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Seth Weintraub

Apple versus Google

Windows Vista 'New Coke' of operating systems?

30 comments

TAGS:forrester, Linux, Net Applications, Vista, Windows
IT TOPICS:Macintosh & Apple, Mobile & Wireless, Personal Technology

Forrester research compared the enterprise adoption of Windows Vista to the disastrous introduction 'New Coke' back in July. That's actually a pretty good analogy. I even think Microsoft will be readily willing to admit it too -- as soon as Windows 7 is ready to replace it in the 'Classic' sense. Two reports came out this week which show that Microsoft continues to fall in both operating systems and browsers.

It's been over two years since Microsoft launched Windows Vista, but fewer than 10 percent of PCs in the enterprise are running the successor to the company's eight-year-old Windows XP. That's only up from 8.8 percent in July. Still, a very Microsoft-friendly Forrester Research report uses this data to say that 31% of businesses are "Warming to the idea of Vista".

Perhaps because there isn't, as of yet, a way to upgrade directly from XP to Windows 7?

Considering that no matter what IT Managers end up putting on their desktops, new PC sales are tallied as Vista sales, that's not a high number. The only computers that can register as XP sales are the consumer-friendly Netbooks which are essentially useless with Vista on them. Sure Sony bravely puts Vista on their Viao P, but everyone who can get their hands one a can also get their hands on Windows 7.

A simple and more telling web metric, the monthly Net Applications rating of OS's and browsers, reveals that Microsoft is steadily losing market share in both.

and OS Market share:

And they have been losing steadily for over a year. They've lost 2.2 percentage points just since October. There is no possible way for Forrester or anyone else to spin this in a positive light for Microsoft. In fact, I predict that, with the sharp uptick in XP powered Netbooks, if Net Applications broke out XP vs. Vista share in OS, Vista would be lucky to be flat in growth.

Even limited beta Windows 7 share is rising as Windows is falling overall.

The landscape is changing dramatically for Microsoft. With the Web being almost the whole computer and many acceptable OSes to choose from, Windows is no longer the de facto choice. Microsoft has almost no presence in Mobile either. With iPhones, Blackberries and new Androids all using a Webkit browser instead of IE, there is no question that the future isn't a Microsoft dominated one. Internet Explorer isn't the only browser that web designers have to design for (though, sadly, some still do).

Just as Coke and Pepsi aren't the only beverage choices in the drink aisle, when Windows 7 is ready for prime time, there will be a lot more competitors to choose from and Microsoft's 'Classic' dominance will be far less certain.

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I just have to say that when

Submitted by Anonymous on February 9, 2009 - 4:43 P.M.

I just have to say that when I personally 'upgraded' to Vista x64, I hated every minute of it. The OS itself works just fine, but the functionality and intuitive nature is just completely gone. I've had Vista for 6 months now and I still have to think about where certain functions are. The OS is just not user friendly, although it is pretty. Of course if you really want pretty and functionality, get OSX.

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Vista and the general public

Submitted by Anonymous on February 7, 2009 - 2:07 P.M.

I'm not going to sit here bashing Windows all day but seriously you cannot say that Mac OS X is harder to use than Vista. I compare what my parents/grandparents have to do to simply import photos. It is too simple on a Mac. Plug it in then the Mac will open up iPhoto and then ask you what you want to import. Out of the whole process all you have to do is press 1 button. In Vista, nobody knows how long since half the time people don't even know where to look to find where their camera is on the computer. To the general public over 30 years old and are not using their computers all the time then they aren't going to understand Windows. For instance my grandfather has Vista and his photos are just sitting in folders and kind of just there, he doesn't know what to download to put photos into an Application. Mac OS X is just easier, all I can say is look out Windows because Snow Leopard is coming and is going to destroy, mostly because it doesn't require 3GB of RAM to run OK (underline OK).

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I have to agree, Microsoft's

Submitted by R on February 12, 2009 - 5:31 P.M.

I have to agree, Microsoft's recommended system requirements for Vista can barely run Home Premium. On top of that it doesn't help that my computer overheats, more when I'm using Vista than Linux.

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Problems with Vista

Submitted by Qubix on February 5, 2009 - 5:34 A.M.

I have to agree with many of the people that have posted on this article.

The problems faced by Vista was that it changed quite a lot from it's predecessor XP.

It sounds daft, but if a user has used XP for 8 years, to suddenly be confronted with different interface, different icons and toolbars that are so different (Office 2007) - they are going to say they don't like it.

User's don't like change at first and will blame everyone and everything bar themselves that the problems are Vista this and Vista that.

Here's hoping that Windows 7 will finally convince people that they have to move on from XP.

Maybe if in Windows 7 - Microsoft can add a feature that you can enable XP as a theme, so that all menus, toolbars and everything like that is XP'd - just to appease the users that don't want to move on.

When I moved on to Vista I was confused at first, but now when I use XP machines, I'm constantly looking for the 'Search' facility - I love the fact you can just start typing the name of a file in Vista and it finds it!

