CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XL: Acer's Gianfranco Lanci says "entire industry" disappointed by Vista

Acer President Gianfranco Lanci doesn't look to have minced any words about his thoughts on Vista during a recent interview with the Financial Times Deutschland, reportedly telling the publication that "the entire industry is disappointed by Windows Vista." As if that wasn't a big enough shot across the bow, Lanci further went on to say that it's "not going to change in the second half of this year," adding that "I really don't think that someone has bought a new PC specifically for Vista." Lanci apparently didn't have quite everything out of his system just yet though, also lambasting Vista for not being ready when it was released, saying that "stability is certainly a problem." We some suspect he won't be too pleased with Microsoft's recent pronouncements on the matter either.

[Jonathan @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:53PM]

Not to pick the little things...but 40 = XL in roman numerals I think...

[paul34 @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:03PM]

LOL. Very correct!

Almost like writing IIII instead of IV

[Jonhimslf @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:04PM]

Not to nitpick someone else's nitpicking, but I think that IIII is acceptable. I think...

[paul34 @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:17PM]

It is, sort of - I think it started as an error on clocks, and become quasi-accepted. However, I still consider IIII on clocks an error.

[Mike Jenkins @ Jul 24th 2007 12:43AM]

Yeah, the clock room in FFVII used IIII instead of IV

[cromas @ Jul 24th 2007 12:51AM]

From what I heard, it was an intentional error on clocks, so that Henry IV wouldn't be commemorated.

[Graeme @ Jul 24th 2007 9:57AM]

the reason IIII is used on clocks is because it is nearly upside-down and therefore for ease of readability it was decided to use IIII instead of the standard IV.

[Todd @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:55PM]

I would have to agree with Mr. Lanci. Why is this in the "Oh no he didn't!!!" category?

[Ethan @ Nov 5th 2009 9:34PM]

It's there because it's an insult. The title of this recurring section comes from a stereotypical post-insult 'in the hood' phrase. e.g. 'yo mama so fat, she doesn't walk, she orbits!' 'oh no he dih-nt!'

And those guys/gays are all probably passive-aggressive types with a benz, so I guess it's for humour.

[DBX00 @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:56PM]

Last time I checked Vista was selling pretty well. Maybe Acer should take a look at their hardware b/c everyone else is doing pretty well as far as computer hardware sales. Corporate america takes a few years to upgrade their systems, so you aren't going to see people run out and jump to buy a new system specifically for Vista. Until you show people something Vista or new hardware can do that past hardware can't it won't push the market any further.

[Leonard Nimrod @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:11PM]

M

[Carlos @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:17PM]

Lanci wanted Vista to come out and boost hardware sales similar to what Apple experiences every time they release an update to OSX.

He is well aware that Acer is doing well on its own - but he points out that the entire PC manufacture industry was hoping for something exciting from Vista that would get consumers in the stores and buying new hardware to run Vista on.

[Victor @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:05PM]

I'd have to disagree with him. I've installed vista on several computers already, 2 of which I use all day long and I've had no problems with it. The stability is rock solid, every program runs perfectly well, my games all run well, and I like the interface a little better than XP. Although I don't count as the industry I guess.

[Evan @ Jul 23rd 2007 8:36PM]

I've enjoyed Vista ever since I installed it onto my laptop. Ironically, I haven't had any battery life shortage either.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Vista as far as I can tell, it does everything I want it to. It hasn't crashed ever so I am unsure of the stability issues. Also, so far it is much more secure than XP or OS X was at this stage in its life.

I think the real issue is his sales aren't as high as he wants them and blames the OS of all reasons. Any consumer that buys new hardware solely for the purpose of getting a new OS is a n00b. That just seems like a total waste of cash!

[iforgot @ Jul 23rd 2007 9:01PM]

I had to buy a new computer, which came with Vista. I try to keep an open mind. So far I find it takes several steps to do any common task, and even though I was barely using the computer and certainly not opening anonymous files, it still had a virus after the first week from just sitting there (somehow a virus hit got on via file share, apparently there is a long unpatched RPC exploit). Yes, I had disabled the user controls security, believing the cure was worse than the disease, but now I truly understand Windows security is hopeless and people will always have to waste a lot of their time on security, the fact people accept this is pathetic.

