For the past seven months, Microsoft has offered computer manufacturers guidelines for PCs that will run Windows Vista.
September 12, 2006 (Press Release) --
For the past seven months, Microsoft has offered computer manufacturers guidelines on color, shape and other design elements for PCs that will run Windows Vista.
This may sound like mere window dressing compared to the five years of effort poured into developing the company's flagship operating system, but computer design is of no small consequence to Microsoft.
"By far most [Windows] sales are attached to new PCs, so Microsoft has a vested interest in ensuring that the entire PC package is compelling enough to draw in users," said Steve Kleynhans, vice president of Gartner's Client Platforms Group. "If the operating system looks good, but the PC looks bland and uninteresting ... consumers won't be as interested in buying a new machine or Vista."
More than 80 percent of the revenue Microsoft generates from Windows sales comes from computer manufacturers who pre-install versions of the operating system on machines they sell. That sales channel was worth at least $10.5 billion to the company in the last fiscal year, according to Microsoft's most recent annual report.
By the same token, Vista is important to PC makers. Microsoft's decision to delay broad availability of Vista until January is costing the industry an estimated $4 billion in sales this year, according to Gartner.
Microsoft's internal-hardware group already has announced a wireless, backlit keyboard to complement Vista and is expected to introduce more new mice and keyboards at an event later this week.
As to the PC itself, the company would not provide details on its design guidelines beyond a prepared statement.
"We created a beautiful Windows Vista [user interface] and wanted to be sure our partners knew how to translate it to hardware design," Microsoft said.
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The full story is here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003253046_vistadesign11.html
This may sound like mere window dressing compared to the five years of effort poured into developing the company's flagship operating system, but computer design is of no small consequence to Microsoft.
"By far most [Windows] sales are attached to new PCs, so Microsoft has a vested interest in ensuring that the entire PC package is compelling enough to draw in users," said Steve Kleynhans, vice president of Gartner's Client Platforms Group. "If the operating system looks good, but the PC looks bland and uninteresting ... consumers won't be as interested in buying a new machine or Vista."
More than 80 percent of the revenue Microsoft generates from Windows sales comes from computer manufacturers who pre-install versions of the operating system on machines they sell. That sales channel was worth at least $10.5 billion to the company in the last fiscal year, according to Microsoft's most recent annual report.
By the same token, Vista is important to PC makers. Microsoft's decision to delay broad availability of Vista until January is costing the industry an estimated $4 billion in sales this year, according to Gartner.
Microsoft's internal-hardware group already has announced a wireless, backlit keyboard to complement Vista and is expected to introduce more new mice and keyboards at an event later this week.
As to the PC itself, the company would not provide details on its design guidelines beyond a prepared statement.
"We created a beautiful Windows Vista [user interface] and wanted to be sure our partners knew how to translate it to hardware design," Microsoft said.
--
The full story is here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003253046_vistadesign11.html
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