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March 22, 2006

Windows Vista Delayed

Yesterday Microsoft announced that Windows Vista has been, you guessed it, delayed.

Vista will be available to volume-license business customers in November (even my own workplace, a Microsoft-centric shop with 1000 employees in the US, obtains Windows as OEM licenses with new computers). Consumer availability will occur in January 2007.

Right now, all the press is focusing on the impact to hardware vendors in the “all important” Christmas shopping season, as consumers hold off on new hardware purchases until they can get Vista with it.

But as I skimmed the Channel 9 boards and saw the comment, “Who releases product in January?!?”, I thought of something…

Apple does. MacWorld - usually in the first week of January - is an Apple showcase event. Based on earlier comments from Steve Jobs, we’re very likely to see the next version of MacOS X released in early 2007. By releasing Vista in early 2007, Microsoft can use their marketing juggernaut to try to defuse Apple’s now-regular domination of the tech press.

Now, I’m not saying that Microsoft would change their release schedule of Vista just to try to steal/minimize Apple’s thunder. But tell me - just try to tell me - that the people involved in marketing Vista aren’t relishing the chance…

Posted by jim at March 22, 2006 10:32 AM