No marketing campaign, no sales.

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Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of Vista than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard the same
response I have had when talking to people about the release, "What is Vista?"

Even in 2000, those who weren't as computer savvy knew what E[xp]erience
was.. and it was reflected in the stock prices that were double what they are
currently.

This release has been a total mess and pointless! Why release it when know
one knows about it? They shouldve been hyping and touting this release since
July 06. The only reason that I held onto the stock was because I thought
that the stock would reflect what it did back in 2000 after the XP release,
and it hasn't.

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with this billion dollar company I'm
basically lost for words. Balmer and Gates, so smart yet IDIOTS and I hope
they read this and wake up and campaign for their product more than they are
right now. It takes money to make money and they need to hit the ground
running and get this product out there! I'm so utterly dissapointed with the
shotty job MSFT has done promoting this.. hell they promoted the X360 more
than this operating system, and to be fair the operating system has a larger
user base than the gaming console that is the XBOX.

If I don't see results with the stock by June I'm taking my losses and
dumping the stock and if you own MSFT shares, I suggest you do they same.
They are letting their investors down and they should hurt financially for
that if they don't change it up. I anticipate a lot of feedback on this post
and I hope to hear both sides, if there is another educated side to this
story.

Garrett
 
I must agree that the marketing has been poor.

I also, have told more people about Vista than, I have learned, had heard
about it via the news channels - whatever they may be.

Hell, they should have sponsored a Microsoft world tour of the Stones (or
another big group) with Microsoft busses, Microsoft on the side of the
planes, Microsoft in the sky from search lights - heck, Microsoft
everything. And, this should have been done a year ago.

50% off vouchers for all attendees would be more profit in their pockets
than they are currently showing.



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Definitely. They have the money, just not the right management. I've only
heard good news coming from websites such as yahoo finance about Microsoft
but the stock isn't moving. But this board is about Windows Vista and I'm
still furious with the BS job MSFT did promoting this and like you said they
should have been EVERYWHERE including the super bowl .. Prince should've has
a windows vista suit on! :) Maybe show the commercials using the windows
vista look? They couldve done so much more I think this will go down in
history as the worst corporate product release for years to come.. what a
mess, what an embarassment coming from the largest, most powerful
organization in the world.

Richard Urban said:
I must agree that the marketing has been poor.

I also, have told more people about Vista than, I have learned, had heard
about it via the news channels - whatever they may be.

Hell, they should have sponsored a Microsoft world tour of the Stones (or
another big group) with Microsoft busses, Microsoft on the side of the
planes, Microsoft in the sky from search lights - heck, Microsoft
everything. And, this should have been done a year ago.

50% off vouchers for all attendees would be more profit in their pockets
than they are currently showing.



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Garrett said:
Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of Vista than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard the same
response I have had when talking to people about the release, "What is
Vista?"

Even in 2000, those who weren't as computer savvy knew what E[xp]erience
was.. and it was reflected in the stock prices that were double what they
are
currently.

This release has been a total mess and pointless! Why release it when know
one knows about it? They shouldve been hyping and touting this release
since
July 06. The only reason that I held onto the stock was because I thought
that the stock would reflect what it did back in 2000 after the XP
release,
and it hasn't.

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with this billion dollar company I'm
basically lost for words. Balmer and Gates, so smart yet IDIOTS and I hope
they read this and wake up and campaign for their product more than they
are
right now. It takes money to make money and they need to hit the ground
running and get this product out there! I'm so utterly dissapointed with
the
shotty job MSFT has done promoting this.. hell they promoted the X360 more
than this operating system, and to be fair the operating system has a
larger
user base than the gaming console that is the XBOX.

If I don't see results with the stock by June I'm taking my losses and
dumping the stock and if you own MSFT shares, I suggest you do they same.
They are letting their investors down and they should hurt financially for
that if they don't change it up. I anticipate a lot of feedback on this
post
and I hope to hear both sides, if there is another educated side to this
story.

Garrett
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Dressing Prince in a Windows Vista suit would have had every person in
America running away screaming.

You would have heard of mass suicides & riots.


But seriously folks, how do you figure they aren't promoting Vista? Every
time I go to the movie theater there's a vista commercial in the pre-show
trailers.

I see Windows Vista ad's on networks and on comedy central left and right.

I see ads for Vista on almost every website I visit.

I can't turn a page without seeing it in magazines of every kind


So I think the question is where do y'all live and what sort of shell are
you in that you're not seeing this stuff?

Garrett said:
Definitely. They have the money, just not the right management. I've only
heard good news coming from websites such as yahoo finance about Microsoft
but the stock isn't moving. But this board is about Windows Vista and I'm
still furious with the BS job MSFT did promoting this and like you said
they
should have been EVERYWHERE including the super bowl .. Prince should've
has
a windows vista suit on! :) Maybe show the commercials using the windows
vista look? They couldve done so much more I think this will go down in
history as the worst corporate product release for years to come.. what a
mess, what an embarassment coming from the largest, most powerful
organization in the world.

