December is the month for year-end reviews. We begin our first 2007 look back by offering 10 reasons why Vista failed to "WOW" consumers or businesses.
Make no mistake: Despite PR assertions otherwise, Windows Vista did not meet Microsoft expectations. The signs are everywhere:
- Windows Vista advertising ended almost as abruptly as it started
- Microsoft beat the drum a bit too loudly about the number of Vista licenses shipped
- Windows Ultimate Extras became a real dreamscape of empty promises
- Microsoft already is advancing plans for Vista-successor Windows 7
Some of these signs are bigger than Vista's early disappointment. There has been a change of management in the Windows group since Vista's launch. Also, Microsoft executives are feeling better about Vista today than in, say, March or April. Vista delivered good revenue results during Microsoft's 2008 fiscal first quarter, which ended Sept. 30.
That said, Vista has gotten off to a rocky start, which could have been avoided.