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Gates: Vista Is ‘Very Successful’

Outgoing head defends Microsoft's new OS

By Laila Weir,  Newser User

Posted Jan 7, 2008 3:40 PM CST
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(Newser) – On his way out the door, Bill Gates is defending Windows Vista, the OS that has failed to woo consumers away from Microsoft's older Windows XP. "I think a lot of people would say it was the best new product of the year,” Gates said in an interview with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer before his speech last night at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Gates acknowledged users “have very high expectations in terms of having all the (device) drivers there and the compatibility,” and that “there's some of those areas where, as the year went on, we definitely did a better job on those things.” Still, he called Vista, which has sold 100 million copies, “a very successful product,” adding, “We're very proud of it.”

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates speaks at keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 . (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates speaks at keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 . (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a keynote speech during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, Jan. 6. 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a keynote speech during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, Jan. 6. 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)   (Associated Press)
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates speaks at keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 . (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates speaks at keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 . (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)
Different editions of the Windows Vista computer operating system are on display at a store in New York in this Jan. 30, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, file)
Different editions of the Windows Vista computer operating system are on display at a store in New York in this Jan. 30, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, file)   (Associated Press)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a keynote speech during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, Jan. 6. 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a keynote speech during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, Jan. 6. 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)   (Associated Press)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a keynote speech during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, Jan. 6. 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a keynote speech during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, Jan. 6. 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)   (Associated Press)
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The webcast of Gates's speech at CES
Microsoft

More exerpts from the interview
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Link to the "Save XP" petition
Infoworld Blog

 
Microsoft • Bill Gates • Microsoft Vista • Consumer Electronics Show

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