JAPAN: Microsoft showcases new Windows Vista operating system ahead of planned January release

Record ID: 463944

  • Title: JAPAN: Microsoft showcases new Windows Vista operating system ahead of planned January release
  • Date: 21st October 2006
  • Summary: TOSHIBA BOOTH ZOOM OUT FROM ONE COMPUTER SCREEN TO VARIOUS SHOWING HIGH DEFINITION MOVIE PICTURES
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Science / Technology,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA96G7ZQ8DJ22SVH5SEBXT3FDVO
  • Story Text: Microsoft Corporation has launched a full-scale promotion campaign in Asia for its latest operating system Windows Vista, showcasing the soon-to-debut system to computer users in Japan, the second biggest market after the U.S.
    Windows Vista, the long-awaited new version of the Windows operating system that sits on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers, has become the focus of attention at the World PC Expo taking place this week in Tokyo.
    Microsoft says that the latest operating system offers improved visuals, among other features, enabling users to find what their files contain without opening them.
    "The visuals seem more vivid and real on Windows Vista than on its previous versions," said Tadako Yamamoto, 45, a private computer tutor.
    Others like Akira Shimazaki, a 29-year-old pharmacist, were rather concerned about compatibility with their PCs.
    "As the new OS requires higher computer capacity, I'm concerned if many people will be able to use it with the PC's they have," Shimazaki said.
    Microsoft has repeatedly postponed the release of Windows Vista, which is already five years in the making. Quality assurance delays have put off the consumer version of Vista at least until January next year.
    "We've talked about business availability for business customers in November and we've stated that our dates for general availability will be in January of 2007. Those dates are very much on track and absolutely planned for us to... we absolutely expect to meet those time frames," said Jay Jamison, who heads Microsoft's Windows marketing and sales team in Asia.
    The software maker set the retail price for Vista in the United States at between $100 and $259 for users upgrading from older versions of Windows. For consumers looking to buy Vista without an upgrade, the products will cost between $199 to $399, Microsoft has said.
    Meanwhile, the Tokyo computer expo is also showcasing the latest PC trends and technologies - ranging from so-called "decoration PC's" that have CPUs featuring electrically lit, fashionable computers parts and car-like liquid cooling systems, to PCs capable of showing crystal clear television pictures based on the "high definition" broadcast technology.
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