Microsoft claims that sales of Windows Vista are chugging steadily onward, and have now passed the 140 million mark. But that wasn't enough to help Microsoft extend its string of lights-out quarterly financial performances.
In its fiscal third quarter earnings call Thursday, Microsoft met the Street's expectations but saw quarterly profit drop 11 percent from the year-ago quarter. However, the results were skewed by Microsoft's booking of $1.7 billion in deferred revenue from its Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee programs as well as pre-shipments of Vista and Office 2007. Microsoft's overall profit dipped to $4.39 billion, or 47 cents per share, compared to $4.93 billion, or 50 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. Thomson Financial analysts had been expecting profit of 44 cents per share.
View: The full story @ CRN
In its fiscal third quarter earnings call Thursday, Microsoft met the Street's expectations but saw quarterly profit drop 11 percent from the year-ago quarter. However, the results were skewed by Microsoft's booking of $1.7 billion in deferred revenue from its Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee programs as well as pre-shipments of Vista and Office 2007. Microsoft's overall profit dipped to $4.39 billion, or 47 cents per share, compared to $4.93 billion, or 50 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. Thomson Financial analysts had been expecting profit of 44 cents per share.
View: The full story @ CRN
I for one, did just that, bought a $1000 laptop with Vista Home Premium. Vista as the O/S lasted about 2 days before I blatted it. I had no problems with the software (or any preloaded c-rapware), I just could not get on with the ass about **** O/S, with all the stupid "do you want to do this" questions, lousy explorer and all my favourite applets either missing, or spread to the wind. Found a leaked copy of RTM SP3 at the weekend, so am now "over the moon"
Even the downgrades to XP count as Vista sales, according to MS. You have to buy a license of Vista to get an XP downgrade.
What does it matter? Vista in the "real world" still has only about 13% of the PC market. That's real world usage, not the numbers of licenses sold. Is 13% = 140 million? Maybe it is? Maybe it isn't.
'Dell will take advantage of a licensing option in Vista Business and Vista Ultimate that lets PC makers provide XP under the Vista license, which Microsoft calls a "downgrade" license. (Enterprises with site licenses have these same rights with any version of Vista.) In essence, the user is buying a Vista license that it can apply to XP, and Microsoft can still claim a Vista sale.'
Take about 30 minutes and voila. XP Pro. Makes all my customers real happy.
Last edited by Captain555 on 28 Apr 2008 - 16:27
Have also wiped a few out and installed whichever Linux distro the person wanted as the sole OS onto them.
Have also wiped a few out and installed whichever Linux distro the person wanted as the sole OS onto them.
It shows either you are installing XP because you have a specialized software which isnt compatible with Vista...or you make people use only XP (since you dont have time to learn vista & its features which are good compared to XP).
I had more than "enough time to learn" Vista (six months). XP is still better. Vista is primarily cosmetic and bloatware. You're going to have to realize that Vista is a failure and denying it, as you keep doing, is only going to make you look foolish in the end.
I remember when I had to strip XP of all the bloated GUI and unnecessary services to make the PCs of that time run nearly as well as on Win2K.
The world's IQ just dropped.
The world's IQ just dropped.
These news posts bring about the same old discussion. I personally reckon that Windows Vista is better than XP - all you have to do is take the time to get used to it (which isn't that long at all). I get the impression that the people who say that 'Vista sucks' are those who are running it on hardware which it obviously won't run smoothly on (example - 256MB RAM).
Suck it up and shut up or learn about consumer choice and buy something else. Even Apple thinks Windows and PC are the same thing. "I'm a crappy Mac; I'm a PC."
This thread is complete!
This thread is complete!
"Linux is free only if your time has no value."
Ahhh, logic... where did you go?
According to you, if you sell a Vista license to a manufacturer to pre-install on a computer it's not a sale? Then I guess Mac OS X's sales are zero, except for those buying the service packs to upgrade their pre-installed OS.
Seriously now, stop with all the emotional bitching.
"Linux is free only if your time has no value."
Neowin would be so much nicer without people who deliberately seek to start flamewars by trolling.
