No, that wasn’t a misprint. Let me say it again: No. Vista. Upgrade. For. Intel. Yup, Vista is so incredibly ridiculously bad that even Intel, longtime partner of Microsoft, has decided that upgrading its 80,000-some employee computers to Vista just wouldn’t be worth the hassle and heart-ache.
According to an anonymous source with “direct knowledge of the company’s plans”, Intel conducted some serious cost-benefit analysis, which we can only assume resulted in the conclusion that the sheer amount of Excedrin, Aspirin, and possibly even Morphine that would be required by their employees to cope with Vista would overwhelm their budget. Not to mention the dramatic increase in psychiatric care which would put great strain on their employee medical coverage plans.
All joking aside, I find it fascinating that a massive technology company with such a close, long time working relationship with Microsoft would not find the benefits of switching to Vista compelling enough to make the plunge—not that we’re surprised or anything.
Of course things could change, and Intel could eventually be pressured by the massive force that is Steve Ballmer to make the upgrade, but until then, it looks like Wintel will remain Wintel XP.
Not upgrading existing machines is no surprise. If Intel decides to downgrade new machines, it would be a bad omen, indeed.
To Dave-O:
New machines are purchased without OS. The Intel standard IT build for new machines is XP. So there is no "downgrade".
I feel bad for microsoft, really. Vista isn't all that bad (compared only to XP) and yet it has taken soooo much heat lately. I supposed they promised so much that failing to deliver made Vista completely evil.
Mr. Ballmer really screwed up in marketing and releasing the Windows Vista. Microsoft released worse OS than the Vista in the past and I don't remember them having this much public relations trouble.
Business 101
Under-promise
Over-deliver