LAWSUIT ... Microsoft... misleading consumers about Windows Vista

by What-A-Coincidence 18 Replies latest social current

• 

  What-A-Coincidence

  http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/windows-vista.html?ref=newsletter_bca_windows-vista

  Microsoft Corp.

  A lawsuit has been filed and is seeking class action status against the computer company for allegedly misleading consumers about Windows Vista. The lawsuit was filed in US District Court in Seattle and alleges people bought "Vista Capable" machines assuming they would be able to run all the Windows Vista features such as Aero Glass, Flip3D, and the Media Center interface. In fact, their machines were only capable of running the bare-bones Windows Vista Home Basic version.
  
  The lawsuit claims Microsoft unfairly labeled PCs "Windows Vista Capable" even when the computers could only run the most basic form of the operating system. The suit claims Microsoft engaged in bait and switch by assuring consumers they were purchasing 'Vista Capable' machines when, in fact, the could obtain only a stripped-down operating system lacking the functionality and features that Microsoft advertised as 'Vista'.
  
  

  Microsoft Corp. Legal Help

  If you have suffered damages in this Windows Vista case, please click the link below to send your Microsoft Corp. complaint to a lawyer who will evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.

  
  Click here to submit your complaint through a secure form
  to Gordon Murray Tilden - Michael Rosenberger
• 

  Little Drummer Boy

  Hi WAC,

  Interesting development. I wonder though, how different this is from any other software company. For instance, if you go out and buy a new game - hell, I don't know what's new - but for the sake of argument, Doom, and you read on the box what the recommended reqs are, that still doesn't mean that you get to run the game to its fullest; just mostly.

  I don't agree that running Vista without Aero makes it stripped down (in reality, what is intended by that remark is that it is somehow crippled - it isn't though). After all, the OS is perfectly functional without Aero effects on. It just isn't as pretty. OK, the flip thing is broken without Aero on, but you get my point.

  Before I started caring too much about Vista, I had noticed that there are two labels being put on computers; Vista capable and Vista ready. I assumed (correctly) that that means just what they say. Vista ready means everything works, and capable means it mostly works, but not all the way. The specs. for running Vista are not top secret - they are pretty easy to find. I can live with that.

  I am by no means a Windows apologist. However, I am realistic about computers. They are not forget and go devices like ovens. A person has to take the effort (or pay someone who will) to research the subject and make proper decisions. This is the world we live in and people will have to be willing to educate themselves on technology or simply be left behind.

  Actually the best thing that I think that could happen in this instance is for the judge to say f88k off to the prosecution and sentence the computer noobs that want to stick it to MS to basic computing classes at their local community colleges.
• 

  XJW4EVR

  I would settle for Microsoft to furnish those of use that were forced to have Vista, a free XP disc.
• 

  Little Drummer Boy

  I would settle for Microsoft to furnish those of use that were forced to have Vista, a free XP disc.

  Interesting. If you mean that somebody from MS came to your house with a gun and made you buy Vista, install it, and get rid of a previous XP install, then er...that doesn't happen. Nobody forces you to do much of anything. If you mean that you bought a new machine and Vista was pre-installed, then either the machine is Vista ready - in which case you have all the features - or, the machine is Vista capable - in which case you didn't lose anything anyway vs. XP since XP doesn't have Aero effects. You can always use a free distro. of Linux (heck, I'll even help you pick one) if you would rather not have a company do what all companies do - make money. MS is just very, very good at it.
• 

  XJW4EVR

  I would settle for Microsoft to furnish those of use that were forced to have Vista, a free XP disc.

  Interesting. If you mean that somebody from MS came to your house with a gun and made you buy Vista, install it, and get rid of a previous XP install, then er...that doesn't happen. Nobody forces you to do much of anything. If you mean that you bought a new machine and Vista was pre-installed, then either the machine is Vista ready - in which case you have all the features - or, the machine is Vista capable - in which case you didn't lose anything anyway vs. XP since XP doesn't have Aero effects. You can always use a free distro. of Linux (heck, I'll even help you pick one) if you would rather not have a company do what all companies do - make money. MS is just very, very good at it.

  Whatever. I am of the opinion that MS should allow the users the option of both operating systems. Simple as that. They still make money, and I am happy because now I have an OS that works with non MS programs.