Richard Urban said:
I must agree that the marketing has been poor.

I also, have told more people about Vista than, I have learned, had heard
about it via the news channels - whatever they may be.

Hell, they should have sponsored a Microsoft world tour of the Stones (or
another big group) with Microsoft busses, Microsoft on the side of the
planes, Microsoft in the sky from search lights - heck, Microsoft
everything. And, this should have been done a year ago.

50% off vouchers for all attendees would be more profit in their pockets
than they are currently showing.



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Garrett said:
Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of Vista
than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard the
same
response I have had when talking to people about the release, "What is
Vista?"

Even in 2000, those who weren't as computer savvy knew what
E[xp]erience
was.. and it was reflected in the stock prices that were double what
they
are
currently.

This release has been a total mess and pointless! Why release it when
know
one knows about it? They shouldve been hyping and touting this release
since
July 06. The only reason that I held onto the stock was because I
thought
that the stock would reflect what it did back in 2000 after the XP
release,
and it hasn't.

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with this billion dollar company
I'm
basically lost for words. Balmer and Gates, so smart yet IDIOTS and I
hope
they read this and wake up and campaign for their product more than
they
are
right now. It takes money to make money and they need to hit the ground
running and get this product out there! I'm so utterly dissapointed
with
the
shotty job MSFT has done promoting this.. hell they promoted the X360
more
than this operating system, and to be fair the operating system has a
larger
user base than the gaming console that is the XBOX.

If I don't see results with the stock by June I'm taking my losses and
dumping the stock and if you own MSFT shares, I suggest you do they
same.
They are letting their investors down and they should hurt financially
for
that if they don't change it up. I anticipate a lot of feedback on this
post
and I hope to hear both sides, if there is another educated side to
this
story.

Garrett
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
How do I figure they aren't promoting.. When I go up to someone wondering if
they're going to upgrade to an OS that they've never heard of well that's a
great sign they aren't promoting. All these advertising campaigns you're
mentioning aren't in the right place obviously and isn't reaching a large
audience. Bill Gates should've been going on every news program to talk about
it researching how to create hype for it.. maybe put a million dollar ticket
in one of the cases and create a contest to see who get's it after buying it
such as in the willy wonka movie. Anything to cause more hype than it has
right now. They had 6 years to create an opearting system and create a
marketing campaign for it and they failed.

Shane Nokes said:
Dressing Prince in a Windows Vista suit would have had every person in
America running away screaming.

You would have heard of mass suicides & riots.


But seriously folks, how do you figure they aren't promoting Vista? Every
time I go to the movie theater there's a vista commercial in the pre-show
trailers.

I see Windows Vista ad's on networks and on comedy central left and right.

I see ads for Vista on almost every website I visit.

I can't turn a page without seeing it in magazines of every kind


So I think the question is where do y'all live and what sort of shell are
you in that you're not seeing this stuff?

Garrett said:
Definitely. They have the money, just not the right management. I've only
heard good news coming from websites such as yahoo finance about Microsoft
but the stock isn't moving. But this board is about Windows Vista and I'm
still furious with the BS job MSFT did promoting this and like you said
they
should have been EVERYWHERE including the super bowl .. Prince should've
has
a windows vista suit on! :) Maybe show the commercials using the windows
vista look? They couldve done so much more I think this will go down in
history as the worst corporate product release for years to come.. what a
mess, what an embarassment coming from the largest, most powerful
organization in the world.

Richard Urban said:
I must agree that the marketing has been poor.

I also, have told more people about Vista than, I have learned, had heard
about it via the news channels - whatever they may be.

Hell, they should have sponsored a Microsoft world tour of the Stones (or
another big group) with Microsoft busses, Microsoft on the side of the
planes, Microsoft in the sky from search lights - heck, Microsoft
everything. And, this should have been done a year ago.

50% off vouchers for all attendees would be more profit in their pockets
than they are currently showing.



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of Vista
than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard the
same
response I have had when talking to people about the release, "What is
Vista?"

Even in 2000, those who weren't as computer savvy knew what
E[xp]erience
was.. and it was reflected in the stock prices that were double what
they
are
currently.

This release has been a total mess and pointless! Why release it when
know
one knows about it? They shouldve been hyping and touting this release
since
July 06. The only reason that I held onto the stock was because I
thought
that the stock would reflect what it did back in 2000 after the XP
release,
and it hasn't.

