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Ballmer backs away from 'Vista Capable' legal row

Daniel Fleshbourne   on 06 October 2008 - 14:59 · 24 comments & 4324 views

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Steve Ballmer has distanced himself from the ongoing “Vista Capable” legal spat by claiming he had no direct involvement in Microsoft’s marketing campaign for the operating system. In a document filed last Friday, the software giant’s CEO effectively exonerated himself in the Windows Vista Capable blame game, choosing instead to point the finger at a pair of retired MS wonks:

"I was not involved in any of the operational decisions about the Windows Vista Capable program. I was not involved in establishing the requirements computers must satisfy to qualify for the Windows Vista Capable program. I was not involved in formulating any market strategy or any public messaging surrounding the Windows Vista Capable program".

View: The full story @ The Reg

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(2 replies) #1 vetmarkjensen on 06 Oct 2008 - 15:05
Steve Ballmer
I was not involved in any of the operational decisions about the Windows Vista Capable program. I was not involved in establishing the requirements computers must satisfy to qualify for the Windows Vista Capable program. I was not involved in formulating any market strategy or any public messaging surrounding the Windows Vista Capable program.
Ummm... Wasn't he made CEO back in January 2000? I guess he ought to be somewhat responsible for what goes on at the company.
#1.1 Foub on 06 Oct 2008 - 16:53
As they say, "The buck stops here...."
#1.2 draklin on 07 Oct 2008 - 13:45
(Foub said @ #1.1)
As they say, "The buck stops here...."


As I learned early "The first rule of leadership is that everything is your fault", but in the corporate world, the first rule is to find someone else to take the blame. Actually that applies to government as well.
(3 replies) #2 +GreyWolfSC on 06 Oct 2008 - 15:26
Well, it is the Reg, but...

"Vista Capable" means it will run at least Home Basic and I thought it was pretty clearly stated. The problem is many OEMs were apparently sticking Vista Capable logos on products that really didn't meet requirements. Some may have been putting the "premium" stickers on computers that didn't have the horsepower.

Microsoft should have been more diligent in preventing them from doing that, but why isn't anyone angry at computer makers for saying something was Vista capable when it wasn't?
#2.1 ahhell on 06 Oct 2008 - 17:48
More sensationalist Reg BS posted by our good buddy Daniel.


People have always bitched about requirements on OSs, games, etc. How is this anything new?
#2.2 vetmarkjensen on 06 Oct 2008 - 18:06
(ahhell said @ #2.1)
More sensationalist Reg BS posted by our good buddy Daniel.


People have always bitched about requirements on OSs, games, etc. How is this anything new?
For your first point, would seeing a different source quote him wiggle from responsibility help you?
http://www.computerworld.com/action/articl...;taxonomyId=125

On your second item, this isn't about customer complaints (well, the court proceedings are). This is about how accountable is the CEO for the products his company markets.
#2.3 IntelliMoo on 06 Oct 2008 - 22:32
(GreyWolfSC said @ #2)
Well, it is "Vista Capable" means it will run at least Home Basic ...


Technically "capable" just means the damn thing will install, boot, and be usable -- it in no way implies the actual UI, operations, included apps, etc. will be comfortably usable. LOL
(6 replies) #3 Scorbing on 06 Oct 2008 - 15:34
The problem was that OEMs were not putting enough memory on the OEM Vista-capable machines. You all know Vista cannot work properly with 512MB of memory, not even Basic.

#3.1 vetmarkjensen on 06 Oct 2008 - 15:49
We may "all know" that. But Microsoft apparently hasn't got a clue, then.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-v...quirements.aspx
They clearly say 512 MB of RAM as their recommended requirement for Home Basic

Sure, they "recommend" 1GB for Premium and Ultimate. But the even still list "512MB" as their "minimum supported".

They are low-balling their own OS requirements, if you ask me (and apparently you would agree).
#3.2 The Canadian on 06 Oct 2008 - 16:05
(markjensen said @ #3.1)
Sure, they "recommend" 1GB for Premium and Ultimate. But the even still list "512MB" as their "minimum supported".


