Best Buy memo explains that Vista doesn't work, details Windows 7 upgrade plans
By Darren Murph 
posted Jun 5th 2009 11:44AM
posted Jun 5th 2009 11:44AM
"Microsoft is launching Windows 7 in mid-October 2009. This new operating system isn't just a "Vista that works" program - it's a new operating system with improved productivity, functionality and creativity that uses less computer resources."Never mind the fact that we never knew an OS could posses "improved productivity" -- how about admitting that Vista, in effect, doesn't "work." Moving on, the note also makes clear that any PC sold with Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate between June 26th and the Windows 7 launch day (October 22nd) will be eligible for a free upgrade to Win7. Better still, the individual OSes also qualify for the update, and starting on June 26th, Best Buy will begin "pre-selling" the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade ($49.99) and the Windows 7 Professional Upgrade ($99.99). Have a look at the full letter below, and if you've come here for advice, here's the best we've got: don't buy a PC at Best Buy until June 26th.
oh no they di'int!
Actually I don't think they did, Engadget seems to be reading this in their own little way as I read it and it doesn't imply what Darren seems to be implying. The letter says that Windows 7 is NOT a version of Vista which just works, it is saying that it is an improvement - that doesn't mean that they are explaining that Vista doesn't work, it seems to be saying the opposite. Also, an operating system can easily "posses" improved productivity - the ability to do tasks quicker.
This is good news, and the free upgrade from June 26th is great, since a lot of cool new laptops and pc's are coming out in the near future, before Win7 is released. I dont know why engadget is saying it like its a bad thing.
By saying Win7 "isn't just a 'Vista that works'", the memo directly implies that Vista doesn't work. If that wasn't the case, a "Vista that works" would be Vista.
Yes this is within the same journalistic quality as 25c gossip magazine... Nice job!
@hohmes
It is. That's the point.
You guys can claim bias all you want, but it was BB who used the phrase "vista that works" not the author.
And as hohmes points out, that is a tacit suggestion that Vista doesn't work.
I happen to disagree, I like vista, though I like 7 better.
Warom, is twisting things however, The letter has "vista that works" in quotes preceded buy the word "just".
It's kind of sad how a blog like this has to resort to what amounts to officially sanctioned trolling to get more ad-revenue.
Fortunately, that's what getting placed back on AdBlock Plus blacklist is for.
jon: With a little bit of reading comprehension it's fairly easy to see that you're wrong. The key word in the sentence is "isn't". Windows 7 ISNT just "vista that works." They're saying that because the press has been telling everyone for so long that vista doesn't work and now is saying that windows 7 works really well so customers might think that Windows 7 is just a new version of vista that "works". This letter is telling employees that that isn't the case and it shouldn't be sold as that.
@ jon
The author said "how about admitting that Vista, in effect, doesn't "work."
Seems like bias + poor comprehension + bad writing.
Come on Engadget!
I usually give you guys the benefit of the doubt when it comes to all this "MS hate junk" -- but this post is destined to become one of those unforgettable classics people link twenty times over...
@Mark
Nice spin, now that we've covered basic reading comprehension, lets move to the advanced course.
We'll do this with an analogy: The new acura isn't just a "honda that's fast" car.
This is true, in addition to having a larger engine the, acura has add'l luxury and safety features that make it superior.
These add'l features, do not however change the fact that the original statement suggests that Hondas are slow.
Nor does that fact that win7 is not just a bug fix of vista(as many have suggested) change the meaning of BB's comment.
Funny, I'm typing this with a PC running Vista, seems be working fine here. Windows 7 I'm sure will be an improvement but Vista isn't broke.
@Dirty
I'll give you that, he should have used the word suggesting, rather than admitting.
Anyone who admits that vista doesn't work, hasn't used it.
Luckily this site is free, if not i would of canceled subscription because of stupid ass articles like this POS. I mean really?
I'm sorry, did I miss the explination for how Vista doesn't work? Or is this just more typical Engadget anti-microsoft hate speak? Funny, Engadget doesn't mind taking Microsofts advertising money though.
ex⋅plain
–verb
To give reason for something.
To make clear the cause or reason of.
To make known in detail.
To make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible.
LOL @ all the Microsoft nut-hangers getting their panties in a bunch. And you say the Apple crowd is bad. Pathetic.
