Microsoft`s Vista Industrial Design Toolkit: Taking a Bite out of Apple - And the response is...?
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Not this time, though. Microsoft has been actively marketing this new version of their Windows operating system and drawing significant criticism from some of their largest partners.
A number of OEM manufacturers have expressed their reluctance, and even outright resistance, to using any of the suggested changes in Microsoft's Vista Industrial Design Toolkit. Included with the many suggestions are color palettes for the finish of the system and even ideas on how power and reset buttons should be designed. Not since the introduction of the Windows key to the basic keyboard has this much input been provided by Microsoft to the people who manufacture the equipment their product runs on (remember the "Designed for Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP" case badge?).
Lenovo, in particular, has publicly stated their defiance of Microsoft's vision. "Our ability to differentiate ourselves comes from our industry-leading innovation," a Lenovo spokesperson said, "and design is a big part of that." Obviously Lenovo doesn't see how Microsoft's handy guide can benefit their company.
Microsoft is saying that this guide is strictly a guide and participation is completely optional to better increase system sales once Vista arrives. And who should know better what the body should look like than the people who designed the engine?
Amazingly, this idea isn't originally Microsoft's but, rather, falls squarely into the lap of their most significant computer: Apple.
Next: Stealing a page from Apple's book >>
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