Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 25th Nov 2008 21:57 UTC, submitted by Moulinneuf
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2005-07-06
From http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/11/19/a-cheap-tech-stock-y...
Court documents show that Ballmer capitulated on specifications for what would qualify as a "Vista Capable" PC, an important designation around which Microsoft would craft a marketing campaign. Initially, Computerworld reports, Mr. Softy held the line -- demanding that "Vista Capable" hardware include advanced graphics chips. So Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) prepared as Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) resisted.
But then Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) complained. The line disappeared shortly thereafter, emails show.
HP's management and some of Microsoft's top engineers fumed at the decision, including Jim Allchin, who led the development of Vista at the executive ranks. "I am beyond being upset here," Allchin wrote to Ballmer in an email released by the court. "This was totally mismanaged by Intel and Microsoft. What a mess. Now we have an upset partner, Microsoft's destroyed credibility, as well as my own credibility shot."
Allchin retired from Microsoft on the day of Vista's release. Dell has chosen to allow some PC customers to choose Windows XP over Vista. And Intel -- the longtime partner to which Mr. Softy yielded -- has refused to upgrade its own PCs to Vista.