Yeah, I think it's a bit of editorializing there...
Though I will admit, I didn't see the headline, but my eyes skimmed over the words in the Best Buy release and first read it as ".. a Windows Vista that just works!" and I was like, holy crap, did they really say that? Then I re-read it, and realized they didn't.
I've got Windows 7 in a VM on my hackintosh, and it.... well, it boots. Looks okay I guess. Can't really figure out what I'm supposed to do with it. All the apps I want run in OS X, I'm not a gamer, and games wouldn't work well in a VM on a laptop anyway. Seems like some of the configuration items in 7 have been cleaned up (versus XP; I never used Vista).. but they continue to over-stylize and try to over-simplify things with wizards and autoconfiguration that is maddenly confusing to anyone who ACTUALLY knows what they're doing.
And people used to say Apple dumbs things down.. you have to learn a whole new language to understand Microsoft's version of the world.
"Other retailers will also offer the presell, but they will not be able to compete with or Geek Squad services offerings in addition to the presell offerings"
How could that guy type that with a straight face? My guess is he didn't.
But he is right, no one can compete with the mass incompetence known as Geek Squad.
@Mark: The key part(s) aren't only "isn't" but rather "isn't JUST", so in essence it's saying Windows 7 isn't only a Vista that actually works but much more than that...and it goes on to say it improves this, that and the other etc.... So yes, it is saying that Vista doesn't work, which I happen to disagree with as I like Vista and had very few issues with it.
@Jon: Your reading comprehension seems to be right on the money.
I am seeing that people are arguing about the emphasis of the word "isn't". However, what about following the word "isn't" with "just"? They could have said "Windows 7 isn't a Vista that works, but instead a whole new blah blah blah experience productivity etc etc" What they DID say was "Windows 7 isn't just..." which means not only is it a Vista that works, but has additional traits as well, and perhaps BB felt that those additional traits are being overlooked, and it is being viewed only as a "Vista that works."
Fools! The emphasis is on JUST not on ISN'T! Bwahahaha! This is silly @_@
Hey Engadget - how about actually reporting on the NEWS in this article.
Kinda like:
FRESHLY LEAKED: UPGRADE PRICING FOR WINDOWS 7
and
DATE FOR WIN 7 AUTO-UPGRADES LEAKED: JUNE 26
D. Murph - you FAIL at posting news... once again
Mark & Mark: your MS apologetics are obviously more advanced than your reading comprehension. Good grief. The implication in the Best Buy blurb is *clear* to anyone with a 6th grade reading level, no "hack job" by the author required. And Jon very aptly explained this.
You can argue whether or not Windows 7 really is "Vista that works," but you chose to attack the messenger and not the message. Nice work.
Astroturf Different.
Wow, apparently they'll let any old ahole blog for Engadget now.
Great spin on a leaked document man, GREAT spin.
I think that the Microsoft marketing guys should use the phrase, "Vista that works". I like it and It rolls off the tongue nicely.
True, but for Microsoft to openly admit the debacle that was Vista invites consumers to start lining up and all demanding their free Windows 7 upgrades. Microsoft wants people to pay for Windows 7, and implying that they would be buying an operating system again just to get something that Microsoft (at the time) said already worked would anger a lot of consumers.
PS3: The XBox that Works
PS3: the PS2 that shed 70% of its market share.
Please make Egadget Comment section "just work".
Well something like this was bound to come out. I mean OEM's are probably count the day they can add Windows 7, and remove both Vista and XP from their options for good.
I don't think it has anything to do with whether vista "works" or not. Windows 7 has positive buzz, and Vista has always had--merited or not--a stigma.
Retailers are expecting higher hardware sales once Windows 7 launches.
Honestly, I don't think it reads that way you're implying at all. They're trying to push that fact that this is more than just a Vista-redux -- it's better across the board, not just Vista 2.0 (or whatever).
Lookin' for hits, Engadget?
Exactly. Darren is either a complete dumbass or an unreptentant FUD spreader.
Can't we just down-rank the article? It's one of the worst posts I've seen in a while.
@ Malweran
Yeah, I'd love that option. If they had the guts to introduce that feature I'm guessing 3/4s of all articles would be grayed out. Let's see how many troll posts we'll get after that.
Unfortunately, there are too many fanboys to allow ranking of articles. What Engadget needs is a senior editor that actually reviews the blog posts to make sure they aren't just a product of someone's imagination or poor reading comprehension skills.