  As far as Linux goes, well perhaps they should try to market to people like me that are not techno-geeks! Besides I bought a a PC with Linux, and I absolutely hated it. Nothing that I had would run on it, and I am not the kind of person that wants to spend hours on end hacking and cracking code to get something to work.
• 

  LovesDubs

  I bought a new Compaq computer with Vista on it. It has been a royal pain in the ass ever since. NONE of the peripherals I have run on this shit. Every time I try to install software that ran perfectly on XP the Vista says "that software is incompatible with Vista please visit the manufacturer's website for solutions...." blah blah and so far NONE of the manufacturers of my peripherals HAVE solutions to the Vista! It runs slow and it comes with only the basic basic version of Vista so if you want to do anything like say...write a LETTER you have to BUY the upgrade to "Vista Professional" or some crap to do it! RIPOFFFFFF!!

  Dont get it!!
• 

  Nosferatu

  ...and everyone wonders why I formatted my hard drive with Vista on it and installed Win2k / Ubuntu Linux. But that wasn't the end of Vista...

  There was a copy hidden on a 6G partition on my hard drive that I discovered AFTER I installed Ubuntu and the Windows EXT3 Drivers. It is now COMPLETELY gone after I fvvved up my Windows partition to make use of the Vista partition.
• 

  TD

  If you mean that somebody from MS came to your house with a gun and made you buy Vista, install it, and get rid of a previous XP install, then er...that doesn't happen

  True, but if you have to buy a new machine in order to do business (e.g. You have hired a new employee) your options for getting XP are rapidly dwindelling down to nothing. The cost of Vista will be bundelled with the cost of the machine.

  For example, I have a client that bought three digital copy machines a year and a half ago at $18K a pop. Since she does a considerable amount of light CAD work on A3 size paper, the functionality of printing directly from the client desktop to any of the three copy machines where the sheet sets can be collated and stapled is integral to the operation. But since Vista won't work with the XP-2003 driver even with the "printer" published in the directory of the SBS box she has no choice right now except to run XP

  But with the heavy hand MS has taken with the WGA / Business Software Alliance "Gestapo" combination, she cannot risk a "casual solution" in the interim. (e.g. An unlicensed copy of XP until a Vista driver becomes available) She has, in effect have been forced into purchasing an operating system that is not currently ready for the business environment --this despite the fact that the OS is marketed as "Vista Business."
• 

  XJW4EVR

  If you mean that somebody from MS came to your house with a gun and made you buy Vista, install it, and get rid of a previous XP install, then er...that doesn't happen

  True, but if you have to buy a new machine in order to do business (e.g. You have hired a new employee) your options for getting XP are rapidly dwindelling down to nothing. The cost of Vista will be bundelled with the cost of the machine.

  For example, I have a client that bought three digital copy machines a year and a half ago at $18K a pop. Since she does a considerable amount of light CAD work on A3 size paper, the functionality of printing directly from the client desktop to any of the three copy machines where the sheet sets can be collated and stapled is integral to the operation. But since Vista won't work with the XP-2003 driver even with the "printer" published in the directory of the SBS box she has no choice right now except to run XP

  But with the heavy hand MS has taken with the WGA / Business Software Alliance "Gestapo" combination, she cannot risk a "casual solution" in the interim. (e.g. An unlicensed copy of XP until a Vista driver becomes available) She has, in effect have been forced into purchasing an operating system that is not currently ready for the business environment --this despite the fact that the OS is marketed as "Vista Business."

  This is exactly my complaint, though I am not in the business world.
• 

  Finally-Free

  The lack of compatible drivers to support legacy hardware on a new operating system is not a problem unique to Vista. I've had that problem with every Windows release since my upgrade from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95. I remember buying my first 12X CD-ROM drive and not being able to use it for 3 months until a driver was available. I was livid. People have always complained about it yet they continue to "upgrade" as soon as a new O/S is released. While I may use a new O/S on a test machine for evaluation purposes, I make it a point to delay "upgrades" on production machines until at least the first service pack is released.

  Be prepared to search repeatedly on manufacturers web sites for drivers for your peripherals. Some will give you drivers for free. Some will charge for them. Some won't make drivers available at all.

  Expect some of your favourite software packages to go straight to hell too.

  Bottom line, don't upgrade your operating system unless it makes sound business sense to do so. So far, I see nothing in Vista that will make me more productive, but I see a lot that would force me to spend money on hardware upgrades and still not make me more productive. The last worthwhile upgrade I can think of was to Windows 2000, which had USB support whereas NT did not. Everything else was a big yawn for me.

  W