1GB for Premium is not enough, my laptop came with Vista Home Premium, and it's taking up most of the 1GB itself...I have a shared video card and it's taking only a tiny bit of the 1GB so programs have a small amount of free ram to work with. I haven't gotten around to buying a 4GB kit yet, but that should help matters.
#3.3 Dakkaroth on 06 Oct 2008 - 16:13
Everyone seems to act like this is something new. Check out the requirements for XP:

Required:
233 MHz processor
64 MB of RAM

Recommended
300 MHz or higher processor clock speed recommended
128 MB of RAM or higher recommended

I've run 98se on those minimum requirements. Could hardly imagine trying to push XP onto the machine...

Now Vista comes out, the word "capable" is thrown around. If it can run Vista, even very crappy for that matter, it's still capable. While I don't agree with Microsoft's usage of throwing "Vista Capable" on machines that could barely run it, they've done nothing wrong if you want to get technical. That is, unless the machine really could NOT run Vista. Otherwise, it is still "capable".

Hopefully though, Microsoft will avoid doing this kind of crap in the future.
#3.4 Foub on 06 Oct 2008 - 16:55
(Dakkaroth said @ #3.3)
Everyone seems to act like this is something new. Check out the requirements for XP:

Required:
233 MHz processor
64 MB of RAM

Recommended
300 MHz or higher processor clock speed recommended
128 MB of RAM or higher recommended

I've run 98se on those minimum requirements. Could hardly imagine trying to push XP onto the machine...

Now Vista comes out, the word "capable" is thrown around. If it can run Vista, even very crappy for that matter, it's still capable. While I don't agree with Microsoft's usage of throwing "Vista Capable" on machines that could barely run it, they've done nothing wrong if you want to get technical. That is, unless the machine really could NOT run Vista. Otherwise, it is still "capable".

Hopefully though, Microsoft will avoid doing this kind of crap in the future.


Still no real comparison between the two.
#3.5 Slugbait on 06 Oct 2008 - 20:29
(Foub said @ #3.4)
Still no real comparison between the two.


Agreed. Win98 was a hybrid OS, and it's minimum system requirements of a 486 DX/66 with 16 megs should only be compared to Win95's minimum system requirements of a 386 DX with 4 megs.

On the other hand, Vista is a true 32-bit operating system, and should only be compared to other NT OS minimum system requirements, such as:

NT4: 468/33 with 12 megs
NT5: P5/133 with 32 megs
NT5.1: P5/233 with 64 megs
NT6: Pentium III 800 with 512 megs

People have always complained when their upgraded OS required considerably more horsepower from the hardware, but only once before has an MS OS needed a minimum amount of RAM that was four times that of its predecessor, much less eight. However, another thing to keep in mind is that back in 2000, memory was about $1 per meg...today, it's about 2 cents per meg before rebate, so it isn't too painful on wallets to give Vista as much memory as it will consume.

However, it begs the question: will the minimum system requirements for NT7 be only four times as much as NT6? If this is the case, then it wouldn't be wise to release a 32-bit version, since you will only have one gig of RAM headroom to spare above the minimum system requirements.
#3.6 +TCLN Ryster on 06 Oct 2008 - 23:19
(The Canadian said @ #3.2)
(markjensen said @ #3.1)
Sure, they "recommend" 1GB for Premium and Ultimate. But the even still list "512MB" as their "minimum supported".


1GB for Premium is not enough, my laptop came with Vista Home Premium, and it's taking up most of the 1GB itself...I have a shared video card and it's taking only a tiny bit of the 1GB so programs have a small amount of free ram to work with. I haven't gotten around to buying a 4GB kit yet, but that should help matters.

You clearly have no clue how Vista works when it comes to memory. It's supposed to take up 'most of the 1GB itself'. It's called SuperFetch, it caches your programs into memory so the next time you use them they load faster. It also intelligently releases that memory as it is needed by applications. You're just taking what task manager tells you as fact and not delving any deeper.

