[Hidden-tech] How much of the $2 Billion pie is going to be yours?

[Robert Heller]

At Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:28:25 -0500 "Nick Braak" <misterlister at nickbraak.com> wrote:

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> A just released report predicts that the imminent launch of MicrosoftÂ’s
> Windows Vista operating system will generate a staggering $2 Billion in
> economic activity in Massachusetts in 2007. That's not Microsoft's bounty,
> it's what they are calling the "Vista Effect" which will benefit many
> related businesses and will add 5000 IT jobs this year alone. 
> 
> The report from IDC makes for very interesting reading. There is a good
> breakdown of the existing technology economy with some pretty impressive
> stats. Please note that the report was commissioned by Microsoft, and
> therefore must be taken as partial. Nevertheless the $ and headcounts are
> big and getting bigger. Most of the activity is in the East, of course, yet
> there must be opportunity for Pioneer Valley folks to get in on the action,
> even the Mac and Unix types, as part of the knock-on or just the general
> raising of awareness and opening of corporate/institutional wallets. 
> 
> The full PDF report is here
> http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/itanalyst/docs/01052007MassVista.pdf. 
> 
> There are also reports for New York, New Jersey and Florida at the same site
> http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/itanalyst/default.mspx
> 
> The reports are quite easy to read and IMHO well worth looking at. If
> nothing else the numbers are encouraging. Perhaps a much needed boost to the
> area might come from this private sector activity, rather than traditional
> economic development. And when it comes to the private sector you don't get
> much bigger, or wealthier than soft and cuddly ol' Microsoft :-)
> 
> Feedback is welcome.

OK, I have a few questions.  First of all I know almost nothing about
Vista -- I've *NEVER* used any flavor of MS-Windows -- I am a 100%
Linux person (migrated to Linux from UNIX workstations and migrated
from VAX/VMS to UNIX before that).  Also I am wondering about the chart
on page three (about Vista taking over from NT/2K/XP.

First question: do existing Win32 applications run as-is under Vista? Or
is Vista really a completely different operating system?  One of the
ongoing bits of Microsoft 'confusion' is the constant renaming of
software and the abandonment of any sort of release versioning -- one
has no way of knowing if the new operating system is a major upgrade or
a minor upgrade -- Win95/Win98/WinMW => 2K == major, 2K => XP minor, =>
Vista ???  I'm wondering if Vista will break applications or just be a
(relatively) 'minor' upgrade.

Second question: given that many people *still* use Win95/Win98 on
older systems and many people also still use 2K, how realistic is the
idea that *ALL* MS-Windows users will in fact upgrade to Vista anytime
in the short run?  Or will only people buying new machines be getting
Vista and Vista upgrade boxes languish on store shelves (much as 2K and
XP upgrade boxes have)?  In other words, how much (realisticly) will
Microsoft's sales of Vista be OEM copies and how many will be retail or
upgrade copies?

> 
> 
> Nick Braak
> Internet Strategist and Commentator 
> 
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