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with this billion dollar company
I'm
basically lost for words. Balmer and Gates, so smart yet IDIOTS and I
hope
they read this and wake up and campaign for their product more than
they
are
right now. It takes money to make money and they need to hit the ground
running and get this product out there! I'm so utterly dissapointed
with
the
shotty job MSFT has done promoting this.. hell they promoted the X360
more
than this operating system, and to be fair the operating system has a
larger
user base than the gaming console that is the XBOX.

If I don't see results with the stock by June I'm taking my losses and
dumping the stock and if you own MSFT shares, I suggest you do they
same.
They are letting their investors down and they should hurt financially
for
that if they don't change it up. I anticipate a lot of feedback on this
post
and I hope to hear both sides, if there is another educated side to
this
story.

Garrett
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Shane Nokes said:
But seriously folks, how do you figure they aren't promoting Vista? Every
time I go to the movie theater there's a vista commercial in the pre-show
trailers.
Click to expand...
I couldn't say if most normal theaters do that. They haven't shown any in
the trailers at the theater I go to.
I see Windows Vista ad's on networks and on comedy central left and right.
Click to expand...
I don't remember if it was comedy central or ABC but I did see a commercial
last night. I have only seen a couple of commercials for it though, and I
do watch a lot of TV. Maybe I'm not watching the right channels? The
problem with those commercials is they tell you absolutely nothing. They
put the name of the OS at the end with a brief shot of an MS logo. Until
that moment I had no idea what they were advertising.
I see ads for Vista on almost every website I visit.

I can't turn a page without seeing it in magazines of every kind
Click to expand...
I don't read magazines.
So I think the question is where do y'all live and what sort of shell are
you in that you're not seeing this stuff?
Click to expand...

I have seen a few ads, but they either started showing them after they
released it, or put them in those places where I wouldn't see them.
I have yet to see any advertising that actually gives me a reason to buy it.
The only thing I recall learning about Vista from any ad is the new Windows
Key + Tab function that displays all open windows, which seems like a
generally useless feature to me.

There are a lot of people having problems with Vista because the only people
their ads might convince to buy it are computer illiterate.
 
Computer illiterate people typically don't buy Play, or Wired, or Computer
Shopper, or PC World, or anything of those magazines.

It's advertised all over in there. You can't look at a Magazine section in
a store without seeing at least 5 covers with Vista on it, including
specialty guides.

The theaters I'm talking about are chains like AMC, Regal, and others that
are national chains.

Also when did ads become teaching tools? Ads aren't designed to hold your
hand and teach you things, they are meant only to advertise that the item
exists and show you the "cool" things.
 
So wait your idea of research is asking Joe Schmoe if he's heard of
something?


That's a pretty naïve way to take a sample.

You're telling me that national theater chains don't have a big audience?

That's antithetical to the whole idea of a theater.

Also why should Bill put a million in a case? That would make one person
happy and piss off millions of others.

The marketing is there, you just aren't looking in the right places. Check
out the sides of busses, check out ads in theaters, magazines, networks,
etc.

If the only place you're looking is Joe on the street, then you're not going
to have much luck.

How about Vanishing Point? Skywriting things over freaking Australia,
hijacking the fountains at the Bellagio to give clues on a contest that
includes a trip to Outer Freaking Space as a prize.

Putting on one of the most amazing fireworks shows the city of Seattle has
ever seen.

Giving away copies of Office 2007 at almost every launch event.

How about the Vista Family Plan where when you buy Ultimate you can buy 2
copies of Home Premium for only an additional $50 per copy saving yourself a
large amount of money and upgrading the whole family to Vista.

I find these things really easily and see them all over the place.

As I said if you're not seeing the advertising you're obviously just blind
to it.


Garrett said:
How do I figure they aren't promoting.. When I go up to someone wondering
if
they're going to upgrade to an OS that they've never heard of well that's
a
great sign they aren't promoting. All these advertising campaigns you're
mentioning aren't in the right place obviously and isn't reaching a large
audience. Bill Gates should've been going on every news program to talk
about
it researching how to create hype for it.. maybe put a million dollar
ticket
in one of the cases and create a contest to see who get's it after buying
it
such as in the willy wonka movie. Anything to cause more hype than it has
right now. They had 6 years to create an opearting system and create a
marketing campaign for it and they failed.

Shane Nokes said:
Dressing Prince in a Windows Vista suit would have had every person in
America running away screaming.

You would have heard of mass suicides & riots.


But seriously folks, how do you figure they aren't promoting Vista?
Every
time I go to the movie theater there's a vista commercial in the pre-show
trailers.

I see Windows Vista ad's on networks and on comedy central left and
right.

I see ads for Vista on almost every website I visit.

I can't turn a page without seeing it in magazines of every kind


So I think the question is where do y'all live and what sort of shell are
you in that you're not seeing this stuff?

