Vista - The top five reasons why Windows Vista failed

On Friday, Microsoft gave computer makers a six-month extension for offering Windows XP on newly-shipped PCs. While this doesn’t impact enterprise IT — because volume licensing agreements will allow IT to keep installing Windows XP for many years to come — the move is another symbolic nail in Vista’s coffin.
The public reputation of Windows Vista is in shambles, as Microsoft itself tacitly acknowledged in its Mojave ad campaign.
IT departments are largely ignoring Vista. In June (18 months after Vista’s launch), Forrester Research reported that just 8.8% of enterprise PCs worldwide were running Vista. Meanwhile, Microsoft appears to have put Windows 7 on an accelerated schedule that could see it released in 2010. That will provide IT departments with all the justification they need to simply skip Vista and wait to eventually standardize on Windows 7 as the next OS for business.
So how did Vista get left holding the bag? Let’s look at the five most important reasons why Vista failed.
The top five reasons why Windows Vista failed | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

Vista didn't do as well as Microsoft wished it did, but it certainly did not "fail." What a terrible article.

Looking at my machine, I don't see a failure ...

EDIT: Now that I've read the article, what a waste of time, blame MAC; hehehe!















Later Ted

I don't get why people complain.

We asked for a more secure OS, We got one.
We asked for a better looking interface, We got one.
We asked for a better file system, We got one.

And people saying it failed is ridiculous my local PC shop has sold over 600 laptops this year with vista on it. most people I know who have bought a pc in the last few years came with vista and they see no reason to downgrade.

The netbook business is also a load of balls. My netbook came with vista, yeah it didn't run it like it does on my desktop but it run it fine. If people put the effort in to make a decent spec system (which is what vista requires) then it shouldn't be a problem.

Re-releasing the downgrade for another 6 months is a bit stupid though. maybe for business users fine but not so much for average joes.

Vista's downfall was making so many changes that its security got in the way of most corporate apps. My vendors either don't support Vista or require UAC be disabled and local administrator accounts on their workstations.

Microsoft Proves Vista Is Not a Failure with 180 Million Licenses Sold, Sales of the operating system exploded after SP1
Article here: Microsoft Proves Vista Is Not a Failure with 180 Million Licenses Sold - Sales of the operating system exploded after SP1 - Softpedia

As a member of the ZDNet community,I often read Jason Hinor's articles,and reviews.Basically he is stating that Microsoft should not have "released" Vista,but simply kept updating XP,with Service Packs,security updates,enhancements,and so on.This is why you had to Activate XP in the first place.MS were simply going to "upgrade" your licence agreement,periodically (yearly,two years?),in order for you to continue to use XP,or it would stop working.But that was abandoned.Hence Vista.
I do disagree with Jason though,in that Vista has failed.True,it's "opening shots" were more rocky than a Malstrom ,and more "slings and arrows" were fired at Gates and co. than at the Battle of Hastings it seemed.But Vista is selling,despite the moans and groans.True,sales are not tumbling off the shelves by the arm load,but (thankfully) it is not "a dumb OS",and certainly can not be classed as another Millenium.

Read here

It is true that Vista is not perfect - slow copy from external hard disk and slow startup, but I like it very much. The beautiful user interface, enhanced security and so on actually make me love it.

I have to admit, although I dont consider Vista a failure as an OS, In the general outlook of consumers..people maybe not so savvy..look at Vista with a bad rep...gamers, it seems, alone would buy a high end machine with XP over a Vista if given the choice....in fact at the last gaming show I was at, out of the custom built high end rigs I saw.. there were only two running Vista. I think Vista is doing OK. But....it seems it has already lost in opinion, and its clear that MS will leap frog to 7. A damn shame for us....But again...as I must state..I had to do alot of tweaking to get Vista to where its running quickly ( relative term ) and being able to do the things I wanted with little or no problems. As much as I love Vista right now.. I shouldnt have had to go through the hoops to get things running or working. And thats what the general public hears constantly. I must admit that it is a chore to constantly wonder if somethings going to work or work well...but, this was another mistake on MS part....thinking they could force developers to deal with what ever it is going to take to be able to run on Vista....alot of companies simple wont go through that for older apps, or people having to go searching for driver updates...and leave MS to use updates for compatability issues..which was kind of the point of the article??? Just make an OS and upgrade...Once you go deep into Vista and learn what it has to offer.. its a great innovation, and I am (so far ) very pleased..but...I am biased.. I'm running on a very upto date machine with some good hardware.. Vista started losing its rep quickly once three year old machines were having troubles upgrading to Vista and being felt like they were now obsolete. Not everyone is like me... as an animator, modeler and texture artist, I am constantly upgrading video cards twice a year and wanting a new processor every year. So its easy to see why in the eyes of alot of people.. Vista is considered a failure. The mear mention of Windows 7 makes Vista the ME of these times. Again.. too bad for us...Even as I write how Vista hasnt been much of a pain for me...( yes.. I DO have games, and Apps that wont run on it..) I still have my XP rig running, and use it still quite often..( games that wont run on Vista, apps that wont run..rebbots faster then Vista ) That does say something. Wonder how much 7 upgrade is gonna be??? or if a two to three year old rig that this will be then will be able to go for it?? We'll see.