Hadn't seen or heard about the Vista "Capable" class action lawsuit...
Category Microsoft
From Preston Gralla's ComputerWorld blog: Microsoft exec: Vista-Capable PCs are "junk"
Top Microsoft execs have admitted that "Windows Vista Capable" PCs, which can run only the most basic version of Vista, are "junk," with Jim Allchin, then co-president of Microsoft's Platforms and Services Division, saying in an email, "We really botched this."
So reported the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last week in a report about a class action suit, which charges that Microsoft misled consumers into buying the Windows Vista Capable PCs, even though the PCs couldn't run the most important features of the then-new operating system.
And the hits just keep on coming.
Is it no wonder that the public is so cynical and skeptical any more about companies? Granted, due to the lawsuit-happy society we've become, it's nearly impossible for a company to come right out and say "we blew it" without incurring a nearly-guaranteed lawsuit in the process. Instead, they have to spin everything to make it appear positive, while at the same time they're acknowledging internally that they have a disaster brewing. Meanwhile, we the public immediately discount any and everything said by the organization, and attribute evil motive and intent behind anything they do.
This happens to be yet another instance of a Microsoft blunder, but by no means is it isolated to Redmond. Pharmaceutical companies, auto manufacturers, food distributors... the list is endless.
When did we lose all sense of ethics? The courage to act on what is right and what is wrong?
sigh...
From Preston Gralla's ComputerWorld blog: Microsoft exec: Vista-Capable PCs are "junk"
Top Microsoft execs have admitted that "Windows Vista Capable" PCs, which can run only the most basic version of Vista, are "junk," with Jim Allchin, then co-president of Microsoft's Platforms and Services Division, saying in an email, "We really botched this."
So reported the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last week in a report about a class action suit, which charges that Microsoft misled consumers into buying the Windows Vista Capable PCs, even though the PCs couldn't run the most important features of the then-new operating system.
And the hits just keep on coming.
Is it no wonder that the public is so cynical and skeptical any more about companies? Granted, due to the lawsuit-happy society we've become, it's nearly impossible for a company to come right out and say "we blew it" without incurring a nearly-guaranteed lawsuit in the process. Instead, they have to spin everything to make it appear positive, while at the same time they're acknowledging internally that they have a disaster brewing. Meanwhile, we the public immediately discount any and everything said by the organization, and attribute evil motive and intent behind anything they do.
This happens to be yet another instance of a Microsoft blunder, but by no means is it isolated to Redmond. Pharmaceutical companies, auto manufacturers, food distributors... the list is endless.
When did we lose all sense of ethics? The courage to act on what is right and what is wrong?
sigh...
| Permalink |
Comments
I think you hit the nail on the head - the litigious nature of our society is linked to what you described as the lack of ethics and courage to act on right/wrong issues. It also seems to be a chicken/egg linkage, so it's hard to say which problem led to the other.
Fear of lawsuits seem to give any organization an "excuse" or reason to obfuscate the reality of the situation. You can see that in many situations across our culture.
Posted by Ted Hardenburgh At 12:15:44 On 14/02/2008 | - Website - |