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Topic: Hardware

Is anyone WOWed by desktop wallpapers any more? Microsoft thinks so!

Summary: Quick! If you had to come up with an image and a bit of text to sell Windows 7 to IT professionals and the tech media, what feature would you choose to highlight?

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

Quick! If you had to come up with an image and a bit of text to sell Windows 7 to IT professionals and the tech media, what feature would you choose to highlight?

To be honest with you, there are countless things you could look at, but I'll tell you one feature that I wouldn't choose - the desktop wallpapers.

Take a look at this press release on the Microsoft site. Now scroll down about halfway to the second image. Be sure to read the caption:

Picking on this one image seems petty, but it strikes me that Microsoft PR is once again falling into the same trap as it did with Vista and the "WOW is now" eye candy nonsense. Microsoft needs to get beyond thinking that IT professionals are WOWed by background images, transparency and nice icons. It's time to start selling the stuff that matters. If Microsoft's own PR machine can't put together a package of features and get behind them, then 7's PR message could be the same kind of "WOW!" nonsense that we saw for Vista.

[UPDATE: It's worth pointing out that the ability to change the desktop wallpaper on the Starter edition of Windows 7 is disabled (and no, getting around it is not just a matter of renaming an image) then maybe "cool wallpapers" is actually going to be a feature item ... ugh ... just be grateful they didn't make this acid trip hallucination of an image the default!]

Thoughts?

Topics: Hardware, Microsoft

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38 comments
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  • I agree

    As I have said before, I'd love to see Microsoft start advertising features of Windows and not the eye candy.


    "What can Windows do for you?"
    The one and only, Cylon Centurion
    Reply Vote

    • Agreed

      They should advertise features like BitLocker, BranchCache, D3D 11 etc which will blow both LinSocks and crap os x away :)
      shellcodes_coder
      Reply Vote

      • Only if you're an MCSE

        Nobody else cares...
        Wintel BSOD
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Is anyone WOWed by desktop wallpapers any more? Microsoft thinks so!

    I didn't realize they were advertising it, but I got to admit that I enjoyed seeing the random abstract backgrounds available.
    Xanthus179
    Reply Vote

  • This is Apple's trick

    Apple puts a lot of effort into eye candy. Same as MS. I enjoy seeing them.
    Gladiatorcn
    Reply Vote

    • not really.

      you will notice that most of apple's ads are about ease of use and reliability. microsoft is unfortunately buying into the idea that people buy computers for eye candy. i don't really think they do, and apple seems to think this too.
      lostarchitect
      Reply Vote

  • Right, like...

    compiz-fusion adds something that IT departments are desperately in need of.

    Speaking of petty, this seems rather petty.
    LandonAB
    Reply Vote

    • Correct

      You are correct IT should not care about compiz-fusion. But then again you not only do not have to turn it in you do not even have to install it.
      lost65
      Reply Vote

  • "Picking on this one image seems petty"

    Yes, it does. Especially after reading the linked article. Ctrl+F "images", see what you find.
    bran.e.murray
    Reply Vote

  • Quick

    "Quick! If you had to come up with an image and a bit of text to sell Windows 7 to IT professionals and the tech media, what feature would you choose to highlight?"

    Windows 8 is twice/four/eight times as fast on a dual/quad/octo core CPU.

    Windows 8 fully sound activated: control your PC with voice commands.

    Windows 8 automatically backs up your data to the NET.

    ... other innovations ...

    PS For desktop wallpaper see the photography sites e.g Paul Gerritsen at www.caedes.net.
    johnfenjackson@...
    Reply Vote

    • Windows 7 has some of that . . .

      "Windows 8 is twice/four/eight times as fast on a dual/quad/octo core CPU."

      That's going to depend on applications, not the OS. The OS itself doesn't take up much CPU in the first place.

      . . . and weakest link in the chain right now is the hard drive, not the CPU. Application load times depend on drive speeds.

      "Windows 8 fully sound activated: control your PC with voice commands."

      Actually, this is already a feature. Both Vista and Windows 7 have it.

      It's just turned off by default.

      And frankly, it's actually a pretty lousy way to interact with the computer. It's nothing like what they show in Star Trek.

      "Windows 8 automatically backs up your data to the NET."

      I've got hundreds of gigs of data. No thanks, it would take forever to transfer over a wire.

      But - already possible through third party vendors like Jungle Disk.

      http://www.jungledisk.com/
      CobraA1
      Reply Vote

  • Like it or not..

    Unfortunatley, I do believe that people are "wow'd" by stuff like this- when reading Linux distro reviews, it's often at the top of likes/dislikes.

    Personally, it takes me about 1/2 hour to customize any OS to my taste, and I don't believe I've ever used a "wallpaper", rather I use any images I have (right click, properties, background, choose file, scale and crop).Then an OS9 like "theme" (close on left side of wondow border, maximize, minimize, add to all desktops on right), single click, focus follows mouse, etc..
    bryantrv
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Is anyone WOWed by desktop wallpapers any more? Microsoft thinks so!

    So there is the truth - Linux dies out. Now what will we do? Start over on Windows! In room surrounded only by walls, who needs Linux, we need Windows, or we will die out :)
    shoshonski
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Is anyone WOWed by desktop wallpapers any more? Microsoft thinks so!

    Hey, Adrian,

    Those of us who actually took acid in the 60's and 70's sort of dig those wallpapers.... :-)

    Point well taken though. Microsoft's marketing people need to a clue from the mess GM's marketing people helped get them into.....

    Rick/King Gypsy in Phoenix
    rick.sheeley
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Is anyone WOWed by desktop wallpapers any more? Microsoft thinks so!

    While we "IT types" might not be sold by fancy wallpaper and icons, it's a good marketing move by MS. These features will definitely catch the eye of all the home users.
    toonz2@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Is anyone WOWed by desktop wallpapers any more? Microsoft thinks so!

    never use them, i think they're useless. i'm using my computer, not sitting here looking at the desktop.

    people will buy anything, just go back to the days when users used to buy screensavers. now, if that wasn't useless, i don't know what is. sure, i'm going to buy a program that runs on the computer when i'm not using it or not sitting in front of it. i don't think so.
    g_keramidas@...
    Reply Vote

  • Yup. It's petty.

    "Picking on this one image seems petty"

    Yup. It's petty. FYI, normal people actually enjoy some eye candy. So it makes perfect sense to include it.

    The only "nonsense" here is your odd aversion to art.
    CobraA1
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Is anyone WOWed by desktop wallpapers any more? Microsoft thinks so!

    Exactly. They're just trying out one of Apple's tricks. Eye-candy is all that Apple cares about.
    twisterjosh@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Is anyone WOWed by desktop wallpapers any more? Microsoft thinks so!

    I use rotating wallpapers from Webshots -- is that something that will no longer work for Windows 7?

    If so, I hope we stay with XP for a LONG time at work -- I can't imagine not being able to change my wallpaper! It's not a "WOW" factor but it is nice to have a variety of seasonal images rotating in the background.
    pwoodruff@...
    Reply Vote

  • And What About Adobe Reader?

    I laugh when I still see ads and computer specs that tout "Comes With Adobe Reader!" Big Frickin' Deal. Like I can't go get that myself for free. Although I go get Foxit Reader now, instead.
    MichP
    Reply Vote
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