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http://www.getthings4free.co.uk

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Vista SP1 works just fine...

Submitted by Anonymous on February 3, 2009 - 9:25 A.M.

I use Vista SP1 Preinstalled, and it works just fine.

Seth, stick to the subject of Apple. When it comes to Windows, you are completely clueless.

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Some Facts.

Submitted by Anonymous on February 4, 2009 - 9:18 A.M.

Don't get me wrong here, Use both Vista & OS X at works, for corporate environment microsoft will be or always be the number one OS, cuz of Tons of companies using their infrstructure, their IT staffs have microsoft certifications, OS X wont be replaced it, too much cost involved, thats a FACT no 1.

FACT no 2, Vista is not better than XP my friend, You cant imagine how many companies and User downgrade their Vista to XP for tons of reasons. And dont get me wrong my friend, my companies is Microsoft Gold Partner, so I know the numbers.

FACT no 3. so XP better than Vista, but the truth is OS X just better than XP, by all mean nothing wrong with XP seriously, but in term of enjoyment or experience, performance, "feel", you can't beat OS X.

FACT no 4. Too Many Choices of Windows, seriously, the average user will be confused.

FACT no 5. Window 7 Beta is much nicer, good performance compare to Vista, I've tried it, with some problem here and there (as I expected, in beta version). Will it be the same after the final version released? We gonna find out...

FACT no 6. Some Mac Users as an A%$, I know, but who can blame them when they know they have better stuffs? and ONE thing some mac users always forget, one factor that driving Mac to this level right now is VISTA!

Cheers

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Your first fact is most

Submitted by Anonymous on March 5, 2009 - 6:11 P.M.

Your first fact is most certainly correct.

Your second fact is most certainly wrong. There are a variety of technical reasons why Vista is better than XP. The primary reason being security. The reason that a lot of companies are downgrading to XP, (Because they're finally upgrading to XP, mind you) is because they have custom-built programs that will not run on Vista. Why? Because they cut costs on their programmers who followed inaccurate coding practices. Microsoft tightened security, and a lot of programs no longer worked properly as a result. Instead of spending millions, (or billions) in updating the software, it is more economical to spend thousands to downgrade. Not because one is technically superior than the other, (XP isn't.) it's just more financially sound.

Your third 'fact' is an opinion, and means nothing.

Fact Four: The average user doesn't get confused by the OS they are purchasing because they rarely concentrate on the OS when they are buying computers from the manufacturer. They buy based on look/features/price. OS is statistically low on their list until Vista came out, and then it's generally counted 'High' by people who've never used it.

Fact Five: Yes, the beta is faster. It has few bugs, and those will probably be ironed out. This fact adds nothing to your post, so it too is irrelevant.

Fact Six: Subject to opinion across the board, and not a real fact. Again, pointless.

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I used to use Vista SP1

Submitted by Hans on February 4, 2009 - 4:10 A.M.

I used to use Vista SP1 pre-installed on a laptop and it was uselessly slow. Fortunately, after installing XP over Vista (and having a headache of a time finding drivers that actually worked with my laptop hardware), my laptop is now usable and fast. But, after that experience, I decided to switch to the Mac (my wife uses the Windows laptop now) and it's been nothing but a complete pleasure to use.

Seriously, I'm tired of hearing people use the 'I use Vista and it works fine, therefore you are clueless' argument. It doesn't hold, because plenty of us have had the exact opposite experience.

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Are you kidding....

Submitted by Anonymous on February 3, 2009 - 4:32 A.M.

There is no problem with Vista, there is no problem with XP. The operating systems work just fine. The problem is the user. People say Vista sucks, only because it has more functionality by more than double any other previous operating system has ever had. You can tell just by looking at the specs it requires to run. The only reason it isn't doing as well as Microsoft's previous OS's. No business large or small wants to network computers together that have the capability of running Vista, because the minimum system requirements triple. No business wants to invest in new computers with high grade specs just for their employees to run a word processor and check their E-mail. There is no problem with the OS, If you are having trouble, check the user. And in the case you can't figure out what your doing wrong, hit F1 the help for Vista is far more in depth than XP. Still can't figure it out? Hold Alt and Hit F4, get in your car and drive to the library.

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choices

Submitted by dlyne on February 14, 2009 - 2:34 P.M.

I have not used Vista. I just built me a new computer 6 months ago and I did not even consider it a choice. The reason I did not even consider it is not the new configuration or anything else new with Vista. My decision is based on speed and ability to run the programs I have. I have a 3.0 gig dual core machine running 4 gig of memory because I do a lot of rendering and computer graphics. I do not need the OS taking up operating speed. I need all that power to render 3d images. Now I fully admit many would say I need to buy a Mac. However, I like XP. I like being able to work with the OS instead of having to take it to the Apple store. I may have to end up getting a Mac when it gets to the point I cannot run XP if Windows 7 did not take users such as me into account when creating the product. Which I think all in all is one of the main complaints from many ardent Windows users. The feeling that Microsoft did not think about what we do, instead of what they thought users wanted.

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