>> What Engadget needs is a senior editor
Like, say, an editor-in-chief?
"Never mind the fact that we never knew an OS could posses "improved productivity" "
is this quote a joke? because tons of mac fanboys always claim that osx makes them more productive; and i know all the engadget people use macs.... so....
OSes nowadays include lots of things that aren't just operating systems. They include things like search features, and a ton of utility apps like mail programs. These apps and improvements can indeed increase productivity my streamlining your workflow. MS probably exaggerates how much, but it is true.
" improved productivity "
for me means not having to reboot at least once a day
fanboi out
I'm most excited about the "increased creativity." I didn't know that this would be shipping with mind altering chemicals.
@hangfire
I have XP and reboot only once a month.
@chan
leopard eats xp eats vista
Don't know about leopard, but I've heard that Vista is actually more stable and less wonky on the proper system.
It's just sad that most consumer windows laptops come so underspec'd and with horrible trialware/monitoring apps pre-installed. Apple definitely has a leg up, in that respect.
@Chan
I meant more stable and less wonky than XP.
@Chan @hangfire
I'm running Vista Business on my primary workstation... I only reboot maybe once a month or more, and most of the time thats because of a loss of power or I shut it down because i'm leaving for a few days. Never had a problem with it (even at launch...)
Vista "works" fine, it's just that saying it doesn't is the new cool-kids meme, kindof like spelling Microsoft with a dollar sign.
It doesn't help when that sentiment is drummed up by pseudo-news puff pieces... like this one...
+1 more reasons Windows rules the OS world. Yes?
ummmmm NO
@mark anderson
that was a very articulate rebuff of my alleged trolling, NOT
@mark anderson
"automatically lose"
i must have misplaced my rule book
and i was thinking of killing myself, but i thought posting would be more fun
@hangfire
Why don't you just do both, auto blogging asphyxiation should do the trick. We all win....
I think the 'vista that works' "program" they are referring to would be a marketing program. That is, this sentence says MS isn't just putting a new marketing spin on the same software (i.e. the Mojave ads), but some actual new software.
Cheetah
Puma
Jaguar
Panther
Tiger
Leopard
..... who cares what ms pulls next, not me.
Then don't bother posting.
@sonic earth
i just can't say no,
hangfire, that means you're an addict.
No one in their right mind would accept advice from an addict.
PS. BTW Darren, Vista does in fact "work". Well it does have a built in IQ detector and BSODS when IQ falls below 10.
mac ftw!!
@shyam d
would you take advice from a tech addict?
Please stop it. As a Mac user you're making me look like an asshole by proxy.
What happens when you run out of cat names?
When is OSX Pussycat coming out?
lots of cat names,
i like "saber tooth"
osx pussycat might contain viruses
...Pussy OSX
That's the next one.
Pussy OSeX
but seriously, i heard it might be called Snow Leopard
90% of the population that doesnt want to pay double for half the specs.
"Best Buy will begin a Technology Guarantee June 26th, which guarantees customers a free Windows 7 operating system with PC purchase between June 26th and the Windows 7 launch day"
Hell Yeah!! This is a pretty smart move on their part.
The same type of program was done with Vista.
@slinky, no it was not. You had to pay for it (~$15). Trust me, I worked there, sold PC's and bought one at that time...It was a pain in the ass because the upgrade came from the manufacturer in the form of restore disks, which included bloatware. I ended up DL'ing a Vista image and using my key so it would be a clean install.
There's a reason why many businesses strip off Vista and install XP on their corporate machines ... I have a feeling that Windows 7 is as much a "Sorry, we f*cked up" to Vista as XP was for that mess that was Windows ME.
I've heard good things about Windows 7 though I wish I had the tenacity and patience to work through learning to use Linux; since I don't, I'm sure I'll be upgrading.
Yes, it is called incompetent IT staffers.
As for the company where I work, Vista is preferred.
Just the ability to control allowed USB device types and having User switching on domain accounts makes Vista better in our environment.
Any company concerned about security (ant not just the virus/trojan type) would be wise to move on from XP.
Windows 7 is more similar to Windows Vista than Windows XP was to Windows ME.
Windows ME was in the Windows 95/98 family, while Windows XP came from Windows NT/2000. XP and ME have two very different lineages that diverged back in the days of Windows 3.0.
