View this article at: http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/07/09/vista.ready.for.use/
Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008 1:20am
MS to counter Apple, Mac OS...
Calling Vista the most secure operating in the world (and taking jabs at Mac OS X security), Microsoft on Tuesday relented in its defense of the problematic Windows Vista, which has been the butt of many of Apple's jokes through its "Get a Mac" ad campaign. The Microsoft exec admitted that the system broke many things and said he feels badly for users' plights; the world's largest software developer, however, will counter Apple's anti-Windows/Vista campaign: "We've got a pretty noisy competitor out there," Brooks said of Apple whose "I'm a Mac... and I'm a PC," commercials criticize Windows Vista. "You know it. I know it. It's caused some impact. We're going to start countering it. They tell us it's the iWay or the highway. We think that's a sad message. Software out there is made to be compatible with your whole life."

InformationWeek writes that VP of Windows Vista consumer marketing Brad Brooks spoke during a keynote at the company's Worldwide Partner Conference, acknowledging that users have been hesitant to upgrade, especially in the corporate sector.

Brooks cites Windows XP's relatively uncomfortable launch after the oft-panned Windows ME, saying that XP was eventually stable enough to be used as a primary system.

In addition, Brooks blasted Apple, calling them a "pretty noisy competitor", saying it is "sad" how Apple is portraying it to be "the iWay or the highway".

Instead, Brooks positioned Windows Vista as the preparation for the as-of-yet unnamed Windows 7, which will build on the foundations created by Vista. "Windows Vista is an investment in the long term," Brooks said. "When you make the investment into Windows Vista, it's going to pay it forward into the operating system we call Windows 7."

Microsoft is poised as well to place Windows as "a kind of language," with Brooks saying it has over a billion users worldwide, which, according to Brooks, is more than those speaking Mandarin Chinese or English. He adds that Microsoft believes that, with an alleged 99-percent of all business apps being Vista-ready, the movement is ready to go forward, despite what word-of-mouth and competitors say.