Opinion: What's next for Windows Vista?

The price tag of Windows Vista Ultimate [boxed] has dropped from $751 to $449, the most significant reduction among several recent discounts made to Vista products. The move follows a persistent outcry from Microsoft partners confronted with customer complaints concerning the size and associated poor performance of Vista on certain PCs.

Microsoft recently attempted to reinvent Vista’s image in a marketing campaign providing point-of-sale materials for resellers. At the launch of the ‘Get the Facts’ initiative, Microsoft stood by Vista, advocating its virtues despite growing negative sentiment in the market. What prompted the vendor to re-evaluate its strategy and resort to offering sizeable discounts?

A Microsoft spokesperson stated: “The vast majority of Windows licenses are sold with PCs ... the changes to our pricing structures will allow us to reach a broader range of consumers worldwide.”

While it may seem that Microsoft's determination to elevate the image of Vista is wavering, the vendor claimed the price cuts are simply a way to provide partners with increased sales opportunities.

“The changes will also provide greater opportunity for our retail partners to sell more stand alone copies of Windows and help grow this small but important part of our retail partners’ portfolio. At the same time, it will also enable more consumers worldwide to experience the benefits of having genuine Windows software,” stated the spokesperson.

Expectations were high at the Vista product launch on 30 January 2007. Today, as it struggles to take its place in the market next to Windows XP, the channel as well as consumers are left wondering whether this is make or break time for Windows Vista?