I'd sure like to see an unbiased study that shows windows 7 does all that while using less resources than Vista.
Vista is quite stable and works well. Maybe they should turn on windows update and use it.
see that, vista doesnt work. i told you so...
OS X ftw!
See above. What kind of reaction are you hoping for posting something like that in a Windows article?
GOOGLE APPLE
i mean
GOAPPLE
Oooooooh BURN!
The company that makes Vista will be so annoyed that the company that makes Windows 7 is getting their customers....oh wait.
Well its about time that someone else notices that Vista Is not the best thing that windows has made.
And I have Been running the windows 7 RC for about the past 6 months and I find it to be far more productive than vista and im running it on a XP system.
I think its good that the memo leaked.
"And I have Been running the windows 7 RC for about the past 6 months and I find it to be far more productive than vista and im running it on a XP system."
You find your operating system to be more productive than Vista and it's windows 7 on XP??
What?
If you're running windows 7, you're running it on a windows 7 machine, not XP. You'd have to be running XP to be running it on an XP machine.
not to put words in his mouth but, he's saying that he's running 7 on a computer that was originally built to run XP (ie an XP machine)
Vista was (should have) been only certified for higher spec machines (ultimate MS fail on this one - the only reason Vista got a bad name)
Like him i'm using an 'XP' machine (5 year old alienware - P4 3.0 gHz, AGP 8x,DDR ram) with Win7RC and am enjoying it immensely.
$49.99 for the upgrade? Sounds like a very fair deal to me.
It's also a significant price cut from Vista.
Vista Home Premium Upgrade is $129.99. I doubt Best Buy would have a special price.
@ future
Actually, if you read the memo, it's part of a promotion that runs through the 11th of july, I'm guessing that the $49.99 is a special pre-order price.
Special pre-order price aside, its still the cheapest windows upgrade since 3.11 for workgroups. If they're willing to flaunt the $50 price tag -now- then think what they'll be pricing Win7 upgrade in 2 years?
This is the really big news. The only thing better would be a 5 license home pack for $200.
I was surprised that the price tag wasn't the main point of the post, but I guess flame-baiting is more important on WWDC day.
Vista works great I have it on three machines that edit photos, record music and edit video. I also use macs as I am a professional in these feilds and despite what people who spent too much for their machines think they work the same albeit a mac boots faster. In the end there is no way to tell if a project was done using windows or mac. It has more to do with the hardware than the software. Yes vista is a bit bloated but it works very well. And guess what in professional applications macs crash and lock just as much as the pcs do. So just stop trying to mac yourself feel better for spending so much money admit you just like the way it looks better and reailize that at the end of the day if the work is done it dosent matter on which machine.
for those who say vista works, how do you compare the performance of the following with an XP system
i) Searching for a file in windows explorer
ii) Opening windows explorer
iii) Windows explorer
iv) Windows vista
i: infinitely better
ii: I don't commonly open windows explorer given that is starts automatically when you log in...(and pretty much never crashes unlike in xp)
iii: repeat of the previous question?
iv: I'm not even sure what you mean by this how do I compare windows vista on windows vista vs. windows vista on xp?
Maybe it's more like Vista works but it just seems like a patch for Windows XP. Let's just move straight to Windows 7 and forget Vista ever happened.
I wouldn't say vista doesnt work, i think vista doesnt work for microsoft or bestbuy on the profit part... but, xp works better than vista and for many people including me, xp works better than vista and windows 7 in a lot of ways...
How does xp work better than 7 for you?
How about Engadget admits that Leopard "doesn't work". The majority of the time I've used it it locks up and gives me a spinning beach ball for no reason. Oh and how about shipping with the firewall turned off?
Vista works fine now, it was the bad press that did it in.
Vista on release day WAS garbage. But as of now I have 0 problems with it.
With the exception of the STUPID network connections GUI. Whoever thought
of that should be dragged into the street and shot.
Slanderous bullshit. Again. Thanks for the info on the pricing, though.
Anyone else remember the horrible transition from 98/ME to XP? No? Funny.
Another great post from Engadget about Windows; I'm glad this is where I go to understand personal computing.
I've been running Vista64 on both my laptop and desktop for about a year and a half and I love it.
See above. What kind of reaction are you hoping for posting something like that in a Windows article?