Add more memory, and more stuff gets cached. However the more memory you have, the more likely it is that Superfetch wont fill it up. Cached program files only require so much memory.
(5 replies) #4 2Cold Scorpio on 06 Oct 2008 - 16:33
Maybe people should quit trying to get the latest OS to run on the bare minimum hardware... ^_^ Spend a little more and get the most out of your investment. This is generally true in most purchases, not just computers. That doesn't mean go overboard, but make sure you have what you need, and be willing to pay that little extra to get it if needed. While MS should have used higher requirements, they shouldn't be held responsible for consumer ignorance and stupidity.
#4.1 Foub on 06 Oct 2008 - 16:59
Well, not everyone can afford to get the latest and greatest every year, Rockefeller, like you.

BTW, stop excusing Corporate America. That's one reason why there is such a mess in the USA now with that recent $700 Billion Corporate Welfare payout.
#4.2 ahhell on 06 Oct 2008 - 17:46
(Foub said @ #4.1)
Well, not everyone can afford to get the latest and greatest every year, Rockefeller, like you.

BTW, stop excusing Corporate America. That's one reason why there is such a mess in the USA now with that recent $700 Billion Corporate Welfare payout.


That makes no sense at all. Are you sure that you posted in the right thread? What does this have to do with corporate America and Bush's economic bailout? Oh, that's right...nothing.



#4.3 Mike Frett on 06 Oct 2008 - 17:51
(Foub said @ #4.1)
Well, not everyone can afford to get the latest and greatest every year, Rockefeller, like you.

BTW, stop excusing Corporate America. That's one reason why there is such a mess in the USA now with that recent $700 Billion Corporate Welfare payout.


+1 for Foub. If you're not screwing the customer; you're not doing your job.
#4.4 +TCLN Ryster on 06 Oct 2008 - 23:22
(Foub said @ #4.1)
Well, not everyone can afford to get the latest and greatest every year, Rockefeller, like you.

BTW, stop excusing Corporate America. That's one reason why there is such a mess in the USA now with that recent $700 Billion Corporate Welfare payout.

If you can't afford the "latest and greatest", why are you ever running Vista? Vista is 5-6 years newer than XP, therefore the recommended specs for hardware are going to be 5-6 years newer than those of XP. If you've got a PC that wasn't "average" at the time Vista was released, then run XP instead. Don't blame Microsoft if your PC supplier sold you a lemon with Vista installed.

And +1 to the other guy who said that this post had absolutely nothing to do with corporate america and the $700b bail out.
#4.5 boho on 07 Oct 2008 - 11:16
(ahhell said @ #4.2)
(Foub said @ #4.1)
Well, not everyone can afford to get the latest and greatest every year, Rockefeller, like you.

BTW, stop excusing Corporate America. That's one reason why there is such a mess in the USA now with that recent $700 Billion Corporate Welfare payout.


That makes no sense at all. Are you sure that you posted in the right thread? What does this have to do with corporate America and Bush's economic bailout? Oh, that's right...nothing.


This shows one man's understanding, and another's naivety.

The point being made, is greed! The US is headed for Marshall Law. Why? Because Corporate America is about to bankrupt the ordinary US taxpayer. When "The Armed Madhouse" (quote Greg Palast) wakes up to their shafting, the outcome is not going to be pleasant!

As for Steve Ballmer's involvement in this sorry tale The likelihood is, his fingers are all over it! Does this matter, and will it make a difference to the case outcome, probably not. By the time payout comes, the world economy will be flat-lining. We are about to enter a whole "New World Order" Welcome fellow peasant slave, to neo-feudalism!
#5 HalcyonX12 on 06 Oct 2008 - 17:14
Since when are system requirements "marketing" ? MS has criticized OSS in the past for not having anyone accountable... I guess it's the same for centrally managed software as well.

Ballmer: “Who's going to stand up and support open source? At least, with us, it's clear who you have to come and pound down on. There's a clear line of responsibility.”

So clear it up then!
(1 reply) #6 chaosblade on 06 Oct 2008 - 17:57
Yawn.
#6.1 Airlink on 06 Oct 2008 - 18:14
+1
#7 J400uk on 06 Oct 2008 - 20:27
lame

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