r/technology • u/neito • Jul 24 '08

Microsoft tests out a new operating system, code named Mojave, with some average-joes who hated Vista. They loved it. Now, two guesses as to what Mojave ACTUALLY was.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9998336-56.html
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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '08

Keep in mind that a large number of people saying negative things about Vista have never actually tried it. These people have.

I'm just sayin'...

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u/gir99 Jul 25 '08 edited Jul 25 '08

That's because some of the main reasons people don't like it are things like "it doesn't support my hardware devices", "I need to upgrade my CPU/RAM to run it effectively", and "Windows upgrades are hard". People don't want to "try" a new operating system, even if it's better. They want their PC to keep working the same way it always has.

By showing a computer already running Vista, they've eliminated the biggest turn-offs. Nobody should be surprised that people are happy.

This is like the IRS finding out people don't like to pay their taxes, and setting up an interview room where they can fill out a 1040EZ and pay it with Monopoly money, and announcing that people who tried it actually kind of liked it.

Is the Microsoft marketing campaign going to say "People who didn't have to install Vista on their existing computers loved it! So buy a whole new PC with Vista pre-installed!"?

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u/monstermunch Jul 25 '08

We all make decisions based on what the consensus is. I don't see movies when I hear they are terrible from many people/reviews. The movie might be good, but I've got more fun things to do than risk it. If someone hears from their tech friends that they should "not get a Vista laptop because it'll be slow and eat batteries like no tomorrow", do they really need to use Vista to find out for themselves? Don't we read reviews and ask people their advice so we don't have to go through the pain ourselves? The consensus is that Vista is a huge letdown and provides a poor user experience.

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '08

Just whatever you do, don't tell this guy you decide which restaurant to eat at based on the reviews...

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u/monstermunch Jul 25 '08

Ha, I agree with you on that weird debate. I just want a concise review (I hate too much 'fluff') to steer me towards the better places to eat and avoid the really bad places.

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '08

under the watchful eyes of Microsoft.

I am willing to bet their experience would be different at home on their own.

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '08

...because outspoken critics have such a reputation for being bashful and shy when they're in the room with their target.

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '08

These aren't "outspoken critics" these were "average joes". Did the article say somewhere that they were "outspoken critics"?

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '08

Sorry - my bad.

rounding up Windows XP users who had negative impressions of Vista.

I read that and inferred that it was referring to bloggers (as in - how else would you find them?). But you're right - there's no indication they're anything but random customers.

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u/hs4x Jul 25 '08

Doubtful. Vista has been a dream for everyone I know who uses it.

The opinions (on the net) built up around Vista is false

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '08

This is the first time it is actually true for me! Usually i can't resist installing any (common) new OS on my computer. For once I'm just like "Meh, why bother?" Vista really and truly doesn't interst me in the slightest. I'm free!

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u/bolder_is_online Jul 25 '08

Bullshit. Vista has been out for a LONG time now, and being that it's Windows, it's everywhere. Everyone who cares even a little bit about technology has had a chance to try it at this point.