25 Jul 2005
Microsoft may be in trouble for naming its forthcoming operating system Vista after it transpired that the name has been registered by an American company for nearly six years.
Vista, which operates a small business internet interchange, is actually based in Microsoft's home town of Redmond. It was started in May 2000 by John Wall, the founder of Wall Data and an erstwhile investor in SCO.
"We are going to consider our options and talk to Microsoft," Wall told The Seattle Times. Vista has not yet filed suit against the software giant.
Microsoft announced the new name for its operating system on Friday and said that the first beta code would be available on 3 August.
"There is no more Longhorn; it is now officially Windows Vista," said Kevin Johnson, group vice president of Microsoft's worldwide sales, marketing and services.
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Do you agree?
Names are stupid
Just go back to numbers. People understand that 1.0 is less than 1.1 is less than 1.5 is less than 2.0 and so on. But, oh, wait, we're talking about the average schmuck who cant balance his checkbook yet has all the political answers in his back pocket... Forget it.
Posted by: Mike 06 Jan 2006
Vista - pays the film industry
Vista is the accounting software used by most films shot in most parts of the world. I suspect it's a trade mark allready.
Posted by: Kevan Barker 09 Aug 2005
vista stupid name anyway
I agree Vista is a stupid name to begin with; why not simply windows 2006?
Posted by: Jesus 26 Jul 2005
who are these guys
I am a business student starting a new business. THe first thing we did was come up with the idea, then the name. We searched to see if anyone was using the name. Microsoft employees are not smart enough to do a simple search to prevent public embarassment?
Posted by: Rob van Dam 25 Jul 2005
Vista
I think Microsoft knew very well what they were doing. This is no different from their practice of buying up technologies and then burying them. To me, this is morally, ethically and spiritually wrong, and I don't care if it's the new paradigm. It feels dirty.
Posted by: Judith Beatty 25 Jul 2005
like they didn't already know ..
I'm sure they did the search, they are not going to have to change the name.
Posted by: bg 25 Jul 2005
re: who are these guys?
The name of the new OS is important enough to Microsoft that they could probably just buy that company if they had to.
Posted by: Dave 25 Jul 2005
MSN Search
What do you expect they probally tried to use MSN search tool and we all know it misses about 50percent of relevent sites
Posted by: prblmchld 25 Jul 2005
Duh
"Microsoft employees are not smart enough to do a simple search to prevent public embarassment?" No...
Posted by: Bubba 25 Jul 2005
Microsoft doesn't have to care
Microsoft doesn't need to pay attention to any company under the million dollar mark of their radar. If you're a small company, and Microsoft wants your goods (your title, your technology, etc.) they'll simply squash you if you resist.
Posted by: jason 25 Jul 2005
New name announced.....
Instead of Windows Vista, they are renaming it "Windows Linux", this name won out over "Windows Blue screen of Death".
Posted by: Robert Johnson 25 Jul 2005
Longhorn
Why don't they call it Longhorn. That name seems to work.
Posted by: Lew 25 Jul 2005
Smart move
actually, Vista doesnt even have to sue Microsoft. Just the threat of suing is good PR.
Posted by: Daniel L 25 Jul 2005
No, it's mine..
Has taking over another companies NAME or PRODUCT ever stopped Microsoft before?? I think not!
Posted by: Toaster 25 Jul 2005
What about WebCT Vista?
Microsoft should have checked with online learning giants WebCT as well. Their flagship product is also called Vista. Perhaps the people at Redmond never heard of such a thing as an Internet search engine??
Posted by: Dave Harden 25 Jul 2005
So....
There are lots of product names that match company names...Murcury outboard engines and Murcury cars for example. Short of inventing a new word (as has been the practice with a lot of consulting firms lately), probably every word in the english language is used commercially somewhere...
Posted by: Keith Jolie 25 Jul 2005
Funny Oversight
this is almost as funny as when pepsi wanted to call their hot new soda "Surge" only to find that it had been trademarked by a milking machine company.
Posted by: ds 25 Jul 2005
I agree
RVD RVD RVD I didnt know you were in business. But WWF didnt look to see if there was another company either.
Posted by: Sabu 25 Jul 2005
Microsoft may have to alter Vista
Unbeliveable. I would cleanse the Copyright Department, if ideed there was ever one !
Posted by: Tom Riglar 25 Jul 2005
Vista Pro vs Windows Vista Pro
First thing I thought of was "Vista Pro" -- "... an inexpensive, yet capable 3D landscape creation tool. " First encountered on a Commodore Amiga about 15 years ago.
Posted by: John 25 Jul 2005
Wow
They can't name it Longhorn either since that is a name of a Steakhouse. They should name it Windows "WC" for who cares.
Posted by: Billy Gotes 25 Jul 2005
No problem with the name
Microsoft is going to use "Windows Vista" together, so I doubt there will be any problem. Barbie
Posted by: Barbie 25 Jul 2005