The present Microsoft didn't
expect
Software giant Microsoft seems to be having a bit of a
marketing problem with the rise of netbooks.
This week a press release
from the Mighty Soft appeared on our desks claiming that it was wonderful
that its Windows product had been installed on 96 per cent of all netbooks. While this is great for Microsoft, one can't help remembering how the
software giant had to be dragged kicking and screaming to allow it.
The
problem was that the operating system that Microsoft wanted to forget was
its highly successful Windows XP was the only one that would run on the low
spec gear. The resource hungry Vista would not run on a netbook even if you
asked nicely.
If ever there was something that showed up the weaknesses of
Vista it was the fact that Microsoft could not exploit a growing market in
low spec computers. It is a mistake it has not made on Windows 7 which
appears to run very well on netbooks.
Redmond then had a problem, it
either remained petulant and left the netbook market for the Linux operating
system, or it swallowed its pride and allowed XP to have a second
life. Fortunately common sense was heard over marketing. However, one wonders
why Microsoft did not tinker with the interface and invent something
new.
Windows Netbook, which could have been XP, with a slightly
different GUI would have helped to kill off the world's dependence on XP
and opened the door to what ever Windows 7 goodness Redmond planned. As
it is it looks like Netbooks caught Microsoft on the hop and it was unable
to capitalise on this huge gift the IT industry gave it.