When the same 2 or 3 people from either camp start posting nothing but a bash and flame in predictable threads it gets really annoying.
When the same 2 or 3 people from either camp start posting nothing but a bash and flame in predictable threads it gets really annoying.
This is why I'd like a + and - rating system for comments that are posted. That way the irrelevant drivel can be put aside.
You guys do need to a reality check though. I'd be completely surprised if even 10% of those who got it preinstalled wiped it. It's not going to be as common as you think.
-Spenser
XP user: "I'll never join you!"
Microsoft: If you only knew the power of Vista. The media never told you the truth about Vista.
XP user: "They told me enough! They told me you killed it!"
Microsoft: "No. Vista is simply an upgrade to your existing system to provide new features common in other systems. An augmentation really."
XP user: Shocked, XP user look at Microsoft in utter disbelief.
XP user: "No. No. That's not True! That's impossible!"
Microsoft: "Search your feelings. You Know it be true."
XP user: "No! No! No!"
XP user: "I'll never join you!"
Microsoft: If you only knew the power of Vista. The media never told you the truth about Vista.
XP user: "They told me enough! They told me you killed it!"
Microsoft: "No. Vista is simply an upgrade to your existing system to provide new features common in other systems. An augmentation really."
XP user: Shocked, XP user look at Microsoft in utter disbelief.
XP user: "No. No. That's not True! That's impossible!"
Microsoft: "Search your feelings. You Know it be true."
XP user: "No! No! No!"
Fantastic!
Isn't that amazing?
Product "B" sold more in two days than Product "A" did in a single midnight event?
Truly amazing!
When you get figures that match time periods, say two days of Vista sales, post again, please.
1: You "uber" geeks here probably wouldn't buy Vista on your system so why would your numbers be included. You build your systems right?
2: OK so you've downgraded "50" machines to XP from Vista - nice but 140 mil -minus 50 equals?
3: Ok ok, so you had to get a Dell laptop cuz they are sweet and you can't build one. You still wouldn't get Vista on it if you hate it so much.
4: How many of "you" do you think are out there? Minus your geek squad buddies and a few others the majority of Acer/Dell/HP customers are average people that just wants the latest and greatest. You honestly think 50+% of them are downgrading their PCs to XP? These are people that bought a Dell we're talking about here. Not saying Acer is that bad but just the share audacity to think that many people know that mucha bout computers in the first place is just shocking. "WOW" is all i can say to that.
Now even if the OEMs sell more laptops with XP on them vs Vista ones. That still wouldn't say Vista is doing terrible. But since that's not the case then i guess that point in moot. I really wish Dell or some of the other big companies would release some numbers to compare sales figures. That would just solve lot of bickering.
I liked XP when i had it on my system, still recommend it based on needs and the system it's going to be used on but i also recommend Vista as well and i've had no backlashes about that. I've had to downgrade 0 systems, while on the other hand i've upgraded about "50" machines also. My GF with her Dell Inspiron 6000 which i wouldn't recommend for, loves it and went out and got bigger HDD and RAM for me to install in her system cuz she just doesn't want to go back to XP. (she hates computers too
+1 !
caz
Xp needed 512MB+ (1GB recom) ram, we had 128-256MB, PATA HDD etc.
Vista needs 4GB+ , 512MB AGP, we have 1GB+ (2gb ma
so 1st we have to meet with recommend requirement, thn we should decide.
& i think '140 Million' is not impossible caz many ppl bought Vista & installed it, (though they back to xp again.)
Um, 4GB+? The 32-bit Vista will only see 3.5GB of RAM. 2GB+ is more realistic for Vista.
So having sold 140M copies since launch is quite impressive I'd say.
Than again, it's all numbers... Some salt is always handy to have.
XP had hiccups at the beginning but did not spend as much time in preparation before it was launched. Look at how many years Vista was in the making before it was launched. Surely that was more than enough time to iron out the bugs. If they want businessses to embrace it they NEED to iron out the incompatability issues....full stop......end of story. When it functions economically they will see sales soar from within the business sector and they need to open their eyes and ears at Microsoft.
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