Easier than ever?

[Keith Esau]

From the Mactopia Newsletter:

* Update to Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1 for free
If you already own Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.0, be sure to download this
update. Now that Virtual PC has joined the lineup of Microsoft products for
the Mac, it's easier than ever to run Windows programs on your Mac.


I've been using VPC for several years, and I saw nothing new in the update
except the re-branding, so I must have missed something. How is VPC now
"easier than ever to run Windows programs on your Mac"?

Keith Esau
(e-mail address removed)

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

From the Mactopia Newsletter:

* Update to Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1 for free
If you already own Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.0, be sure to download this
update. Now that Virtual PC has joined the lineup of Microsoft products for
the Mac, it's easier than ever to run Windows programs on your Mac.


I've been using VPC for several years, and I saw nothing new in the update
except the re-branding, so I must have missed something. How is VPC now
"easier than ever to run Windows programs on your Mac"?

On their What's new page,

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/virtualpc/virtualpc.aspx?pid=wh
atsnew

MS claims:

If you're running Virtual PC for Mac Version 6.1 in Mac OS X version 10.2.3
(Jaguar), you'll likely see an increase in performance compared to previous
versions running in Mac OS X.

so perhaps they did some minor tweaks. Nothing dramatic, AFAIK -
it's mostly rebranding.

OTOH, it's a free minor update and I wouldn't expect anything
revolutionary to come out in just a few months.

 

[Keith Esau]

On their What's new page,

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/virtualpc/virtualpc.aspx?pid=wh
atsnew

MS claims:


so perhaps they did some minor tweaks. Nothing dramatic, AFAIK -
it's mostly rebranding.

OTOH, it's a free minor update and I wouldn't expect anything
revolutionary to come out in just a few months.

Likewise, I expected nothing new at first. However the Mactopia newsletter
claims 6.1 is "easier than ever" over 6.0. Just what makes 6.1 easier than
the old VPC? There has to be something, or the claim is false advertising.

Keith Esau
(e-mail address removed)

 

[J.E. McGimpsey]

Likewise, I expected nothing new at first. However the Mactopia newsletter
claims 6.1 is "easier than ever" over 6.0. Just what makes 6.1 easier than
the old VPC? There has to be something, or the claim is false advertising.

Sure it's easier than ever - "increased performance" is one kind of
easier. Getting it bundled with your Office v.X purchase is easier.

A subjective claim like that is hardly the basis for false
advertising - though statutes vary from state to state, I don't know
any for which a court would entertain a claim for something that
vague.

 

[Gene van Troyer]

I've been using VPC for several years, and I saw nothing new in the update
except the re-branding, so I must have missed something. How is VPC now
"easier than ever to run Windows programs on your Mac"?

Maybe more direct service for Windows related problems. Windows bought
through Connectix had to be handled by connectix, as MS assumed no service
responsibility for what was essentially an OEM tailored for Connectix as
ready-to-use VPC drive images.

Of course, we can debate just how much "service" is available through MS
tech support and whether that is easier or an oxymoron to begin with
(Connectix had pretty good service and tech support).

Beyond that, "easier than ever" is obvious hype. So what? You actually,
truly, really expect advertising to be much more than hype? Apple bandies
around "Think different." Does a Mac really make you "think different" (or
maybe succumb to ungrammatical usage)?

I know some of us have it in for Microsoft over their aggressive marketing
and lust for monopoly and to be the Master of All Standardization, and for
the horrid mess Windows has foisted on all of us in the form of viruses; but
"easier than ever" hardly fits in this category.

Maybe we should go after Apple over AppleWorks and Apple's hyping to the max
AW's vaunted cross platform compatibility with Word and Excel. Lots of
unhappy campers out there over that one, believe me. Lots of really, really
fine print people didn't bother to read.

Cheers,

Gene van Troyer