After using a Mac and even Linux I just cannot believe how much extra effort is involved. Everything is being dumbed down into "centres." I get the impression MS is laying a groundwork for vendors to provide a customized experience without so many clicks, but maybe there aren't enough suckers willing to fall into this MS controlled trap.

I will never willingly buy a Windows computer again. The only thing interesting in Vista is the Internet orientation - at least they can learn after misunderstanding the Internet so badly in the early 90s - but I think it will end up biting them as users organize and people realize how many workarounds are involved.

[paul34 @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:04PM]

Well, I know I've been disappointed by Vista, for sure. In fact, if I had to buy a new system now, I would probably install XP onto it.

[kaztm @ Jul 23rd 2007 9:24PM]

I bought Vista Ultimate in March, but I haven't even opened the package. Some critical software are not supported and I cannot upgrade.

[Dan @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:15PM]

IV is the same thing as IIII, but I don't think that applies for XL.. maybe.

[Homeboy @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:05PM]

Hahahahahaha what an Ass he is. You know I'm disapointed with Acer for not supporting their customers by developing proper Vista drivers. A buddy of my got Vista ultimate for free from school but couldn't get it to function properly because he lacked drivers for some of the components in his laptop.

Oh BTW I even bought Vista and installed on my Vista capable Pavilion dv9074 and love it. Vista Media Center is splendid and the whole OS is the biggest improvement since Windows 95.

[Rick @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:06PM]

I wouldn't piss that guy off....He looks like the type that would fit you with a new pair of concrete shoes

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:50PM]

He looks like Danny DeVito's older brother...Lanny.

(But don't tell him I said that!)

[Randy @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:07PM]

If he's so disappointed by it, why do Acer computers have Vista preinstalled? Why not just stick with XP?

[vistauser @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:08PM]

Ditto. I've been using Vista for a couple months and love it! I consider myself part of the Industry.

:-)

[BananaBoat @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:15PM]

Vista is selling like hotcakes. This is just another example of how out of touch the vendors really are with the actual sales figures. Do I enjoy vista? It's alright, nothing to write home about, but surely the sales show that it's selling through the roof

[nikster @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:08PM]

By what measure is Vista selling like hotcakes? It's not like ppl buying a new PC have a choice. Therefore, the logical measure to apply is whether or not people run to buy new PCs in order to have Vista. And in that regard it's a failure b/c very few are doing that. At the same time many buyers of new PCs even go through the trouble of demanding WinXP instead.

I can see why too - Vista doesn't really add anything over XP apart from new graphics. I would happily use it in fact if it was just XP with new graphics, but the many little worsifications of the user interface - the general Vista-nag-factor - have made me hate it. UAC is as offensive as it is stupid, and it's just the tip of the iceberg.

[Raid-5 @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:24PM]

If he think Vista is SXXT

how about making a better OS on their own?

[3rdsun @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:27PM]

Is this the X-rated edition cuz someone seems to be f**ked over

[Johan S @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:39PM]

The main problem with Vista is the price they're charging for it. Anyway, it's their business. I guess it'll be interesting to watch as Macs take over the PC market because even budget PC's had to have third rate hardware that makes Windows (and brand name PC vendors too) look bad.

[Aaron @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:54PM]

You said it Johan. I really like Apple's answer: "How much does it cost to do all of this? $129."

That said, MS really should not be charging that much for an OS. An OS shouldn't "do" anything except get out of the way and let the user do what they need their system to do.

Anybody's OS, including Apple's should be as simple as possible, running in the background, unnoticed. Like Linux.

We're in the days when, thanks to marketing, the OS is more important than the applications that run on them.

[KC @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:41PM]

Good to know that his marketing department lied to him before Vista was released, and said that they were going to sell more because of Vista, and gave themselves a raise. Now that they are not selling as much as anticipated, they blame it on Vista. If your own sales forecast sucks, blame it on Microsoft. Way to go. I bet he's got a fun time trying to convince his shareholders otherwise.

