Reader Rob from Australia sent me two interesting notes. First, the court case where early Vista buyers are suing Microsoft over the slogan “Windows Vista Capable” became quite interesting when Microsoft’s own Director of Marketing had an “oops” moment.
According to this story reprinted in the Mac Observer, Mark Croft said “capable” on a PC meant that PC could run any version of Vista. Unfortunately for Croft and Microsoft, that’s exactly opposite of what Microsoft said earlier, prompting the lawsuit from users buying PCs that could only run the Home Basic Vista version even though the PC was labeled “capable” of running Vista.
After Microsoft lawyers “consulted” with Croft (I wonder if brass knuckles were used, or a cattle prod?) he went back on the stand and claimed he “made an error” and retracted his previous statement. Good luck erasing that giant mistake from the minds of everyone listening. Despite judge instructions, confessions during testimony tend to stick in your consciousness.
In other Microsoft mistakes, Reader Rob claims Australians have been locked out of the “anytime upgrades” Microsoft offers users of Vista Home Basic. The ability to download the anytime upgrade, simple in the US, can’t be done in Australia, even though Microsoft promised it to buyers there just as here. Upgrading in OZ means running to a retailer and buying the boxed version. Less convenience, more expense for the user. Oops.