Garrett said:
Definitely. They have the money, just not the right management. I've
only
heard good news coming from websites such as yahoo finance about
Microsoft
but the stock isn't moving. But this board is about Windows Vista and
I'm
still furious with the BS job MSFT did promoting this and like you said
they
should have been EVERYWHERE including the super bowl .. Prince
should've
has
a windows vista suit on! :) Maybe show the commercials using the
windows
vista look? They couldve done so much more I think this will go down in
history as the worst corporate product release for years to come.. what
a
mess, what an embarassment coming from the largest, most powerful
organization in the world.

:

I must agree that the marketing has been poor.

I also, have told more people about Vista than, I have learned, had
heard
about it via the news channels - whatever they may be.

Hell, they should have sponsored a Microsoft world tour of the Stones
(or
another big group) with Microsoft busses, Microsoft on the side of the
planes, Microsoft in the sky from search lights - heck, Microsoft
everything. And, this should have been done a year ago.

50% off vouchers for all attendees would be more profit in their
pockets
than they are currently showing.



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of
Vista
than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard the
same
response I have had when talking to people about the release, "What
is
Vista?"

Even in 2000, those who weren't as computer savvy knew what
E[xp]erience
was.. and it was reflected in the stock prices that were double what
they
are
currently.

This release has been a total mess and pointless! Why release it
when
know
one knows about it? They shouldve been hyping and touting this
release
since
July 06. The only reason that I held onto the stock was because I
thought
that the stock would reflect what it did back in 2000 after the XP
release,
and it hasn't.

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with this billion dollar company
I'm
basically lost for words. Balmer and Gates, so smart yet IDIOTS and
I
hope
they read this and wake up and campaign for their product more than
they
are
right now. It takes money to make money and they need to hit the
ground
running and get this product out there! I'm so utterly dissapointed
with
the
shotty job MSFT has done promoting this.. hell they promoted the
X360
more
than this operating system, and to be fair the operating system has
a
larger
user base than the gaming console that is the XBOX.

If I don't see results with the stock by June I'm taking my losses
and
dumping the stock and if you own MSFT shares, I suggest you do they
same.
They are letting their investors down and they should hurt
financially
for
that if they don't change it up. I anticipate a lot of feedback on
this
post
and I hope to hear both sides, if there is another educated side to
this
story.

Garrett
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
The thing is, Joe on the street doesn't seem to be knowing about Vista -
unless he has recently been in a computer store or is a computer geek.

I just recently did work at a real estate agency. Out of about 30 employees,
2 knew about Vista. They didn't mention it to the boss because they didn't
think it was their place to do so. Now they all know about Vista.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Shane Nokes said:
So wait your idea of research is asking Joe Schmoe if he's heard of
something?


That's a pretty naïve way to take a sample.

You're telling me that national theater chains don't have a big audience?

That's antithetical to the whole idea of a theater.

Also why should Bill put a million in a case? That would make one person
happy and piss off millions of others.

The marketing is there, you just aren't looking in the right places.
Check out the sides of busses, check out ads in theaters, magazines,
networks, etc.

If the only place you're looking is Joe on the street, then you're not
going to have much luck.

How about Vanishing Point? Skywriting things over freaking Australia,
hijacking the fountains at the Bellagio to give clues on a contest that
includes a trip to Outer Freaking Space as a prize.

Putting on one of the most amazing fireworks shows the city of Seattle has
ever seen.

Giving away copies of Office 2007 at almost every launch event.

How about the Vista Family Plan where when you buy Ultimate you can buy 2
copies of Home Premium for only an additional $50 per copy saving yourself
a large amount of money and upgrading the whole family to Vista.

I find these things really easily and see them all over the place.

As I said if you're not seeing the advertising you're obviously just blind
to it.


Garrett said:
How do I figure they aren't promoting.. When I go up to someone wondering
if
they're going to upgrade to an OS that they've never heard of well that's
a
great sign they aren't promoting. All these advertising campaigns you're
mentioning aren't in the right place obviously and isn't reaching a large
audience. Bill Gates should've been going on every news program to talk
about
it researching how to create hype for it.. maybe put a million dollar
ticket
in one of the cases and create a contest to see who get's it after buying
it
such as in the willy wonka movie. Anything to cause more hype than it has
right now. They had 6 years to create an opearting system and create a
marketing campaign for it and they failed.

Shane Nokes said:
Dressing Prince in a Windows Vista suit would have had every person in
America running away screaming.

You would have heard of mass suicides & riots.


But seriously folks, how do you figure they aren't promoting Vista?
Every
time I go to the movie theater there's a vista commercial in the
pre-show
trailers.

I see Windows Vista ad's on networks and on comedy central left and
right.

I see ads for Vista on almost every website I visit.

I can't turn a page without seeing it in magazines of every kind


So I think the question is where do y'all live and what sort of shell
are
you in that you're not seeing this stuff?