[silentk @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:55PM]

I don't see why he is complaining about vista. I get over 20 vista machines through my office each week, and the Acers have the worst time with it. That "empowering technology" crap that Acer pre-loads loves to give my customers grief. the recovery and data manager are the worst, locking up everything from windows to msn messenger. trick is, you get rid of the "empowering technology" crap, you lose your option to recover from windows.

if Acer is going to nag and complain about Vista, maybe they should have a look at fixing their own crap first. just maybe.

[Brian Teeters @ Aug 16th 2007 3:40PM]

I find it super funny that ACER is the one complaining about Vista, I just bought about 15 acer aspire L200's and they all came preloaded with vista and all their crappy software, these are for a buisness mind you so Vista just isn't all that great for buisness computing ( to many issues in migrating active directory roaming profiles) so I formated on and went to install XP on them well i look at the acer website( which sucks my balls ) and there are no XP drivers so I give them a call and they tell me that windows XP is no longer supported by any new Acer PC's. So i called my sales rep and demanded a refund for the computers that I couldn't use since he specifly told me that they would run XP no problem well after about 2 weeks of hassle I got a burned disc in the mail from ACER with all of the XP drivers and uttilities i guess myself and others made such a stink that they actually created an XP installer for the Aspire L series the funny part is that all the drivers work but none of their crapyy software works.

[Ahmed Karam @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:54PM]

acer sucks my balls i had an acer ferrari and it was the crapiest computer i ever bought, and it was expensive too, i will never buy an acer again, now i have a sony vaio sz and im super happy with it! ohh and i have vista, and i think its great, yeah there are some bugs, but its way better than xp.

[Ant @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:57PM]

I’m on XP and having had a play with Vista down PCWorld it seems to be, how can I put this, crap. XP is ok I get into files/applications fast without much eye candy to slow me down, my work gets done. Vista reminds me of the Internet when webmasters first got their hands on Flash, It was frigin everywhere jamming up your browser. By the time you've watched files blending up and down you forget what you were doing in the first place. Apple seems to do this thing so well and MS, well, simply don't. Stick to what you know MS, drop the glass buttons, reflections, blend animations other people are doing it much better. Saying all this I don't really know what I want, a Mac that I can take apart and mend, ow, I don't know.

[Chris @ Jul 23rd 2007 8:38PM]

Mac Pro?

[Oban @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:11PM]

Ubuntu still free and far more user friendly. Just saying...

[Mike @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:19PM]

Linux isn't the answer to everyones problems, and vista is a damn fine OS, theres plenty of drivers for hardware...if you cant find them blame your hardware vendor not Microsoft and possibly dont buy the 2 dollar ethernet card spend a little money and get hardware that is properly supported. and maybe, just maybe if people actually sat down and used vista on a day to day basis instead of reading what other people who have only used the OS once have written then they might actually like it too

[Sam @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:40PM]

maybe acer should take a look at their retail line of computers before criticizing ANYTHING else... god those things are just terrible. the gemstone has great specs but is the ugliest and worst built laptop ive seen in years... and i know, they have a high-end line, but that is no excuse for their "budget" models to be terrible.

[kev @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:44PM]

Sit down, kiddo. If you don't want to pay for an operating system, you don't need all the Adobe applications under the sun, or you need a development environment and you have more than just a few brain cells, Ubuntu is fine.

If you're bitter about not being able to every single game...get a real job and occupy yourself, and *gasp* go outside on the weekends!

[Señor Swanky @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:59PM]

He is SOOOoOooOOOoooOOOooo not getting a Christmas card this year!

[Barry @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:59PM]

There's enough difference in the Vista UI that if I were going to pick out a new computer for my parents (and I will) I'd have to teach them how to use it.

The problem with that is, if I'm going to sit them down and walk them through a new OS all over again, I may as well just get them on OS X or Ubuntu. Dell is still selling XP (for now) so I'm not forced to make this choice yet, but when the time comes I think I'm going to get them on Ubuntu. Vista is just ridiculous, a pain in the ass, and offers no significant improvements for the average mom 'n pop users. Picking Ubuntu knocks at least $100 off the price tag, and this might not seem like much until you realize you can get a complete desktop system with it for $329 (!). The Vista systems are more like $499 and up.

