Consumers Reluctant to Switch to Vista

Published by Omkar Joshi | Filed under Microsoft, Windows, Vista

Harris Interactive has recently released a study of US consumers’ intentions about purchasing Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows Vista. Last December the number saying that they would wait till upgrading was 31 percent, however the latest figures in March have more than doubled to 67 percent.

The Harris Interactive poll asked consumers about their intention to upgrade or switch their primary home PC to Windows Vista within the next 12 months. Of those surveyed 60 percent of the 2 223 adults said Vista would have no impact on when they would make their next PC purchase.

Before Vista’s consumer launch in late January, the number of people aware of Vista was a mere 47 percent of those surveyed, compared with 87 percent post-launch. This indicated Microsoft’s marketing had been very effective in raising Vista awareness, however sales remained low.

Milton Ellis, vice president of Harris Interactive Technology Group, said in a statement, “In order to generate that ‘Wow’ factor, Microsoft will have to put forth a value proposition that will move the majority to the upgrade category in the years ahead. Vista promised better performance, reliability, security and a revolutionary user interface-but it appears consumers looking to upgrade are not ready to buy into the promise, whereas new computer buyers will want the latest and greatest.”