No one is lining up for Windows Vista in San Francisco

Earlier tonight I attended a Windows Vista launch event in San Francisco and was surprised to find not a single person in line to buy the software less than an hour before launch. CompUSA stayed open late to provide hands-on demonstrations of Microsoft’s new Windows Vista and Office 2007 but for most people I talked to in the store the event was a learning experience and a chance for some special sales and discounts. When I left about 45 minutes before Vista officially went on sale to consumers there were no eager customers ready for launch.

Potential customers picked up a brochure and examined the packaging to determine which of the eight versions of Vista on display would work best with their home computers. Multimedia was a primary concern as I overheard a few people asking staff members about music, photos, and movies in Windows Vista and computability with existing investments in cameras and printers.

The Apple section was also busy with people checking out the latest Intel-based hardware and cross-platform options using Boot Camp or Parallels. Windows options on the Mac are a safety net, letting people unfamiliar with compatibility across different versions of Windows experiment with a new operating system without completely leaving their old ways behind.

Free food in and an outdoor barbeque attracted a few local homeless, and football fans came out to see San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.

The level of consumer excitement around the launch of Windows Vista was nowhere near the experience of 200+ people lining up for the latest copy of Mac OS X (Tiger) two years ago. I expected at least some Windows fans battling it out to be the first person to buy Vista at midnight but there was little excitement and no line in sight.

You can check out my 22 photos taken at tonight’s Windows Vista Ultimate Celebration on Flickr.

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(xxx.xxx.xxx.246) 30 janvier 2007 21:15

Who wants to pay several hundred dollars and surrender your consitutional freedom from unreasonable search and seizure to insure Microsoft’s and Hollywood’s the revenue levels to which they are entitled ?

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(xxx.xxx.xxx.246) 30 janvier 2007 22:12

erratum...

"...to insure Microsoft’s and Hollywood’s the revenue levels to which they are entitled ?"

should read...

...to insure Microsoft and Hollywood the revenue levels to which they feel entitled ?

Sorry about that. A phone call came in just as I was about to post that last comment. I thought I’d got finished, but... not.

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(xxx.xxx.xxx.56) 4 février 2007 18:57

My legal copy of Windows XP just asked me to reactivate Windows again. This was after installing some updated software for my Logitech VX Revelution mouse. I had to enter and then talk to some guy in India once again as a result of updating my software ? I have really had enough of this as I would far rather provide Microsoft with my birth certificate, drivers license, passport, home address, telephone number and anything else they need to avoid this never ending procedure involving no less than 42 digits .. goes to show the level of insecurity Microsoft has. I can’t imagine how insecure their OS is as Vista has been hacked even before release. I believe Microsoft has every right to pursue anyone and everyone that is not abiding by the terms of a license but I don’t believe they have the right to control my computer with it. I really am at my end with Microsoft, time to move on to Mac or Linux as I’m just tired of reactivating and explaining everything I do.

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