Definitely. They have the money, just not the right management. I've
only
heard good news coming from websites such as yahoo finance about
Microsoft
but the stock isn't moving. But this board is about Windows Vista and
I'm
still furious with the BS job MSFT did promoting this and like you
said
they
should have been EVERYWHERE including the super bowl .. Prince
should've
has
a windows vista suit on! :) Maybe show the commercials using the
windows
vista look? They couldve done so much more I think this will go down
in
history as the worst corporate product release for years to come..
what a
mess, what an embarassment coming from the largest, most powerful
organization in the world.

:

I must agree that the marketing has been poor.

I also, have told more people about Vista than, I have learned, had
heard
about it via the news channels - whatever they may be.

Hell, they should have sponsored a Microsoft world tour of the Stones
(or
another big group) with Microsoft busses, Microsoft on the side of
the
planes, Microsoft in the sky from search lights - heck, Microsoft
everything. And, this should have been done a year ago.

50% off vouchers for all attendees would be more profit in their
pockets
than they are currently showing.



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of
Vista
than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard the
same
response I have had when talking to people about the release, "What
is
Vista?"

Even in 2000, those who weren't as computer savvy knew what
E[xp]erience
was.. and it was reflected in the stock prices that were double
what
they
are
currently.

This release has been a total mess and pointless! Why release it
when
know
one knows about it? They shouldve been hyping and touting this
release
since
July 06. The only reason that I held onto the stock was because I
thought
that the stock would reflect what it did back in 2000 after the XP
release,
and it hasn't.

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with this billion dollar
company
I'm
basically lost for words. Balmer and Gates, so smart yet IDIOTS and
I
hope
they read this and wake up and campaign for their product more than
they
are
right now. It takes money to make money and they need to hit the
ground
running and get this product out there! I'm so utterly dissapointed
with
the
shotty job MSFT has done promoting this.. hell they promoted the
X360
more
than this operating system, and to be fair the operating system has
a
larger
user base than the gaming console that is the XBOX.

If I don't see results with the stock by June I'm taking my losses
and
dumping the stock and if you own MSFT shares, I suggest you do they
same.
They are letting their investors down and they should hurt
financially
for
that if they don't change it up. I anticipate a lot of feedback on
this
post
and I hope to hear both sides, if there is another educated side to
this
story.

Garrett
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I totally understand why Vista would appear so much on Comedy Central. Fits
nicely.


Shane Nokes said:
Dressing Prince in a Windows Vista suit would have had every person in
America running away screaming.

You would have heard of mass suicides & riots.


But seriously folks, how do you figure they aren't promoting Vista? Every
time I go to the movie theater there's a vista commercial in the pre-show
trailers.

I see Windows Vista ad's on networks and on comedy central left and right.

I see ads for Vista on almost every website I visit.

I can't turn a page without seeing it in magazines of every kind


So I think the question is where do y'all live and what sort of shell are
you in that you're not seeing this stuff?

Garrett said:
Definitely. They have the money, just not the right management. I've only
heard good news coming from websites such as yahoo finance about
Microsoft
but the stock isn't moving. But this board is about Windows Vista and I'm
still furious with the BS job MSFT did promoting this and like you said
they
should have been EVERYWHERE including the super bowl .. Prince should've
has
a windows vista suit on! :) Maybe show the commercials using the windows
vista look? They couldve done so much more I think this will go down in
history as the worst corporate product release for years to come.. what a
mess, what an embarassment coming from the largest, most powerful
organization in the world.

Richard Urban said:
I must agree that the marketing has been poor.

I also, have told more people about Vista than, I have learned, had
heard
about it via the news channels - whatever they may be.

Hell, they should have sponsored a Microsoft world tour of the Stones
(or
another big group) with Microsoft busses, Microsoft on the side of the
planes, Microsoft in the sky from search lights - heck, Microsoft
everything. And, this should have been done a year ago.

50% off vouchers for all attendees would be more profit in their pockets
than they are currently showing.



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of Vista
than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard the
same
response I have had when talking to people about the release, "What is
Vista?"

Even in 2000, those who weren't as computer savvy knew what
E[xp]erience
was.. and it was reflected in the stock prices that were double what
they
are
currently.

This release has been a total mess and pointless! Why release it when
know
one knows about it? They shouldve been hyping and touting this release
since
July 06. The only reason that I held onto the stock was because I
thought
that the stock would reflect what it did back in 2000 after the XP
release,
and it hasn't.

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with this billion dollar company
I'm
basically lost for words. Balmer and Gates, so smart yet IDIOTS and I
hope
they read this and wake up and campaign for their product more than
they
are
right now. It takes money to make money and they need to hit the
ground
running and get this product out there! I'm so utterly dissapointed
with
the
shotty job MSFT has done promoting this.. hell they promoted the X360
more
than this operating system, and to be fair the operating system has a
larger
user base than the gaming console that is the XBOX.

