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Open your Windows to a brand new Vista

At least, that’s what Bill Gates predicts end users will say upon laying eyes on (and even before using) the brand new Vista that Microsoft has unveiled. Read the interview on ZDNet, Gates: With Vista, seeing is believing (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9590_22-6154480.html), where he says “I don't think after you've seen it for three or four minutes, you'll say, "Wow, that's the same as XP." You'll see it's quite different.”

Like ‘em or loathe ‘em, there’s no ignoring them – The first major launch from the Microsoft stable in the five years since Windows XP, Vista comes after months (years?) of great secrecy followed by tremendous hype. No doubt, an attempt to create interest, curiosity, and an unfortunate fallout of this long time frame - even anxiety for Microsoft’s competitors and consumers using older operating systems.

AND, whatever does an alternate-reality online game and suborbital flying have to do with Windows Vista? Good question – ask Microsoft, which has gone ballistic with its Vista marketing campaign.

(http://news.com.com/Building+Vista+buzz+with+a+puzzle/2100-1043_3-6150036.html?tag=ne.gall.related)

From prime-time TV appearances by Bill Gates and autographed copies of Windows Vista (http://news.com.com/2300-1045_3-6152063-1.html) to innumerable articles about the exciting new features (safety & security, look & design, 3D graphics & games et al) to some bizarre cross-promotional marketing, Vista is being projected as THE operating system to have. (Isn’t that what they said about Windows 95, 2000 or XP for that matter?)

Windows Vista was formally launched for consumers on January 30th, although it was made available to businesses November end. And while the theme of the launch is a simple ‘Wow’, only time will tell if consumers are going to be using this exclamation as much as Vista’s parent company.