|
|
 |
Sunday
March 21, 2010 Since 1922 |
Guru’s nightmare: Microsoft Tupperware party
By Aaron Barbee
Contributor Published October 3, 2009 So I’m perusing the computer nerd posts, blogs, news, and the likes like I do all day long, and I come across something so appalling and disheartening that I just have to write about it. They say that talking about a nightmare is the best way to keep it from coming back, so here goes.
Microsoft (this is really hard for me) appears to be recommending consumers host Tupperware-like parties to help launch their new operating system, Windows 7. They are actually asking their customers to host parties centralized around their new product and help promote it!
Now don’t get me wrong, I like Tupperware. My wife has hosted parties and made out pretty well. We have Tupperware and are going to get more. The point that I’m making is Tupperware parties are for Tupperware, not a major computer operating system– the operating system.
I guess I can’t blame them. Sales are down, so what better way to increase sales than having customers buy Windows 7, and then hype Windows 7 to all their friends. It’s a good marketing technique. However, my philosophy is that if your product or service is so great, you won’t have to coach customers to tout your product; they’ll do it automatically.
I think what Microsoft is missing is exactly why sales are down. In my professional opinion, and based on countless reports from my customers, sales are down because their new products aren’t worth investing in.
Windows Vista is not a better product than Windows XP; at least that’s what I’m being told by my customers. They believe that Windows XP is just as good and they dread buying a new computer that has Vista on it. The good news is we can still help them get a computer from Dell that has XP. We mediate with Dell on the customer’s behalf at no cost to the customer. We do it as a free service to our customers because we know buying a new computer is confusing, and we want to help out.
I will say that more and more customers are beginning to warm up to Vista (just as Windows 7 is coming out), but it’s been a long hard road in the customer’s eyes. The early incompatibilities and learning curve has left them wary of going to Vista. People just want their new computer to work the same way the old one did, and with the same software, printer and other peripherals.
From what I’ve seen, Windows 7 is going to be a bit better than Windows Vista, but it’s still no XP. I just have a message to Microsoft: Don’t underestimate the customer’s resolve to avoid a product they don’t like, even if they have little choice. They may surprise you.
Quite often I get questions from customers about when they should buy a new computer with the newer version of Windows on it. My answer is always the same, “Only when you absolutely have to.” This pretty much means that when the cost to fix your current computer exceeds the cost of a new computer, that’s when it’s time to invest in a new one. With us, that’s very infrequent. Usually it happens when the computer is about six to seven years old. Don’t upgrade unless you just want to.
Check out my Web site www.TexasComputerGuru.com for supplemental information and previous articles as well.
Aaron Barbee owns Texas Computer Guru, a local computer services company for on-site business and residential needs. He can be contacted at 281-628-5099. E-mail questions for Aaron to sunnews(at)baytownsun.com.
Contributor Published October 3, 2009 So I’m perusing the computer nerd posts, blogs, news, and the likes like I do all day long, and I come across something so appalling and disheartening that I just have to write about it. They say that talking about a nightmare is the best way to keep it from coming back, so here goes.
Microsoft (this is really hard for me) appears to be recommending consumers host Tupperware-like parties to help launch their new operating system, Windows 7. They are actually asking their customers to host parties centralized around their new product and help promote it!
Now don’t get me wrong, I like Tupperware. My wife has hosted parties and made out pretty well. We have Tupperware and are going to get more. The point that I’m making is Tupperware parties are for Tupperware, not a major computer operating system– the operating system.
I guess I can’t blame them. Sales are down, so what better way to increase sales than having customers buy Windows 7, and then hype Windows 7 to all their friends. It’s a good marketing technique. However, my philosophy is that if your product or service is so great, you won’t have to coach customers to tout your product; they’ll do it automatically.
I think what Microsoft is missing is exactly why sales are down. In my professional opinion, and based on countless reports from my customers, sales are down because their new products aren’t worth investing in.
Windows Vista is not a better product than Windows XP; at least that’s what I’m being told by my customers. They believe that Windows XP is just as good and they dread buying a new computer that has Vista on it. The good news is we can still help them get a computer from Dell that has XP. We mediate with Dell on the customer’s behalf at no cost to the customer. We do it as a free service to our customers because we know buying a new computer is confusing, and we want to help out.
I will say that more and more customers are beginning to warm up to Vista (just as Windows 7 is coming out), but it’s been a long hard road in the customer’s eyes. The early incompatibilities and learning curve has left them wary of going to Vista. People just want their new computer to work the same way the old one did, and with the same software, printer and other peripherals.
From what I’ve seen, Windows 7 is going to be a bit better than Windows Vista, but it’s still no XP. I just have a message to Microsoft: Don’t underestimate the customer’s resolve to avoid a product they don’t like, even if they have little choice. They may surprise you.
Quite often I get questions from customers about when they should buy a new computer with the newer version of Windows on it. My answer is always the same, “Only when you absolutely have to.” This pretty much means that when the cost to fix your current computer exceeds the cost of a new computer, that’s when it’s time to invest in a new one. With us, that’s very infrequent. Usually it happens when the computer is about six to seven years old. Don’t upgrade unless you just want to.
Check out my Web site www.TexasComputerGuru.com for supplemental information and previous articles as well.
Aaron Barbee owns Texas Computer Guru, a local computer services company for on-site business and residential needs. He can be contacted at 281-628-5099. E-mail questions for Aaron to sunnews(at)baytownsun.com.