If I don't see results with the stock by June I'm taking my losses and
dumping the stock and if you own MSFT shares, I suggest you do they
same.
They are letting their investors down and they should hurt financially
for
that if they don't change it up. I anticipate a lot of feedback on
this
post
and I hope to hear both sides, if there is another educated side to
this
story.

Garrett
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
ok so just by your example that is 6.6% in one office.

So you're telling me that nationwide you believe the average is less than
10%?

Hmm, I live in Olympia in Washington State.

This next week I actually have to do some shopping for groceries and other
things. I'm going to ask completely random people if they've heard of
Windows Vista.

I'm curious what my numbers will be.

I'll take an average over 5 days and see what I come up with.


Richard Urban said:
The thing is, Joe on the street doesn't seem to be knowing about Vista -
unless he has recently been in a computer store or is a computer geek.

I just recently did work at a real estate agency. Out of about 30
employees, 2 knew about Vista. They didn't mention it to the boss because
they didn't think it was their place to do so. Now they all know about
Vista.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Shane Nokes said:
So wait your idea of research is asking Joe Schmoe if he's heard of
something?


That's a pretty naïve way to take a sample.

You're telling me that national theater chains don't have a big audience?

That's antithetical to the whole idea of a theater.

Also why should Bill put a million in a case? That would make one person
happy and piss off millions of others.

The marketing is there, you just aren't looking in the right places.
Check out the sides of busses, check out ads in theaters, magazines,
networks, etc.

If the only place you're looking is Joe on the street, then you're not
going to have much luck.

How about Vanishing Point? Skywriting things over freaking Australia,
hijacking the fountains at the Bellagio to give clues on a contest that
includes a trip to Outer Freaking Space as a prize.

Putting on one of the most amazing fireworks shows the city of Seattle
has ever seen.

Giving away copies of Office 2007 at almost every launch event.

How about the Vista Family Plan where when you buy Ultimate you can buy 2
copies of Home Premium for only an additional $50 per copy saving
yourself a large amount of money and upgrading the whole family to Vista.

I find these things really easily and see them all over the place.

As I said if you're not seeing the advertising you're obviously just
blind to it.


Garrett said:
How do I figure they aren't promoting.. When I go up to someone
wondering if
they're going to upgrade to an OS that they've never heard of well
that's a
great sign they aren't promoting. All these advertising campaigns you're
mentioning aren't in the right place obviously and isn't reaching a
large
audience. Bill Gates should've been going on every news program to talk
about
it researching how to create hype for it.. maybe put a million dollar
ticket
in one of the cases and create a contest to see who get's it after
buying it
such as in the willy wonka movie. Anything to cause more hype than it
has
right now. They had 6 years to create an opearting system and create a
marketing campaign for it and they failed.

:

Dressing Prince in a Windows Vista suit would have had every person in
America running away screaming.

You would have heard of mass suicides & riots.


But seriously folks, how do you figure they aren't promoting Vista?
Every
time I go to the movie theater there's a vista commercial in the
pre-show
trailers.

I see Windows Vista ad's on networks and on comedy central left and
right.

I see ads for Vista on almost every website I visit.

I can't turn a page without seeing it in magazines of every kind


So I think the question is where do y'all live and what sort of shell
are
you in that you're not seeing this stuff?

Definitely. They have the money, just not the right management. I've
only
heard good news coming from websites such as yahoo finance about
Microsoft
but the stock isn't moving. But this board is about Windows Vista and
I'm
still furious with the BS job MSFT did promoting this and like you
said
they
should have been EVERYWHERE including the super bowl .. Prince
should've
has
a windows vista suit on! :) Maybe show the commercials using the
windows
vista look? They couldve done so much more I think this will go down
in
history as the worst corporate product release for years to come..
what a
mess, what an embarassment coming from the largest, most powerful
organization in the world.

:

I must agree that the marketing has been poor.

I also, have told more people about Vista than, I have learned, had
heard
about it via the news channels - whatever they may be.

Hell, they should have sponsored a Microsoft world tour of the
Stones (or
another big group) with Microsoft busses, Microsoft on the side of
the
planes, Microsoft in the sky from search lights - heck, Microsoft
everything. And, this should have been done a year ago.

50% off vouchers for all attendees would be more profit in their
pockets
than they are currently showing.



--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!



Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of
Vista
than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard
the
same
response I have had when talking to people about the release,
"What is
Vista?"

Even in 2000, those who weren't as computer savvy knew what
E[xp]erience
was.. and it was reflected in the stock prices that were double
what
they
are
currently.

