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The Myth of Upgrade Inevitability Is Dead

Several readers pointed out a ComputerWorld UK blog piece on the expanding ripples of the Vista fiasco. Glyn Moody quotes an earlier Inquirer piece about Vista, which he notes "has been memorably described as DRM masquerading as an operating system": "Studies carried out by both Gartner and IDC have found that because older software is often incompatible with Vista, many consumers are opting for used computers with XP installed as a default, rather than buying an expensive new PC with Vista and downgrading. Big business, which typically thinks nothing about splashing out for newer, more up-to-date PCs, is also having trouble with Vista, with even firms like Intel noting XP would remain the dominant OS within the company for the foreseeable future." Moody continues: "What's really important about this is not so much that Vista is manifestly such a dog, but that the myth of upgrade inevitability has been destroyed. Companies have realized that they do have a choice — that they can simply say 'no.' From there, it's but a small step to realizing that they can also walk away from Windows completely, provided the alternatives offer sufficient data compatibility to make that move realistic."

5 of 597 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Most people don't know its an upgrade by somenickname · · Score: 5, Funny

    I generally ask for payment based on the OS that I'm asked to install or fix:

    Install/Fix Ubuntu: A beer
    Install/Fix XP: A six pack of beer
    Install/Fix Vista: A keg of beer, blow and hookers

  2. Re:Most people don't know its an upgrade by cerberusss · · Score: 5, Funny

    I generally ask for payment [...] Install/Fix Vista: A keg of beer, blow and hookers

    In fact, forget about Vista and the beer.

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    8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
  3. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! by denzacar · · Score: 5, Funny

    Making a logical comment - HERE, on Slashdot?!

    Don't you know by now that when someone mentions Windows or Microsoft you should put on your best "hate-face" and go "GRRRRR"!?
    Likewise, as soon as someone mentions Linux you should put on your best "smart-face" and go "A-Ha"!?
    And should someone mention anything about Apple you should just smile like hell cause you just had a multiple orgasm.

    Don't you know that Windows are made from stolen fetuses of prospective Linux programmers?
    When the mother is asleep during her last trimester, Bill Gates swoops in through the window (hence the name of the OS) on his leathery wings, holding a coathanger and snatches that fetus right out of her womb.
    Fetuses are then thrown into a giant blender, and later boiled below a huge board covered with cat excrement.

    The power of Linux is so strong in those unborn programmers that their life juices condense and wash out the excrement off the board in the form of code, which Bill then steals for the next version of his unholy OS.
    Something is lost in transcription, naturally, plus while all geniuses those babies do lack the experience, ergo - Windows sucks.

    Didn't they teach you anything in school?

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    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  4. Re:Most people don't know its an upgrade by hazem · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I ever get laid off, can I come work with you?

  5. Re:last sentence by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Almost every developer I know these days uses a Mac laptop

    We still develop in Vim, we just buy Macs so we can look down on the Windows users.

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    I am TheRaven on Soylent News