Best Buy memo explains that Vista doesn't work, details Windows 7 upgrade plans

Ouch. We're guessing this is one that the suits at Best Buy would like to have back. A leaked company memo detailing how the retailer will handle Windows 7 upgrades has accidentally given the world a tasty tidbit to opine upon. The note starts off as such:

"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.

Gallery: Best Buy memo explains that Vista doesn't work, details Windows 7 upgrade plans

• 

[crawdad689 @ Jun 5th 2009 11:46AM]

oh no they di'int!

[Warom @ Jun 5th 2009 12:04PM]

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.

[ImaYam @ Jun 5th 2009 12:06PM]

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.

[hohmes @ Jun 5th 2009 12:20PM]

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.

[Mini Jobs @ Jun 5th 2009 12:20PM]

Yes this is within the same journalistic quality as 25c gossip magazine... Nice job!

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 5th 2009 12:24PM]

@hohmes

It is. That's the point.

[jon @ Jun 5th 2009 12:40PM]

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".

[Amrosorma @ Jun 5th 2009 12:41PM]

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.

[Mark @ Jun 5th 2009 12:53PM]

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.

[DirtyVegas @ Jun 5th 2009 12:58PM]

@ jon

The author said "how about admitting that Vista, in effect, doesn't "work."

Seems like bias + poor comprehension + bad writing.

[ByronGman @ Jun 5th 2009 1:04PM]

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...

[jon @ Jun 5th 2009 1:14PM]

@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.

[SeNiLe911 @ Jun 5th 2009 1:15PM]

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.

[jon @ Jun 5th 2009 1:19PM]

@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.

[Jack Storm @ Jun 5th 2009 1:25PM]

Luckily this site is free, if not i would of canceled subscription because of stupid ass articles like this POS. I mean really?

[Jagster @ Jun 5th 2009 1:30PM]

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.

[RobertT @ Jun 5th 2009 1:52PM]

LOL @ all the Microsoft nut-hangers getting their panties in a bunch. And you say the Apple crowd is bad. Pathetic.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jun 5th 2009 1:57PM]

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.

[inteller @ Jun 5th 2009 2:03PM]

"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.

[Rob @ Jun 5th 2009 2:08PM]

@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.

[Kiv @ Jun 5th 2009 4:32PM]

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 @_@

[Phenoum @ Jun 5th 2009 4:32PM]

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

[Quix @ Jun 5th 2009 5:06PM]

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.

[Neoprimal @ Jun 5th 2009 4:49PM]

Wow, apparently they'll let any old ahole blog for Engadget now.

Great spin on a leaked document man, GREAT spin.

[Fade2blac @ Jun 5th 2009 11:49AM]

I think that the Microsoft marketing guys should use the phrase, "Vista that works". I like it and It rolls off the tongue nicely.

[Vwampage @ Jun 5th 2009 12:59PM]

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.

[Frogboy @ Jun 5th 2009 1:13PM]

PS3: The XBox that Works

[jon @ Jun 5th 2009 1:21PM]

PS3: the PS2 that shed 70% of its market share.

[roach @ Jun 5th 2009 2:19PM]

Please make Egadget Comment section "just work".

[Templarian @ Jun 5th 2009 11:49AM]

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.

[chispito @ Jun 5th 2009 12:49PM]

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.

[Yipcanjo @ Jun 5th 2009 11:49AM]

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?

[Patrick @ Jun 5th 2009 7:05PM]

Exactly. Darren is either a complete dumbass or an unreptentant FUD spreader.

[Malweran @ Jun 5th 2009 12:41PM]

Can't we just down-rank the article? It's one of the worst posts I've seen in a while.

[DirtyVegas @ Jun 5th 2009 12:48PM]

@ 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.

[coffee @ Jun 5th 2009 1:05PM]

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.

[DirtyVegas @ Jun 5th 2009 1:21PM]

>> What Engadget needs is a senior editor

Like, say, an editor-in-chief?

[MaX PL @ Jun 5th 2009 11:50AM]

"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....

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 5th 2009 11:54AM]

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.

[hangfire @ Jun 5th 2009 11:57AM]

" improved productivity "
for me means not having to reboot at least once a day

fanboi out

[ash @ Jun 5th 2009 12:00PM]

I'm most excited about the "increased creativity." I didn't know that this would be shipping with mind altering chemicals.

[Chan @ Jun 5th 2009 12:04PM]

@hangfire

I have XP and reboot only once a month.

[hangfire @ Jun 5th 2009 12:07PM]

@chan

leopard eats xp eats vista

[Chan @ Jun 5th 2009 12:17PM]

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 @ Jun 5th 2009 12:20PM]

@Chan

I meant more stable and less wonky than XP.

[John @ Jun 5th 2009 1:29PM]

@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...)

[Joshua Meadows @ Jun 5th 2009 11:50AM]

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...

[Jimmy Jones @ Jun 5th 2009 11:52AM]

+1 more reasons Windows rules the OS world. Yes?

[hangfire @ Jun 5th 2009 11:55AM]

ummmmm NO

[hangfire @ Jun 5th 2009 12:11PM]

@mark anderson

that was a very articulate rebuff of my alleged trolling, NOT