Is XP making a comeback?

On 4/19/2007 a surprising announcement was made by one of the leading computer makers in the world – XP would be offered again on selected Dell models for home and business systems.  Boy, what a reversal of fortunes.  Once Vista hit the market earlier this year, all computer makers switched to the new operating systems for all new computers.

So, what’s up?  Why the switch only four months after the roll out of the latest, greatest from Microevil…ops I mean Microsoft?  Per Dell, they received thousands requests through their Ideas in Action page (customer feedback vehicle) for the option to have a choice of operating systems on new computers.  From a consumer viewpoint, it portrays a message that the public and possibly the manufacturers are not enamored with all the new bells and whistles that Visa provides. 

From all the hype that Microsoft flooded us with about Vista, these new developments by Dell are not good.  I think that Richard Shim a IDC analyst makes a good point about Vista, “That there is remaining demand from some segment of (the) consumer market points to the inability of Vista to resonate with consumers.”  What a true statement. 

For instance, I have an eight-month-old Dell laptop.  When I performed a Vista diagnostics on this “Windows Vista Capable” laptop I found that I would need to upgrade my BIOS and that most of the drivers to my sound card, video card, etc. might not work with Vista.  How can this be!!!!  This brand new machine has the stupid sticker on it stating it’s “Windows Vista Capable,” but in reality it’s not.  What a bunch of hog wash!  No wonder that the public does not embrace this new product.  The great majority of machines in our offices and homes are just plain incompatible — mainly due to hardware and memory issues.

Vista is a good example of a new product hitting the market that might be superior to product it is replacing, but residual cost are too great for the consumer to switch.  Let’s hope that Microsoft learns from this experience and steals a page from Apple in creating an OS that is not only bug free, but has limited impact on the customer’s pocket book.

The Next Day – Weekend of the NFL Draft

After two days of pure sports frenzy, the NFL draft has come to a close.  For most of the male population, this event signifies the opening of the 2007 football season; however, in reality the season is still several months away.  For the die-hard fan it does not matter because the draft allows us football heathens, for a weekend, to become armchair General Managers where aspirations of a Super Bowl victory is a reality in our minds.

What really is remarkable about this two-day event is how it has become such an enormous media event.  Several years ago the draft was not on the average sports fan’s mind except for the most fanatical fans.  I guess the plethora of cable TVs in American homes, the power of ESPN, and the fact that football is the true “American Pastime” have made the draft into a must see TV event.  Not only does ESPN televise it for two days, ESPN also provides eight hours of radio programing on the first day and the NFL Network provides full TV coverage.  These stations are just the tip of the media circus iceberg the draft causes. 

To provide a bit of perspective on how this event has captured us, this year’s event drew around 5.2% of US TV households higher than any other programing on ESPN except for NFL games.  That is incredible!!!  An event that my wife described as “watching paint drying,” has captured a nation’s attention.  What is next…Curling?!?

I am not sure if it is Mel Kiper’s hair, Tony Kornheiser’s whit, or Chris Berman’s funny nicknames that make the draft fun, but my guess is that it’s the drama of the flurry of trades and bad picks by the General Mangers that draw us in like a moth to a flame.

So for one weekend in the spring where every team has a chance to win the Super Bowl and gives us fans the chance to talk smack to our neighbor, I say – LONG LIVE THE DRAFT!!!! 

P.S. – my team the Carolina Panthers had the best draft in this year’s event.  With that said, the Panthers will be back in Super Bowl for a thunderous rematch with the New England Patriots.  28-24 Panthers win!!!  You heard it here first!