Microsoft Determines the Marketplace
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The old adage used to be that “the customer is always right”. Microsoft seems to have modified that into “we will tell the customer what is right”. In a supply and demand marketplace, Microsoft is ignoring the demand and controlling the supply. In fact, in the case of Windows XP, there will not be a further supply:
“Microsoft Corp. is scheduled to stop selling its Windows XP operating system to retailers and major computer makers today, despite protests from a slice of PC users who don’t want to be forced into using XP’s successor, Vista.”
link: Microsoft to stop selling Windows XP
With the inventory of Windows XP being throttled, Microsoft gives its customers two choices. It is either to switch to Vista or consider a non Microsoft product. As a switch away from Microsoft is not always possible, the choice for the consumer is limited.
This is reminiscent of voting in third world countries. The elections are free and unfettered. The problem is that there is only one candidate on the ballot.
Catherine Forsythe
One Comment
Computer Consulting Kit Blog
July 1st, 2008
at 7:28pm
For a company that has recently been trying to turn things around and better serve partners and customers – and especially in light of recent attempts to better include smaller budget small businesses into its partner programs, etc. – it’s interesting that Microsoft would be so final about the XP issue. I work with primarily small business owners and computer consultants that provide solutions to this sector, and I know that MANY of them are still very reliant on and happy with XP, not necessarily because of the seemingly widespread opinion that “Vista sucks” but because this operating system just works better for them and is more manageable for the way they do business. I will be interested to see what happens in the coming months as XP becomes “obsolete” and if it will even serve Microsoft well, or if customers will just start choosing other companies and products.