This release has been a total mess and pointless! Why release it
when
know
one knows about it? They shouldve been hyping and touting this
release
since
July 06. The only reason that I held onto the stock was because I
thought
that the stock would reflect what it did back in 2000 after the XP
release,
and it hasn't.

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with this billion dollar
company
I'm
basically lost for words. Balmer and Gates, so smart yet IDIOTS
and I
hope
they read this and wake up and campaign for their product more
than
they
are
right now. It takes money to make money and they need to hit the
ground
running and get this product out there! I'm so utterly
dissapointed
with
the
shotty job MSFT has done promoting this.. hell they promoted the
X360
more
than this operating system, and to be fair the operating system
has a
larger
user base than the gaming console that is the XBOX.

If I don't see results with the stock by June I'm taking my losses
and
dumping the stock and if you own MSFT shares, I suggest you do
they
same.
They are letting their investors down and they should hurt
financially
for
that if they don't change it up. I anticipate a lot of feedback on
this
post
and I hope to hear both sides, if there is another educated side
to
this
story.

Garrett
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Shane Nokes said:
ok so just by your example that is 6.6% in one office.

So you're telling me that nationwide you believe the average is less than
10%?

Hmm, I live in Olympia in Washington State.

This next week I actually have to do some shopping for groceries and other
things. I'm going to ask completely random people if they've heard of
Windows Vista.

I'm curious what my numbers will be.

I'll take an average over 5 days and see what I come up with.
Click to expand...
Try a CNN poll. They're always way off. Shortly after Bush wins 51% of the
vote they say 35% of the country approves of him, and they didn't poll me..

I'd guess much more than 10% of the country has heard of Vista.
I'd guess much less than 10% of the country knows much of anything about it.
 
Shane Nokes, you can argue the advertising in movie theatre's all you want
but dude, it's obviously not working if NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT VISTA. The point
is the rest of us have lives that keep us busy and maybe we can't always go
and see a movie! Maybe you need to rethink your whole movie-theatre marketing
campaign.
 
Year to date I think I've told more people about the release of Vista than
Microsoft has and I'm sure you can say the same if you've heard the same
response I have had when talking to people about the release, "What is Vista?"
Click to expand...

Funny, I've seen advertising on TV and in Magazines. I've also read
MS is spending $500 Million on marketing Vista.

There are clueless people everywhere. I do admit they should come up
with *better* advertisements especially with the way Apple is going
after them lately.

But if people haven't heard of Vista, they probably don't know that
Cingular Wireless is about to be AT&T and so forth.

People don't pay attention and/or they just don't care.
 
Please tell me you're joking. Cingular has a commercial every time one is one
basically promo'ing their new unity plan .. and on the radio, too! And at the
end it's the spot saying Cingular and AT&T are coming together, etc. $500 MM
marketing campaign .. what an obvious waste if people don't know about
vista.. which if you argue with me look at the price per share of MSFT stock
... THERES PROOF that no one knows about the new OS. It's like a secret..
which is a baddd thing. Microsoft should have a commercial every time
commercials happen both on TV or the radio, here I'll give them something to
start with:

"Are you looking for a new way to see your PC? Do you want a little 'WOW' in
your life? Introducing Windows Vista for the PC. With the new Aero design,
using Windows has never been easier! And now Vista comes with a free copy of
Windows Media Center which allows you to listen to music, watch videos and
watch and record live TV on your computer. Windows Vista can be found at your
local stores (naming one or two) or you can get your FREE copy of Vista when
you purchase a new computer. Windows Vista, the WOW is just beginning!"

And ok people get a FREE copy of Vista, the more users that have it the
better. And Microsoft is not loosing money on that deal by any stretch of the
imagination. Like I said earlier if I don't see results in regards to
Marketing from the company by June 01, I'm dumping the stock and I'll be
telling others, who a few have a large hold in the company, to drop em as
well and move over to Dell which has a good outlook now that Mike is back :)~

Garrett
 
Word of mouth is still the best advertising. If product z is easy to
install and has a host of new features that actually work and increase
productivity then people talk about it. However, if it is poorly written
and very hard to install and doesnt work very well, when it is installed,
then all the advertising in the world will not help it. When it is so
poor that no one will even pirate it, then it is probably not worth
having. I suspect that the poor pirates, who finally get this system
installed, will regret that they ever tried, when the cant get their video
or sound cards to work and the games that they had hoped to play just wont
work and their ipods just sit around and self-corrupt themselves. I talk
to people every day, and even the less savvy ones, say that they are
staying away from Vista. They have heard the bad news. This does not
bode well for the manufacturers, who had hoped that Vista would continue
to increase their sales. All the FUD in the world will not help MS. They
are already talking about their new Vienna OS, because they want people to
focus on the future and their next great OS.
 