[Danny @ Jul 23rd 2007 8:17PM]

Whatever vista's problems, the truth is that NO ONE would give a shit what this guy says about anything if he weren't bashing it. The first time I ever heard of him he was whining about vista trying to explain away acer's crappy quarter despite the fact that hp had already annouced a great one.

[Samo @ Jul 23rd 2007 8:08PM]

I've got a few comps in my home (hey, many peeps in this household, and this comp has, eeerrr, "sensitive" stuff on it), and my main computer (this one) runs Vista, the others on XP pro.

I have to say, I do prefer Vista now that I've sat down and played with it, and the main good thing is the new start menu with a search built in. It feels a little bit faster (but maybe that's the hardware too), and setting up my networked stuff was far easier than on the XP comps (I didn't even have to install a program for my WD netcentre network hard drive). I don't see much wrong with Vista, many a few driver and game issues, but XP had that at the beggining too.

Acre, OTH, is a piece of s**t... My first lappie was an Acer and it sucked hardcore... Last time I used there h/w, so I don't know if they have improve their POS h/w.

[gheeren @ Jul 23rd 2007 8:22PM]

That guy can talk smack about somebody else's products the day his products don't suck ass.
I bought a $2500 TravelMate 8200 and had to listen to screws rattling around inside it until they finally fell out. I could send it in to be repaired, except their turn around time is about 2 weeks.
Of all the people to start bitching about Vista it sure as hell shouldn't be that pack of idiots.
Acer, never again.

[Pablo @ Jul 23rd 2007 8:43PM]

Just bought a new thinkpad with xp....although vista's media center is nice, it doesn't really make sense for a laptop. Also, my xbox/xbmc is still running strong. Yeah, Vista has some nice eye candy, but after the lust wears off...I could not find a compelling reason to migrate from XP. I have yet to find a widget that I need all the time.

It is nice to know that with my 2GB of memory, XP will hum....can't say the same with vista.

[myles @ Jul 23rd 2007 9:04PM]

hmmm, maybe i shouldn't wait for vista SP1, and just get a lenova with XP while they still have em..

[Haruki @ Jul 25th 2007 5:52AM]

Hmm.. Last time I checked, Acer was pretty inept at handling Vista: Most of their drivers aren't on the website, Half the time the hardware they use doesn't work properly with Vista, Their site is a pain to navigate(not as bad as e-machines but still!!). This is coming from a Tech who has to work on them all the time. I hate Acer.

[tekdroid @ Jul 26th 2007 2:45PM]

like the patch you have to find to get Live Messenger working for clients...

Acer has a WHOLE lot of work to do to aid in the user experience, IMO.

[AaronZ @ Jul 23rd 2007 10:41PM]

Something's wrong with this picture... Sure, the first Windows releases have issues, but, for the most part, they've each ended up creating huge opportunities for the hardware, software and services guys (not to mention adding job security for the it team). IDC recently updated a report that they did on the forecast for Vista - 150M PCs installed by the end of 2008. We're talking about billions of dollars that will be created and Acer stands to gain if they are properly positioned. Here's a link to the report: http://itanalystreports.com/rss/2007/03/12/merrill-lynch-one-laptop-per-child-another-blue-sea-or-a-bubble-march-2007-10-pages/

[brynn @ Jul 23rd 2007 10:27PM]

I bought a new Toshiba laptop in January, and while I have enjoyed my new computer, I think Vista slows it down significantly. If I had discs for XP, I would have installed it instead of Vista long ago. The graphics are pretty, but who cares when they are the main reason it takes so much memory to run the thing. Plus, all the little pop-up windows asking repeatedly for permission to do things is frustrating. I also don't like that the pop-down menus for windows like "open" save the last several folders I've opened, instead of just having the usual, main folders available like Desktop, My Documents, etc.

Kudos to windows for trying to make improvements, but Apple still wins the customer satisfaction ratings by leaps and bounds in my opinion. My next computer is definitely going to be a Mac.