Microsoft's Vista a headache for many

By Matthew Lysiak | Special to amNewYork
October 3, 2007

It's groundbreaking, innovative, the wave of the future -- and a pain for merchants.

The highly touted new Windows Vista software may turn out to be everyone's operating system heading into the next decade, but at present it has amounted to one big headache for computer dealers.

That's because the software that promised to make life easier, has instead been plagued with speed and compatibility issues that have techies longing for the days of the older Windows XP. The problem also presents a unique dilemma for computer merchants who now find themselves faced with the unexpected burden of dealing with an angry tech-mob that had become accustomed to its user-friendly predecessor.



But now the cyber-backlash has many merchants changing course.

Pre-Vista, it was standard that all new computers were sold with the latest software, but the new operating system's unpopularity now has tech-merchants consulting first with their customers.

"The problem with Vista means that now when we sell a new computer we must always ask if they want the older XP version or Vista," said Bill Hastings, who runs Advance Computers, which is at 342 W. 71st St.

"Everyone always chooses the old XP version." Even more telling is that Dell, the computer giant, has recently altered its Web site to reflect the trend against Vista, with a prominent advertisement that lets consumers know they can still choose the old software.

Like the internet explosion itself, the uproar seemingly happened over night.

In early May, Microsoft distributed 40 million copies of Vista, which costs $100 to $500 depending on the version, but it didn't take long for some to begin suffering from a case of buyer's remorse.

The quick changing face of the competitive technology market presents a somewhat more sophisticated set of challenges to tech retailers than to more conventional merchants. That's because their survival is intrinsically tied to their ability to stay ahead of the curve, which usually means pushing their customers into newer and newer technologies, but in some cases staying ahead means taking a step back.

"They hyped this product and rushed it before it was ready to come out and as a result it isn't as complete as they promised," said Lucian Warren, a computer tech at Computer Bookworks at 78 Reade St.

"Give it a few months and after they work the kinks everyone will be using it for years to come."