Summary: Misuse of Microsoft's "party pack" is noticed ahead of launch; Microsoft starts talking about mythical versions of Windows

Microsoft has already attempted to acquire some paid 'fans' [1, 2] for the improved version of Windows Vista, namely Vista 7. As it turns out, the programme which Microsoft introduced for incentivising parties is already being abused.

After reading this exchange, I decided to look on Ebay and found that a signed copy of Windows 7 was for sale for €£150. You can see that item here. There were 5 other copies in total, for sale and at time of writing none have received any bids. I wonder how much they will go for?

The same blogger, Goblin, also comments on the finding that Vista 7 sometimes boots more slowly than Vista.

There is a more detailed article over on ComputerWorld on Windows 7 boot times and this can be found here. Who would have thought Vista could be compared to another product and seen as the faster one?

It has become abundantly clear (especially recently) that Vista 7 will not succeed. Even Microsoft's CEO reluctantly admits this, so plan B is invoked. We are seeing a lot of vapourware recently [1, 2, 3, 4], namely a variety of fluff about Vista 8.

Right now they apparently produce a "leak" (screenshot or plan) to create mystique. They did the same thing with "leaked" screenshots of Vista 7 just over a year ago.

Here is how Microsoft argued that Windows would look in October 2003 (Longhorn) [via].

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Skip to 1:01. Watch the date.

These are the same marketing tricks that they exploit every time. Rinse and repeat. The above lesson is too often missed by people who are conned time after time. ⬆