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When did "confusing" become a sales tactic?

Dear Microsoft Windows Team:

If you need to publish a MATRIX showing people what their upgrade options are, along with an upgrade advisor, and you have six versions of the same OS, some of which can only be purchased if you have specific license/purchase agreements...

Someone needs to stop dropping acid before they write marketing plans.

Here's an idea for Vista:

One version, with an intelligent installer that detects hardware and reacts appropriately. No hiding features because they don't have an Enterprise agreement, no crippling features because you want to give them the illusion of cheaper Windows.

One version. Think about it. How cool would this be?

What version of Vista should I get?

There's only one version, you can't get the wrong one.

What version of Vista will support my tablet?

The installer will detect your hardware, and install tablet-appropriate features.

I don't want to have to install everything, I want a limited version of Vista

Select "Custom Install" and only choose the options you want/need. By only having one version, our overhead is gutted, and we can pass that savings on to you in the form of the cheapest version of Windows in a decade.

I want to install certain features, even if I don't have the hardware now, because I'm planning on buying the hardware later

Go ahead and do so in "Custom install". Vista's smart enough to not enable those drivers/features until the appropriate hardware is available.

My god, why is something that should be made as mind-numbingly easy as possible, (BUYING PRODUCT), made as difficult as possible? The hardest part about buying Vista should be opening the damned box. Only Microsoft, a company in rather serious need of an unqualified win, would fuck up the most basic of customer relations this way.

Every single person who thought up and approved this six version stupidity should be fired and flung out of the building via giant slingshot, ala Dilbert/Chuck Jones.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Really bad strategy, TEH STOOPUD, Windows

Categories: Other, Windows

Posted by John C. Welch at 09:54 | Permalink

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Dear Microsoft Windows Team:\n\nIf you need to publish a MATRIX showing people what their upgrade options are, along with an upgrade advisor, and you have six versions of the same OS, some of which can only be purchased if you have specific license/purchase agreements...\n\nSomeone needs to stop dropping acid before they write marketing plans.\n\nHere's an idea for Vista:\n\nOne version, with an intelligent installer that detects hardware and reacts appropriately. No hiding features because they don't have an Enterprise agreement, no crippling features because you want to give them the illusion of cheaper Windows.\n\nOne version. Think about it. How cool would this be?\n\nWhat version of Vista should I get?\n\nThere's only one version, you can't get the wrong one.\n\nWhat version of Vista will support my tablet?\n\nThe installer will detect your hardware, and install tablet-appropriate features.\n\nI don't want to have to install everything, I want a limited version of Vista\n\nSelect \"Custom Install\" and only choose the options you want/need. By only having one version, our overhead is gutted, and we can pass that savings on to you in the form of the cheapest version of Windows in a decade.\n\nI want to install certain features, even if I don't have the hardware now, because I'm planning on buying the hardware later\n\nGo ahead and do so in \"Custom install\". Vista's smart enough to not enable those drivers/features until the appropriate hardware is available.\n\n\nMy god, why is something that should be made as mind-numbingly easy as possible, (BUYING PRODUCT), made as difficult as possible? The hardest part about buying Vista should be opening the damned box. Only Microsoft, a company in rather serious need of an unqualified win, would fuck up the most basic of customer relations this way. \n\nEvery single person who thought up and approved this six version stupidity should be fired and flung out of the building via giant slingshot, ala Dilbert/Chuck Jones.\n

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Really bad strategy, TEH STOOPUD, Windows