Vista: Over 100 Million Sold
Microsoft CEO Bill Gates announced at the Consumer Electronics Show this week
that Microsoft had sold
100
million copies of Windows Vista, which brings to mind comparisons to the
signs McDonald's puts up on its roadside restaurant banners, trumpeting the
number of burgers sold. And I found myself wondering, if Microsoft were McDonald's,
what would the fast-food industry look like today?
Well, for one thing, you'd be hard-put to find a Wendy's or Burger King or
Jack in the Box, since Microsoft would've driven all of these competing franchises
into near ruin years ago. Burger King might look something like Novell, a twice
re-spun shadow of its former self, now selling barbeque out of a couple dozen
franchises in Utah and the American Southwest. And pay no attention to that
subversive, open source burger shop on the corner -- there's no telling where
their beef comes from.
Not that McDonald's success wouldn't come without struggle. I can imagine McDonald's
replacing the well-loved Big Mac 95 and even tastier Big Mac 98 with the ill-considered
Big Mac Me, resulting in a widespread E. coli outbreak that angers consumers.
All would be forgiven by the time Big Mac XP rolls around -- at least, until
Microsoft replaces the beloved burger with the 4,000-calorie Big Mac Vista,
a meal so large that the company has to develop all-new packaging and larger
paper bags to hold it.
One hundred million units is a notable threshold for Vista. With SP1 nearing,
the company has made gains in compatibility, performance and overall suitability
of the OS. But the fact is, we liked our Big Mac XP.
Are you sticking with the old burger, or does your shop plan to move to Vista
now that SP1 is around the corner? E-mail me at [email protected].
Posted by Michael Desmond on 01/08/2008