Fanboy Poll: Microsoft and Xbox brand relationship
In a recent Forrester Research report (covered on Joystiq) examining "the trust that American households place in PC and consumer electronics (CE) brands" Microsoft came in nearly dead last: 20 out of 22. Nintendo's position at 17 out of 22 was hampered by "low brand potential and low brand adoption" while Sony's strong showing at 3 out of 20 was due to "higher trust and higher potential." So what accounts for Microsoft's low showing? From Joystiq:
Microsoft tends to be afforded very little leeway or margin for error. The company hasn't got a ton of trust, at least amongst Internet communities that have for years now vilified the company for real or perceived exploitation of dominant marketshare in the PC software market. Additionally, Microsoft is also the newest of the big three console makers, so it's had less time than the other two to build trust within the gaming segment. We're all still trying to figure out the company's sophomore effort.
As an Apple convert, I have little affection for Microsoft's Windows products and the countless hours I've wasted fixing them. However, as a gamer, I have no problem distinguishing between the Xbox and Microsoft brands. Indeed, I think the scarcity of Microsoft branding on the console is a notable omission. Has the effort been successful ...