"Word of mouth is still the best advertising. If product z is easy to
install and has a host of new features that actually work and increase
productivity then people talk about it."

Bill let's remember Microsoft is a multi BILLION dollar company, not million
or even hundred thousand dollar company. That being said "word of mouth
advertising" is nice but not nessecary with that kind of money. The more
people that know about it means more people that will eventually install it..
so you can't really have the second part without the first. This operating
system is the first to be released from MSFT in the past 6 years so word of
mouth shouldn't be the only thing that this MULTI BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY
should be focusing on.

"However, if it is poorly written and very hard to install and doesnt work
very well, when it is installed, then all the advertising in the world will
not help it. When it is so poor that no one will even pirate it, then it is
probably not worth having."

It's already being pirated as we speak, I know many people who have
illegally copied or downloaded the software. I myself bought it outright
legally sense it would only work against me as I own MSFT stock. I suggest
you go buy it and install it, it's easier than installing Windows XP.

"I suspect that the poor pirates, who finally get this system installed,
will regret that they ever tried, when the cant get their video or sound
cards to work and the games that they had hoped to play just wont work.."

Then those "poor pirates" can settle with XP those cheap b**tards. I really
don't care what works and doesn't work for people who steal things that were
worked hard on by those who want to better the tech community so don't think
that I'm going to spend a second crying over their issues getting the
software to work.

"..and their ipods just sit around and self-corrupt themselves."

How about go buy a Microsoft Zune. iPod's are for Apples, if they want to
buy Apple products go buy one of their machines.

"I talk to people every day, and even the less savvy ones, say that they are
staying away from Vista. They have heard the bad news. This does not bode
well for the manufacturers, who had hoped that Vista would continue to
increase their sales."

Please do your research before making these kinds of false statements. "The
release of Vista boosted overall PC sales, giving the PC market the best week
it's had in four years, Bhavnani said. PC unit retail sales increased 173
percent for the week ending Feb. 3 compared to the previous week, and were up
67 percent year over year, according to the report." (PCWorld.com -
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128864/article.html)
 
Slight sarcasm. I would never encourage pirating. Poor pirates
translates into "if you are stupid enough to pirate this software than you
deserve the same fate as the ones who actually paid for it"

If I owned Microsoft stock, I would be defending them also, at least until
I could sell the stock.

In an update on the companyÿs plans, chief executive Steve Ballmer said:
´Some of the revenue models and revenue forecasts Iÿve seen out there
for Windows Vista are overly aggressive.¡ He added: ´I donÿt think
that much new money will race out of consumers pockets into PCs.¡


Big companies forget that word of mouth is still the best advertising.
They spend big money on selling the public a 'dog', but the public still
knows that it is a 'dog'. People to this day tell me how they got ripped
by ME and in the future I am sure they will be telling me the same thing
about Vista.

I repeat:

"However, if it is poorly written and very hard to install and doesnt work
very well, when it is installed, then all the advertising in the world
will not help it. When it is so poor that no one will even pirate it, then
it is probably not worth having."

You showed your complete disregard for all those windows users who bought
IPODs and who had no problem using them on Windows XP, and who expected to
be able to use them on Vista. You must be a MS Stockholder..Duh!

"How about go buy a Microsoft Zune. iPod's are for Apples, if they
want to buy Apple products go buy one of their machines."

Maybe the many dissatisfied Vista users will do just that, or better yet
go open source and avoid the discussion altogether.

Maybe you should sell your stock.
 
I'm not saying what you've quoted from Balmer is false, but I would
definitely appreciate it if you gave linkage to where you found the quote,
some quotes as you may know are taken out of context.

The only thing that "Poor Pirates" translates into is jail time if they're
caught. I'm not defending MSFT in fact I'm calling them out on their total
disregard for a good marketing campaign when it came to Vista.

I don't see Steve'o holding the CEO seat much longer as I think what will
happen is what happened in DELL's case, Michael Dell came back, I think Bill
Gates will eventually return to work.

And regardless of the forecasts, the linkage I supplied in my reply to you
says differently.. and that's no irrifutable quote, that's fact and that
happened. I disagree with the comment that word of mouth is the best
advertising, but it certainly is the slowest. And why should a Billion dollar
company bet that "word of mouth" advertising will sell their product?

Wondering, have you tried Windows Vista? Are you running it right now? I
find nothing wrong with the OS.. Yes, while the prompting asking my
permission to run a program I've already asked to run is annoying, I think
it's a good tool to prevent programs from self-executing. I wish the company
that Bill Gates saved many years ago has great success, but the mere fact is
that PC's will always have the largest marketshare.
 
It's not "my campaign"

I'm merely stating the fact that the advertising is out there.

Also don't talk to me about a busy life.

This is the 2nd day I've had off in almost 2 months.

I know much more about busy than the average person.
 
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