay with performance and functionality"
Member since:2008-11-11
Well there are kickbacks for a Microsoft OEM, they get rolls of the licenses for dirt cheap. And without getting the deal on those licenses I guess they would go out of buisiness? Just a guess though since I wasn't high up in the chain. Just a side note though, the min specs for Vista is 512MB of ram but stickers were put on 256MB also.
Edited 2008-11-26 02:12 UTC
Member since:2005-07-06
Personally, if the machines run any version of Vista, they are Vista capable. Whether they can run all the bells or whistles or not is an entirely different matter.
I do not agree. Microsoft used a lot of money and resources telling people how nice all those «whistles and bells» was and that that would be the new way of thinking desktop altogether.
Then they allow «Vista capable» -stickers to be placed on computers not able to use the new, fantastic features. I know I'd be pissed off if I was fooled that way.
As far as I know only computers that met Microsoft requirements were branded as «Vista capable», so the one to blame is Microsoft for that.
Vista is also the only operating system known to have this problem, so one cannot say that the users are whining. If that were the case, Microsoft would never have survived Milennium Edition at all!
Nalle Berg
./nalle.
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Member since:
2008-11-11
I worked at an OEM while Vista was in it's prime and it's true that a lot of the Vista Capable stickers went on incapable machines. Even though I try to stray from the MS hating train, Ballmer & friends should be held accountable for their actions.