Microsoft New Zealand is usingbrand new private residence and small
business office" in a secret location overlooking Wellington
harbour. They are also giving away free notebook computers to influential
bloggers to help build enthusiasm for the official launch of Windows
Vista next week.
Microsoft claims the launch kick off events series around Windows
Vista and Office 2007 showcase an "unprecedented" range
of technology, including a house-wide digital entertainment and
home security system. Their aim is to demonstrate the practical
impact of Vista on people's working and home lives.
Software sales in New Zealand are supplemented by instances where
it is pre-installed on personal computers shipped to New Zealand
by multinationals such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo.
Bloggers have been extremely vocal in their criticism of Windows
Vista's power-hungry hardware requirements and are blase about its
extra features. To help overcome this, Microsoft has given away
Acer Ferrari 5000 notebook computers with Vista installed, valued
at $3400 to $4800, to influential online commentators around the
world, including New Zealander Mauricio Freitas, founder of online
forum Geekzone.
Analysts believe Vista will require most personal computersto be
replaced; requiring a minimum gigabyte of memory. I am sure that
laptop and desktop PC companies are running their hands together,
but I wouldn't bet the bank that corporates will be following the
path any time soon. Many of the multi-media supporting features
in Windows Vista do little to enhance the work productivity of standard
corporate tasks.
According to Microsoft New Zealand software upgrades account for
12 per cent of the PC market. They expect this to be exceeded with
Windows Vista.
To help communities get a grip of the expanded computing capabilities
Windows Vista offers, Microsoft is investing heavily in its "Partners
in Learning" programme to help teachers become more conversant
with technologies used in businesses.
New Zealand, once a leading adopter of new technologies, has fallen
into stagnant growth in recent years. Perhaps that's a signal to
Microsoft that enough is enough and too much, well, it just isn't
impressive.
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