A case of foot in mouth at Microsoft

Without wishing to become involved in the customary bout of Microsoft-bashing that seems to follow any feature concerning this company, I am usually forced to admit that, whatever you think of the product, Microsoft’s marketing strategies are second to none. Imagine my surprise then, to note the quote contained in your article (MW last week) stating that Windows 2000 “does not crash as often as its predecessors”. I’m amazed that any Microsoft spokesperson so far forgot themselves as to admit not only that the product that they have foisted on the world was based on broken software, but also that Windows XP, touted as the saviour of the home PC market, does not rectify the problem.

However, like Al Gillem of IDC, I have no doubt that the “ads will make it look like the best thing since sliced bread”. I would love to believe that the inherent flaws in the Windows system will eventually result in the more efficient operating systems that already exist taking over the market, but I have to gloomily acknowledge that the lessons of the past 30 or so years don’t encourage such optimism.

C Tomlinson

Media manager

Onyx

Brownhills

Walsall